Burnie Football Club 2012 Premiers
Burnie 3.5, 8.9, 13.11, 16.14 (110)
Launceston 2.3, 3.4, 4.6, 9.8 (62)
GOALS
Burnie: R. Baldock 4, B. Hayes 3, S. Knott 1, B. Mihocek 1, C. Hislop 1, C. Hardy 1, K. Brakey 1, L. Shackleton 1, J. Laycock 1, D. Smith 1, K. Munday 1
Launceston: K. Kolodjashnij 2, A. Derbyshire 2, S. Whiting 2, J. Boyce 1, S. Stephens 1, M. Lee 1
BEST
Burnie: N. McKenna, J. Laycock, R. Barrett, L. Shackleton, R. Baldock, B. Mihocek
Launceston: B. Finch, J. Woolley, M. Lee, J. Lonergan, G. Savage, C. Sheppard
IT was the perfect script for Burnie as the Dockers rightfully claimed their first ever state league premiership in either the TSL or the old statewide league.
The best team of the year was justly crowned 2012 premiers with an outstanding display of finals footy on the biggest stage of all.
After a tight first quarter in which Burnie led by just eight points over last year’s premiers Launceston, it was all one way traffic.
Questions over Burnie’s ability to handle the wide expanses of Aurora Stadium and the pressure of chasing that elusive first flag were soon all answered in the affirmative for Burnie.
The first-term arm-wrestle became a white and purple romp as the Dockers piled on 5.4 to 1.1 to open up a 35-point lead at the long change.
This trend continued in the third with another five-goal-to-one term and the game was over as a contest.
Brayden Hayes came off the bench in the third term and slammed on three goals during this quarter to rip the premiership cup out of the Blues hands.
Everything went to plan for the Dockers with man-mountain Jason Laycock dominating the ruck on his way to the Darrel Baldock Medal as best on ground.
Launceston even played three ruckmen – Nathan O’Donoghue, Majak Miar and Joe Groenewegen – in an attempt to quell the former Essendon follower’s influence but all failed to have any impact on the TSL’s most dominant player.
But he had many teammates fighting him for the title of best afield.
Chunky onballer Luke Shackleton was at his barn-storming best in the clearances and key defender Nick McKenna was at his miserly, meanest best and was a constant road-block for the Blues forward entries.
Up forward Rohan Baldock – whose career appeared to be over after suffering serious internal injuries early in the season – booted a game-high four goals, just one of 11 goal-kickers for Burnie in a magnificent team performance.
The Blues showed some pride by winning the final term but throughout a long difficult year, they never reached the level of 2011.
Veteran Brian Finch was his side’s best player while Jesse Lonergan only enhanced his AFL draft prospects by competing hard in a losing side.
A lot of the credit for the Dockers victory must go to coach Brent Plant, who took over Burnie in dire situation.
A mass exodus of players followed the departure of then coach Justin Plapp at the end of the 2009 season.
Plant took over in a time of crisis and has turned the Dockers from a bunch of young, inexperienced players to TSL premiers in just three seasons – an outstanding coaching performance.
And it could become a bit of a dynasty on the North-West Coast with Laycock and Shackleton already committed to the 2013 season and the majority of the Dockers under or around 20 years of age.
Jason Laycock - 2012 Baldock Medallist
Jason Laycock, from the Burnie Dockers, took out the Coca-Cola Baldock Medal as the best on field for the senior grand final. Laycock humbly accepted the award.
The views expressed in the above are those of the writers and not those of AFL Tasmania.
Last Modified on 06/06/2013 14:13