Bombers search for answers after second semi-final lossST MARY'S has booked itself into another Northern Territory Football League Grand Final after spoiling Southern Districts' bid for an upset on Saturday night.
The Saints' 20.14 (134) to 12.6 (78) win over the Crocs means it will contest its sixth grand final this decade in search of its fifth flag since the 2002/03 season.
But the news wasn't so flash for the Tiwi Bombers, which has again failed to win a final for the second successive year after being defeated by the Wanderers by 40 points in the first semi-final, 23.12 (150) to 16.14 (110).
An 11-goals-to-three final term by the Wanderers catapulted the Eagles from elimination finalists in week one to now being just four quarters away from the big game.
The Bombers' defeat means the islanders have lost four NTFL finals in succession and have exited the finals series in straight sets two years running.
Bombers coach Brenton Troy said the question posed to the Bombers now is how the club can bounce back.
"The answer is commitment and a greater will to win," he said. "The club is still developing on and off the field. (If we're) fitter, smarter and slightly better structured in terms of key-position players, we will be closer to being good enough. (Against the Wanderers), we weren't good enough."
Despite the loss, Toy said he can still see some improvement 12 months on from the club's maiden finals appearance.
"I am confident that we were better (this finals series) than we were this time last year," he said. "But even if had have won, we would have still needed to beat (Southern) Districts, and then St Mary's (to win the flag) and I'm not sure if we had it in us to do that. I guess we'll be left wondering."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Monday, March 9, 2009
Last Modified on 10/03/2009 21:37