July 18, 2023
New life was breathed into the old Kingaroy Bulldogs’ strip at the South Burnett Saints’ big Heritage Day on Saturday.
The red, white and blue colours date back to 1981, when the Kingaroy Bulldogs introduced Australian Rules football to the South Burnett.
The team earned their first flag in their debut year, taking out the 1981 Division 2 premiership.
The Saints’ Heritage and Sponsors Day always attracts former players back to Kingaroy to enjoy a big day of games (and the live music and camaraderie afterwards).
An auction continued throughout the day to buy the old footy jerseys from previous Heritage rounds.
Out on Lyle Vidler Oval, there were four games to enjoy: two junior games before the Saints Women’s and Men’s teams took on the Goondiwindi Hawks.
Unfortunately, the Saints Men’s team’s recent winning streak came to end, going down by four goals against the Hawks: 16.11-107 to 12.7-79 in a fiercely contested game.
Saints’ goals were kicked by Fletcher Brown (3), Joshua Freeman (2), Nathan Trace (2), Ben Pressnell, Jack Mines, Jake Larsen, Mitchell Bailey and James Packer.
The Women’s team also had no luck against Goondiwindi, 7.13-55 to 2.2-14.
Kayla Smith and Kayley Collins were the two Saints’ goal kickers.
In the two junior games: Goondiwindi Hawks Mixed U12s defeated Toowoomba Tigers Mixed 7.9-51 to 2.0-12; and Tigers Mixed U14s def. South Burnett Saints Mixed 29.23-61 to 0.1-1.
Saturday was also AFL Queensland’s official Pride Round, which saw the Saints’ women’s team don rainbow socks for the occasion.
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