Bombers coach keen to avoid repeat of last season's embarrassmentTIWI Bombers coach Brenton Toy believes his side can more than make up for last year's straight sets finals exit, starting today.
The Tiwis face the Shannon Rusca-coached Southern Districts -- a side that has yet to beat the Bombers since they entered the competition two seasons ago -- in today's Northern Territory Football League qualifying final.
In the Tiwis' favour will be the Crocs entering the finals series as perhaps the most vulnerable of the NTFL's top five. Out of St Mary's, Tiwi Bombers, Wanderers and Waratah, Southern Districts' pre-finals campaign has been one to forget.
Save for a 82-point win over lowly Darwin at the start of February, the Crocs have lost to Waratah by 134 points and Darwin by 15. On top of that, they will be without key defender Keegan Dingo, who copped a one-match ban after being found guilty of attempting to strike Waratah’s Jethro Calma-Holt last weekend.
It's not exactly the situation you'd want to be in heading into the finals, and especially against the Tiwis. Of the two times the sides have met this season, the Bombers have come out on top; their last clash won by the Tiwis by 55 points.
Still, Toy wants nothing less than a first-class effort from his team.
We managed to get over the line against Nightcliff (last weekend) and although we didn't put together a four-quarter performance, it was good to see the boys full of run at the end of the game," he said. "(But) after the disappointment of last year's straight sets exit, we'll need to bring our 'A' game against Southern Districts; they're unpredictable."
Unfortunately for the Tiwis, they will have to make do without inspirational little man, Samson Mungatopi, who cracked a collar bone against the Tigers in a collision in the second quarter.
Wanderers, Waratah to clashTHIS week's signing of a contract with the Northern Territory Football Club may provided Wanderers utility Relton Robert added incentive to even greater heights when the Eagles clash with the Warriors in today's cut-throat elimination final.
Roberts is rated by his coach Paul Motlop as among the best he's coached. And he'll be calling on the Barunga man's 'X' factor to lead Wanderers in victory of the Warriors today.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Last Modified on 10/03/2009 21:42