Sport
9 September, 2025
Carisbrook outlast Natte Bealiba after extra time, face Trentham in grand final
Let’s set the stage. After two hours of gruelling football, nothing could separate Natte Bealiba and Carisbrook, forcing their preliminary final to go into extra time.
With the Redbacks leading by a point with just a minute left on the clock, Aaron Hayes delivered the last roll of the dice for the Swans with a high ball into forward territory.
Cometh the moment, cometh Andrew Toan for Carisbrook.
The elder-statesman defender took a courageous contested mark to knock out the reigning premiers and send Carisbrook through to the grand final.
Clearly possessing a flair for the dramatic, both the Redbacks’ finals victories have come by the slimmest of margins, with Sunday’s preliminary final going down as one of the most gripping and awe-inspiring matches in MCDFNL finals history.
After a rollercoaster game, one emotion stood out for Carisbrook senior coach Brandon Weatherson.
“Relief is definitely there — Natte are a very good side, we have had some really big games against them and have lost some important ones, so it’s quite sweet to win,” he said.
“Going into extra time, I think everyone knew it was five minutes each way, but we were unsure whether we could talk to the players or we could make interchanges.
“We felt like we really dominated that first five minutes of extra time, but we didn’t get bang for our buck.
“Five minutes isn’t a long time, so it was good to have a lead turning and then we just needed to create repeat stoppages, which we did really well.”
In a massive boost to their chances, Carisbrook club legend Jackson Bowen made a remarkable return to the team after suffering a suspected season-ending injury.
Saturday’s matches, coupled with Sunday morning’s torrential downpour, had a noticeable effect on the playing surface at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve, setting the stage for a low-scoring affair.
Another variant in play was the noticeable breeze towards the scoreboard end.
The Redbacks made quick use of the clear scoring end, with Angus McKinna bursting out of the contest and applying a sublime finish to draw first blood after a minute.
In a showcase of the substantial wind effect, a boot forward from Carisbrook co-captain Nicholas Wright from well inside the centre square sailed over the contesting Harry Whitty and Brady Templeton and dribbled in for the Redbacks’ third goal at the 12-minute mark.
Carisbrook continued to dominate, limiting the Swans to just four inside 50s and one point following a Will Holt set shot after the siren.
With that in mind, the Redbacks were slightly disappointed not to extend their advantage further than 19 points by quarter time, knowing Natte could quickly make up ground with the wind now in their favour.
Despite the Redbacks’ resistance, some quick thinking from Archie Chadwick found the opening breakthrough for the Swans.
After being held relatively quiet thanks to the persistently brilliant coverage of Anden Lever, Holt made his presence felt in the second quarter with an outstanding kick from just outside 50 and a strong mark in the goal square late.
Holt’s second ensured the scores were level heading into half time.
Carisbrook knew they needed to take full advantage of the scoring end in the third quarter. Following a stellar first half, Mitchell McClure got the Redbacks back on track, marking a Toan kick just inside 50 and slotting the ensuing set shot to put his team back in front.
After Wright made the most of a free kick reversal to double Carisbrook’s lead, Natte kicked the first goal at the bowls club end, with Chadwick making the most of a free kick from 30 meters out.
Thomas Gardam delivered an instant reply for the Redbacks, however, with an 11-point lead at three-quarter time, tension began to rise as to whether they had done enough to keep the Swans at bay.
That tension grew when Hayes kicked the opening goal of the fourth quarter, bringing Natte to within a goal.
Despite spectacular marks from Bowen, Dillan Treacy and Adam Hurse, some shocking kicking miscues meant Carisbrook only managed a point while in control.
Bailey Jacobs made Carisbrook pay for those uncharacteristic mistakes, tying the game with a clutch set shot from just outside 50 at the 13-minute mark.
The Swans continued to press for a winner, and four minutes later, they looked to have it. From a ruck contest deep inside 50, Trent Mortlock grabbed the ball up and found Nathan Holt, who quickly fired a snap shot which went just over the fingertips of Luke Jones on the goal line, giving Natte the lead.
The Redbacks looked to be in tremendous trouble, needing a moment of brilliance to keep their premiership chances alive.
Up stepped Tim Rinaldi.
With a hopeful Carisbrook kick forward, Rinaldi rose above a swarming pack to take a spectacular mark 30 meters from goal. With their season on the line, the star forward delivered, as his attempt just crept over the line to draw the game level.
Neither team could register a decisive score in the last two minutes, forcing the contest into extra time.
Having the scoring end for the first extra period, Carisbrook were desperate for a goal.
Despite numerous chances, it wasn’t forthcoming, with an early Brady Neill behind the only score.
Trailing by one at the change of ends, the door was open for Natte to steal the victory in the most dramatic fashion.
The Redbacks did a masterful job of preventing the Swans from advancing, producing several superb smothers and generating constant stoppages.
With time winding down, two Natte kicks forward were expertly marked by Toan, allowing the Redbacks to hold on to one of their most famous victories.
After being on the precipice of being eliminated, Weatherson said his team’s endeavour and determination won the game.
“I think there were two teams that defended really well into the breeze. In the third quarter, we felt like we were a goal short,” he said.
“The message was to keep going and show fight — we have done it all year and there have been a couple of results that we could’ve laid over and given up, but we have found a way to win.
“We were wary that they played two very heavy finals before and they were carrying a couple of sore bodies into the contest, so we were pretty confident we could make it happen.
“We had a man behind the play the whole last quarter and then when they got in front, we had to change that.
“We had to score to try and win the game, took a couple of really important contested marks and the boys held their heads really well.”