Sport
26 August, 2025
Navarre scalp Dunolly in do-or-die finals match
After missing out on finals in 2024, Navarre made a successful return to do-or-die football by defeating Dunolly by an eventually comfortable 57 points.
The reward for their victory is a date with Talbot this Sunday at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve to see who will face Trentham in the preliminary final.
With both teams seasons on the line, the Grasshoppers and the Eagles were evenly matched in the opening stages.
Lloyd Needs delivered the first breakthrough for Dunolly, bursting out of the contest to kick the opening goal inside two minutes.
Navarre delivered an instant reply through star forward Aaron Slorach from a set shot before a moment of brilliance from Brady Tillig extended the Grasshoppers’ lead.
While many of their offensive forays early were stopped by interceptions from Dunolly’s Adal Zuk and Joel Fisher, who cut the margin to one with a goal midway through the quarter, Navarre got on a crucial roll to end the term.
Three unanswered goals suddenly gave the Grasshoppers a 19-point lead at the first chance after a competitive first quarter.
Navarre translated that late-quarter surge into the second quarter, outscoring Dunolly with six scoring shots to one.
However, that advantage didn’t translate to a commanding position on the scoreboard, as an outstanding shot from rising star Oliver Notting just outside 50 six minutes into the period was their only goal of the quarter.
Fisher made the most of the Eagles’ lone scoring shot, converting from a free kick to keep his team within touching distance, trailing by four goals at half time.
While inaccuracy issues plagued both teams to start the second half, Navarre began to create some separation in the third quarter.
Slorach would open the goal scoring in the third quarter with an easy chance in the goal square with his fourth for the game.
Navarre’s Sam Rickard and Dunolly’s Fisher traded goals before Slorach’s would end the quarter with his fifth from a set shot to give his team a comfortable 37-point advantage at three-quarter time.
Despite Dunolly’s best efforts to keep their season afloat, Navarre found an extra gear in the final quarter, booting the first four goals to put the game out of reach.
The Eagles would get a consolation goal through Needs, but it didn’t stop the Grasshoppers from clinching the win.
Slorach continues to be a difference-maker for the Grasshoppers, once again spearheading their attack with a game-changing seven goals.
Navarre named Notting, Luke Hendy, Shannon Treloar, Sam Walker, Tillig and John Jok as their best players.
Zuk and Fisher were brilliant in defeat, easy choices for the Eagles’ best players alongside Jay McDonald, Needs, Daniel Trull and Justin Allison.
Navarre senior coach Kyle Hendy said the Grasshoppers effectively executed their gameplan to reverse their round 13 defeat to the Eagles at the perfect time.
“We played the way we wanted to and discussed during the week,” he said.
“We were moving the ball long quickly and trying to defend their first 20 metre kick with a lot of pressure so they couldn’t expose us like they did during the season when we played them.
“At the end of the first quarter, I think we sort of needed that just to steady the ship a little bit.
“I think the delivery into Slorach was a lot better this week than what we have been able to get there.
“He was able to find the right spaces to get into and compete for the football.”
