Sport
28 April, 2026
Rinaldi’s nine-goal haul boosts Redbacks past Hawks
Carisbrook’s dream start to 2026 continues to ascend after overpowering the highly tipped Talbot Hawks in an entertaining 61-point victory.
While their defence orchestrated pivotal wins over fellow contenders Trentham and Natte Bealiba, it was the Redbacks’ attack that swarmed Talbot on Sunday.
Following one of the most gripping opening quarters in recent memory, Tim Rinaldi took over the occasion, continuing his goal-kicking purple patch by booting nine of Carisbrook’s 22 majors.
Hopping Harrys Butler and Whitty also added another seven goals between them, as the Redbacks’ forward line seemingly grabbed every contested mark inside 50.
While scoring 86 points against Carisbrook’s defensive wall is a positive, the Hawks will be hoping for some major improvements in the coming weeks, especially on the defensive end.
Talbot found themselves under immediate pressure on their home ground, with the Redbacks registering six scoring shots in as many minutes.
While Blake Matthews made the most of a 50 metre penalty to kick the game’s opening goal from point-blank range, it came off the back of five consecutive behinds.
A 100 metre penalty conceded by Talbot’s Tommy Alkemade helped save Carisbrook’s early goal-kicking blushes, resulting in Michael Zelencic extending the visitors’ margin to 23 points in his 50th game for the club.
After being the beneficiary of a needless mistake, Zelencich bumped Luke Kemp after the Hawks’ vice captain finally got the hosts on the scoreboard in the 15-minute mark, leading to the umpire giving Kemp another set shot, which he converted.
That moment commenced a flurry of eight goals to end a frantic first quarter that lasted over 30 minutes.
Despite Carisbrook having 12 scoring shots, it was Talbot who held a one-point lead at the break thanks to three straight goals from Victor Micallef, Jamieson House and Dylan Tarczon.
With both teams able to catch their breath at quarter time, it was Carisbrook’s midfield that dominated at the restart, with stalwart ruckman Jackson Bowen consistently giving first use to Thomas Gardam, Brady Neill and Patrick Taranto.
Before the Hawks could hit the scoreboard in the second quarter, Whitty and Mathews helped boost the Redbacks’ advantage up to 25 points.
As the Redbacks looked poised to stride away, James Allan conceded a reversal free kick to Jayson Atkins, who handpassed to Lachlan Hind, who gave the Hawks their first goal of the term at the 20-minute mark.
Rinaldi responded for the Redbacks with his third and fourth goals of the match, elevating Talbot’s deficit to 32 points at half time.
With both teams elevating their on-ball pressure in the third quarter, scoring noticeably slowed, especially compared to the rollercoaster of a first quarter.
After the Carisbrook defence did a tremendous job keeping him goalless in the first half, Jarrod Stephens looked to ignite a Talbot fightback with a superb set shot that cut the margin back to 32 points after Cooper Driscoll booted the first major of the half.
However, the Hawks were limited to just a point for the remainder of the term, as a trifecta of goals from Butler and Rinaldi gave Carisbrook a 50-point cushion at three-quarter time.
While that could usually be described as an insurmountable lead, the Redbacks knew they couldn’t let their foot off the gas after the Hawks nearly completed a 63-point turnaround at their expense in last season’s qualifying final.
Despite a brilliant individual effort from Hind giving Talbot an early goal they desperately needed, Bulter quickly answered back with a lethal set shot.
That was the catalyst for a five goal to one run for the Redbacks, who made no mistake securing another big win over a fellow contender.
Carisbrook named Elliot Brandon-Jones, Rinaldi, Butler, Taranto, Bowen and Anden Lever as their best players.
Alkemade had a brilliant game for the Hawks, fighting hard in the midfield alongside Tarczon, Micallef and Hind who all scored multiple goals.