Sport
19 August, 2025
Dunolly set for finals following Newstead triumph
Dunolly has maintained its strong recent record against Newstead, once again getting the better of the Steaders by 58 points.
The Eagles will now set their sights on their upcoming elimination final against Navarre, a team they defeated by 12 points in their only meeting during the home and away season back in round 13.
Dunolly won their last three meetings with Newstead ahead of this encounter, including a mud-filled elimination final last season and a gripping eight-point victory back in round five.
Winning the ball often in the early stages, the hosts were allowed to implement their methodical, patient build-up almost immediately, but couldn’t find space or a key mark inside 50.
Only a rushed behind from Newstead was scored in the first 10 minutes before Bradley Richardson got the Steaders on the scoreboard with a beautiful set shot for the first goal of the game.
That seemed to wake up the Eagles, who kicked the next five goals in succession thanks to Ryan Burt, Justin Allison, Mitchell Goodwin and Kallum Schepers to take a 26-point advantage into quarter time.
After conceding three goals in the last five minutes of the first quarter, the Steaders were focused on stopping the Eagles from kicking away in the second term.
Newstead succeeded by allowing only two goals for the quarter, however, Dunolly kept the visitors scoreless throughout the term to extend their advantage to 41 points, looking set for a comfortable victory.
The Steaders had other ideas. After starting the quarter with three consecutive behinds, Michael Dalrymple kicked the first goal of the quarter in the 14th minute to give Newstead a needed jolt of momentum.
Hayden Hall and Richardson added two goals late in the term, giving Newstead a chance to end their season with a memorable comeback with the deficit down to 21 points at three-quarter time.
Dunolly slammed those ambitions shut with six unanswered goals in the final quarter to run away with their seventh win of the season.
Lachlan Tranter almost covered every blade of grass at Deledio Reserve on his way to earning a best players nod for the Eagles alongside Schepers, Adal Zuk, Jay McDonald, Goodwin and Lachlan Watson.
Dunolly big man Burt finished with a game-high three goals, supported by Goodwin and Lloyd Needs, who booted two goals each.
Newstead’s Joel Smith and Dalrymple might have to check themselves for leather poisoning during the off-season, with both players completing a brilliant campaign with another mention in the best players.
They were joined by Nicholas Lord, Nicholas Woodman, Ethan Maltby and Ben Moran.