Snowdogs Show Heart but Fall Short Against St Kevin’s
St Bernard’s faced a tough Round 11 clash against St Kevin’s, battling not only a quality opposition but also a long list of injuries that forced several changes to the line-up. Despite these setbacks, the Snowdogs showed grit and determination from the outset.
The contest was fierce from the first bounce, with St Kevin’s eager to make a statement and stamping their authority early through their well-drilled midfield and cohesive ball movement. Bernard’s, though heavily reshuffled, refused to back down and displayed plenty of courage, supporting each other at every contest.
In the opening quarter, defensive pressure was a highlight for St Bernard’s, with Nick Tonge, Karan Bharathi and Ethan Schumann working relentlessly to win the ball and apply pressure around the stoppages. Up forward, Luke Di Lizio continued his consistent form, kicking two goals and presenting well throughout the second quarter.
Captain for the day, Fergus McNicol, was a constant presence, competing hard against St Kevin’s talls and lifting the team with his leadership and work rate. Thanks to St Kevin’s inaccuracy in front of goal, Bernard’s went into the main break just three goals behind, still well in the contest.
After halftime, however, St Kevin’s found their rhythm. Despite Bernard’s best efforts, they were unable to stem the flow as their opponents piled on the pressure, dominating the second half while Bernard’s struggled to impact the scoreboard. Still, the Snowdogs fought out the match with spirit, refusing to drop their heads.
One of the big positives on the day was Tom Sullivan’s defensive game, consistently nullifying his opponent and giving everything right to the final siren. His relentless effort, even when the match was out of reach, was a standout.
Ultimately, it was a tough afternoon for St Bernard’s, going down by 68 points, but there were encouraging passages of play and plenty of positives to build on. The group will regroup and look ahead to another challenge next week, travelling to take on second-placed Old Xaverians.
Final Scores
St Kevin’s: 5.7 (37) | 6.13 (49) | 8.19 (67) | 13.25 (103)
St Bernard’s: 2.1 (13) | 5.3 (33) | 5.5 (35) | 5.5 (35)
Best Players
St Kevin’s: Liam Gunson, Cam Hodges, Tom Ferguson, Jack Mahony, Angus Phillips, George Delimitrou
St Bernard’s: Tom Sullivan, Nick Tonge, Karan Bharathi, Fergus McNicol, Ethan Schumann, Luke Di Lizio
Goal Kickers
St Kevin’s: S. Critchley 3, S. Barnett 3, P. Kerr 1, C. Hodges 1, O. Gill 1, A. Seaton 1, S. Cameron 1, J. Darmody 1, V. Adduci 1
St Bernard’s: L. Di Lizio 2, M. Watson 1, O. Liberatore 1, L. Chillura 1
Written by: Hannah Juricskay