Thunder crunches Southport in season-openerIT'S the start every new coach wants -- a first-up win to begin the season. And that's exactly what Michael McLean got when his NT Thunder side defeated reigning QAFL premier Southport to begin a fairytale start to their first season in Darwin on Saturday night.
The Thunder, with a fair-sized Indigenous component to it, led for all bar one break to defeat the Sharks by 12 points, 16.12 (108) to 14.12 (96), at Marrara Oval in a perfect introduction to Queensland football.
The win places the Territory side fifth on percentage in the top five of the 10-team league.
Roughly 4000 local fans ventured to Marrara to see history in the making and they weren't disappointed -- on the scoreboard and the manner in which their new team won.
The Thunder's running brigade and high-level skills was the difference in a pulsating final term. The result was in question throughout the quarter, as was the game with no more than nine point separating the sides over the course of the match.
It was the 'Barunga bolter' Relton Roberts' spearing pass to team-mate Matt Cannard at the 21-minute mark of the final quarter that shift momentum the Thunders' way after Cannard's six-point conversion giving the home side a five-point lead. A set-shot miss by the Thunder was followed up by son-of-a-gun Mark McLean firing in a pass to Tiwi man James Puautjimi whose goal resulted in the sealer.
Naturally, McLean was stoked with the win.
"We're pretty excited, it was a great win for the boys and we're off to a good start," he said. "We missed a few tackles at different stages when their bigger bodies showed out, but it was the first outing for our guys and they will improve as well.
"We've had no practice matches. We know Southport had a lot of good players out and they are a good side -- they were a good side tonight. They'll be a good side and we need to improve a hell of a lot. I was pleased with the way we fought on in the last quarter; that's Territory stuff -- you dig deep."
Sharks coach Craig Crowley said his side paid for lack of contested ball.
"What was really significant was that they won the contested ball and we didn't. We gave a few free kicks away early and our ball security was poor," he said. "As soon as they go into a contest, they're out the back and they're gone. It's a style of football we're not accustomed to. We'll have a really good look at the tape and see who were the main ball-getters."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Last Modified on 07/04/2009 01:27