Bunbury are the first team into the Apprentice & Traineeship Colts Grand Final, after defeating Carey Park on Sunday morning at Hands Memorial Oval, in the Second Semi Final.
The Bulldogs who finished third after the home and away season, have defeated the top two sides to make the decider, with a fifteen point win over the Panthers, who sat atop of the ladder for the latter part of the season.
In a low scoring affair in perfect conditions, the Panthers kicked the only goal of the opening term via Rhys Gardiner. Leading by seven points at quarter time, the Panthers would then be kept scoreless in the second quarter as the Bulldogs kicked five unanswered goals.
Chevy Morris, who would kick four goals for the match, would run into an open goal to put the Bulldogs first goal on the board. A minute later, Charlie Borlini would kick a spectacular goal out of mid air to put the Bulldogs in front. Tex Magennis kicked a wonderful goal from deep in the pocket before Morris kicked two more, to put the Bulldogs 27 points in front at half time.
The Panthers responded after half time, arresting the dominance of the Bulldogs but it would be ten minutes before they kicked the opening goal of the second half via Taj Houlahan who ran into an open goal. Tayhan Epere would snap a goal moments later, and when Antwon Pickett snapped a great goal, the margin was cut back to ten points. The Bulldogs steadied and Zeke Walker extended the margin after a 50m penalty, but Pickett answered immediately, with the margin back to ten points at the final break.
The Bulldogs wouldn’t allow the Panthers any closer though, kicking the opening two goals of the final term through Morris and Lucas Pedrochi giving the Bulldogs a 23 point lead. A late goal to Sheldon Pickett from long range brought the margin back to fifteen points.
The Panthers will now face Harvey Brunswick Leschenault in the Preliminary Final with the winner to face Bunbury in the Grand Final.
Match Centre
Bunbury 0.2.2 5.6.36 6.7.43 8.8.56
Carey Park 1.3.9 1.3.9 5.3.33 6.5.41
Goals: Bunbury – Chevy Morris 4, Charlie Borlini 1, Tex Magennis 1, Lucas Pedrochi 1, Zeke Walker 1. Carey Park – Antwon Pickett 2, Tayhan Epere 1, Rhys Gardiner 1, Taj Houlahan 1, Sheldon Pickett 1.
Best: Bunbury – Kalani Heal, Mason Hawkes, Chevy Morris, Tex Magennis, Cooper Zanich, Rohan Ashworth. Carey Park – Nehemiah Brown, Nicholaas Le Roux, Max DiLallo, Isharnd Lange-McGuire, Taj Houlahan, Stirling Mcbreen.
Ground: Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires: Ollie Miles, Finn Marshall, Kim Narkle
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1421
Photos courtesy of Shane Horner