by Jim Gordon
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers defeated Hopetoun by 12 points in the MFL preliminary final at Blackburn Park in Ouyen on Saturday and in doing so won the right to take on Walpeup Underbool in this years’ Grand Final. The preliminary final was played in front of a very large crowd with gate takings of over $8,500.
For the second year in a row, the Tigers have shown extraordinary courage and determination in getting to the Grand Final via the first semi final. They won because they did not get flustered when the Devils seemed to be in control of play, they had a forward in Troy Ferrier who was able to kick goals and they used the difficult conditions to their advantage by keeping the ball low with short and accurate passing into the wind.
Conditions were not conducive to good football with a strong, cold wind favouring the northern end. The Devils will lament their lack of conversion for most of the game, but nothing should be taken away from the Tigers.
This was a win full of merit. The Tigers looked to be the underdogs before the first bounce. The Devils had easily defeated the Tigers three times this season and this time they were without coach Jarrod Arentz whereas Hopetoun had Kain Robins. Hopetoun looked bigger, stronger and more talented. Yet none of this mattered in the end.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers had a simple game plan. Opening into the wind, they tried at all times to keep the ball on the non scoring side of the ground, they kept the ball low and used their not insignificant skills by hand or by foot to maintain possession of the ball for as long as possible. When they had use of the breeze, they kicked long and high into their forward half relying on the skill of their crumbers as much as their key forwards to kick goals.
Col Durie was invaluable for the Tigers. In the match winning third term Durie worked hard against the wind. He often dropped back into defence to cut off a Hopetoun forward thrust, he ran through the centre and was always a nuisance to the Hopetoun midfield. At one stage in the third term, Durie kicked high into his own half forward line and proceeded to collect the ball when it spilled off the pack, Steve Lyons gathered from Durie and passed it off to Jarrod Alderton for a valuable goal into the wind.
Troy Ferrier was another who made the most of his opportunities up forward and his lively presence ended up in five gaols as the top goal scorer on the day. This was where Hopetoun fell down. Time after time they kicked long into their forward line but had no-one behind the pack to gather the lose ball when it inevitably fell off hands in the tricky wind. At the other end of the ground, Tiger small men were at ground level waiting for anything that bounced their way.
Bryce Wellington held some good marks and kicked three goals, but Steve Lyons often outplayed Wellington, he marked well, he was able to run off his opponent and kick long out of defence. His was a match winning performance.
Simon Cook battled manfully all day in the ruck for Hopetoun. Dan McEwan was lively at the centre bounces and kicked two valuable goals for the Tigers, the second of which put the game out of Hopetoun’s reach in the final term. It came after good play up the field by Luke Martin who kicked long to full forward where McEwan was lurking, he held onto the mark in the fluky wind and converted with no trouble putting the Tigers 18 points up with five minutes to go.
The match was entertaining all day. First one side, then the other seemed to have the advantage. Both failed to make the most of their opportunities when kicking with the wind and both played some of their best football into the wind. In the third term, the ball was in Hopetoun’s forward half for most of the time; indeed with the Devils 14 points up and seemingly coasting to a big three quarter time lead, the Tigers got it forward for the first time in the quarter and goaled. They did this three more times and ended up ahead going into the final term with the wind behind them. Andy Roberts defended well in this term repelling several attacks with good marking and precise passing off to his team’s advantage.
Hopetoun kicked several behinds that should have been goals in the third quarter. Zac Robins missed a gettable shot from 50m as did Kain Robins not long after and Anthony Baker was another to offend. Nevertheless, they still looked the goods when Scott Heath on his left foot kicked a magnificent gaol from the boundary line right on the 50m arc. The Devils would rue their many wasted opportunities this term.
Sea Lake Nandaly started off the final term the way they finished the third. They dominated play and the game was held in their half for the opening ten minutes of the term. Just when the crowd thought that the game was over, Hopetoun struck back.
With the Tigers 11 points up after behinds to Jarrod Alderton and Lance Brown and a great snap goal to Darcy Ryan, Hopetoun somehow got the ball forward and with the aid of a 50m penalty, they goaled through Luke Carr and when Deek Roberts goaled after a penalty infringement by the Tigers, suddenly the Devils were a point up and it was game on.
It was then a tight 15 minutes of tough relentless football. Scores were level twice before the final twist to the game came with Geordan McLaughlan’s incredible snap from 25m that rolled and spun through a tumble of Hopetoun arms and legs giving the Tigers a lead that they soon increased to 18 points before the Devils scored just before the final siren.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were worthy winners. They made the most of their opportunities, they stuck to their game plan and played a game that was suited to the conditions. Hopetoun will regret missed opportunities, but in finishing third they have improved on last year’s results. The Tigers face a formidable task taking on the Roos next week at Rainbow. Supporters can rest assured that they will give it their best shot.
Last Modified on 09/09/2012 12:57
