A Grade Men’s
In Round 7 the A Grade Men’s saw a rematch between the 2024 grand finalists. Trinity Aquinas were determined for payback, after they fell short in the Grand Final 84-55 to Kingsway.
Kingsway came out firing, opening the game with two consecutive goals. Trinity Aquinas quickly responded with a goal of their own. However, the remainder of the quarter belonged entirely to Kingsway, who dominated the final ten minutes with 5 unanswered goals and a behind. Their impressive start gave them a commanding lead heading into the second quarter.
Kingsway carried their first-quarter momentum into the second, quickly adding 3 more goals to extend their lead. They continued to apply pressure with 3 consecutive behinds before heading into a dominant stretch, adding 4 more goals and 2 behinds. In the final minute and a half, Trinity Aquinas pushed back and secured another goal. Despite the late effort, Kingsway remained firmly in control at halftime, leading by 72 points.
Trinity Aquinas opened the second half with a behind, looking to build on their points. However, Kingsway quickly struck back, adding another 2 goals. Trinity managed to hit back with their 3rd goal of the match, before Kingsway closed out the quarter with a behind.
Kingsway wasted no time in the final term, opening with a behind before slotting their 16th goal of the game. They then fired off 6 behinds over 14 minutes. Trinity Aquinas then secured a behind of their own, and in the final minute and a half, they closed out the match with a late goal. Despite the spirited finish from Trinity, Kingsway's early dominance secured them an impressive 73-point victory.
The match secured Kingsway’s position at 3rd on ladder, while Trinity Aquinas sees themselves in a precarious position in 9th, they will need to fight hard to climb out of the bottom 2.
Final Score
Kingsway: 113 (16.17)
Trinity Aquinas: 40 (6.4)
A Grade Women’s
Round 7 in the Women’s A Grade saw North Beach go up against Baldivis. Baldivis had so far this season managed 4 wins and only 1 loss, securing themselves a spot towards the top of the ladder, while North Beach sat in the middle of the ladder with 2 wins and 3 losses.
The first quarter kicked off with a quick start from North Beach, who struck early with a goal, immediately followed by a behind. However, Baldivis responded strongly, scoring 2 consecutive goals and a behind. Their early surge allowed them to take the lead heading into the second quarter.
North Beach started the second quarter the same way they did the first, landing the first goal and quickly adding a behind. Baldivis once again responded with force, securing 3 back-to-back goals. They ended a strong quarter with a behind, extending their lead to 18 points.
The beginning of the third quarter saw North Beach desperate to make a comeback, they fought hard and secured the first 2 goals of the game. However, Baldivis quickly regained control, securing 2 goals of their own and adding a behind to maintain their advantage heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter saw a lull in intensity and a desperate try for a comeback by North Beach. They opened with a behind before finding some rhythm and adding two goals, narrowing the point margin. Despite their last effort, it wasn't enough to overtake Baldivis, who held firm to secure a hard-fought 45-39 victory.
Following this match, Baldivis see themselves 3rd on the ladder, so far securing their spot in the prelim finals, while North Beach sit at 7th, the team will need to fight hard to move up the ladder to keep themselves out of the bottom 2 and the possibility of dropping in grades.
Final Score
Baldivis: 45 (7.3)
North Beach: 39 (6.3)
B Grade Men’s
It was a big weekend for the Men’s B Grade in Round 7, Collegians went up against Cockburn Lakes while also introducing Blue Tree Day. A day that brings awareness to mental health, Collegians debuted new jumpers to signify the day. During the day’s four matches, Collegians, in partnership with the Blue Tree Project, painted a tree blue to signify their commitment to spreading awareness to mental health.
Collegians scored first, but Cockburn Lakes were on fire during the first two quarters. Collegians managed 4 goals and 4 behinds in the first 2 quarters, while Cockburn secured a whopping 6 goals and 8 behinds, going into the 3rd quarter 28-44.
Collegians weren’t backing down in the third, managing to find a sneaky goal that narrowed the margin to just 10 points. Their determination didn’t waver, and while they were unable to land another goal, they secured 2 behinds to narrow the margin even more, while Cockburn Lakes scored another behind to keep themselves firming in the lead heading into the final quarter.
Cockburn Lakes scored the first goal in the final quarter, but Collegians hit back with a goal to stay in the fight. Cockburn Lakes then scored a behind, keeping the margin tight, before a late free kick saw Collegians close the gap to just four points. However, with 45 seconds left, Cockburn Lakes sealed the win with their eighth goal.
Despite the win, Cockburn Lakes still find themselves at the bottom 2 of the ladder, a fight will be on for the team to escape their current spot and ensure they stay in B Grade for the 2026 season. Collegians had an incredible start to their day, painting a tree on their home grounds blue in support of the Blue Tree Project, and although they didn’t win this match, they will be proud of their contribution to the community.
Final Score
Cockburn Lakes: 58 (8.10)
Collegians: 49 (7.7)
Author: Kerryn Wilson