Dingos Go Down In Qualifying Final

The Toronto Dingos have been dealt their first loss of the 2025 campaign, going down to the Toronto Rebels in the first Qualifying Final 03.07 - 25 to 05.10 - 40.

As expected, the game started in a tightly contested tussle between the top two sides from the regular season, with neither team able to grab much ascendancy in the opening 10 minutes of the game. The two midfields battled it out with the ball pinging between the the half forward lines as the backs repelled any would-be attacks. As the game settled, the Rebels began to find their rhythm and managed to kick the first two majors of the game, keeping the Dingos goalless in the first quarter.

Not ones to lie down, the Dingos came out invigorated in the second quarter, looking to reverse the outcome of the first. The midfield began to get on top of their opponents and the backline of Bradley Wooten, Lachy Barazza, Harry Moore, Mike Bocian, Chris Jepsen & Arman Malekjahani showed why teams have found it so hard to score against them throughout the entire season with the Rebels only managing a single behind in the quarter.

However, despite the dominance of the ball, the Dingos were unable to capitalize only registering a single major in the quarter when Matteo Lugarini kicked truly after clunking a nice contested mark in the forward 50. The teams went into the main break with the Rebels holding a narrow lead, and the game well and truly on the line.

The second half began much like the first, with neither team really breaking free from the midfield battle. James Talbot, Ludo Barrat & Robert Rusan battled away, winning the footy and driving the ball forward, but the Rebels defense had flooded back and made easy pickings of their efforts. Both the Rebels and the Dingos traded goals in the quarter, with the Rebels maintaining their lead heading into the fourth.

Despite their efforts the Dingos were unable to penetrate the Rebels defense, who continued to put players behind the ball to ensure nothing came easy to these Dingos forwards. Lugarini was able to snag his third goal for the game late after the Rebels gave away a crucial 50m penalty that left the door slightly ajar, but it was too little too late with the Dingos succumbing to a 15-point loss.

The Rebels now advance through to the 2025 AFL Ontario Grand Final for the fourth consecutive year, whilst the Dingos will need to take the scenic route to secure their ticket to the big dance, taking on Ottawa at Humber this Saturday, September 13th.

Goals: M. Lugarini (3)

Best: L. Barazza, L. Barrat, M. Lugarini, B. Wooten & J. Talbot