Sport
19 August, 2025
Newstead take statement win at Dunolly
Newstead will enter the 2025 finals with an extra pep in their step after taking care of Dunolly at Deledio Reserve 77-31.
The 46-goal final margin was nearly enough to see the Steaders take seventh on percentage, which would have set up a finals rematch with the team that knocked them out in the elimination final last season in Lexton.
Instead, Newstead will face Talbot in this weekend’s elimination final, a team they were competitive against in their only meeting back in round eight.
While the Eagles made no additions to their team, the Steaders received a boost to their midcourt thanks to the return of Emily Cooper.
With both teams having a bye in round 17, there was some rust they needed to work off in the first quarter, particularly Newstead, who missed their first nine shots of the match.
They recovered quickly after Dunolly took an early lead, thanks to multiple intercepts in attacking areas, doubling Dunolly 14-7 at quarter time.
Brianna Jury and Tayla Gale both scored seven goals for the visitors, while Zoe Aldridge led the way early for the Eagles with four goals.
With both teams knowing they can improve in the second quarter, the Eagles and Steaders used all their available players in the second quarter in their search for an edge.
Fortunately for Newstead, their offence fully shook off their early struggles, starting the quarter with a 7-0 run and never looking back.
The Steaders went on to score 22 goals in the second term to coincidentally have a 22-goal advantage at the main break.
Gale was on fire in the second quarter, netting 12 goals from 13 shots, while Jury needed a little bit of extra time to shake some cobwebs on her way to scoring 10.
Aldridge repeated her first-quarter output for Dunolly with a team-leading four goals in the second period.
Looking to limit the damage in the second half, Dunolly started the third quarter brightly, especially on defence, forcing several turnovers and limiting second chances thanks to the rebounding of Demcy Fraser and Mia Schodde.
However, consecutive intercepts from Zoe Douglass changed momentum into Newstead’s favour, as she and defensive partner Chelsey Williams allowed only five goals in the third term while creating counter attacking chances.
Jury and Gale took full advantage of those extra opportunities by scoring 24 goals in the quarter, increasing the margin to 41 goals at the final break.
This time, it was Jury who led the way for the Steaders with 14 goals, closely followed by Gale, who also cracked double digits with 10.
While the result was all but secured for Newstead, Dunolly continued to fight in the fourth quarter, ending their season well with a competitive 17-12 final quarter in favour of the visitors.
After going 10 for 11 from the field in the final quarter, Gale was the game’s top scorer with 39 goals, just ahead of Jury, who ended on 38 goals.
While Aldridge was Dunolly’s leading scorer with 16 goals, including six in the final period, Nikki Bell produced a late spark when she was shifted into a shooting role in the fourth, finishing with six goals.