LUCINDALE 2011 PREMIERS
BY COUNTRYFOOTY EDITOR, LAWRIE COLLIVER AT NARACOORTE OVAL
Lucindale showed their class and authority by winning the KNTFL Premiership by 26 points over a spirited Naracoorte outfit last Saturday.
The Demons went into the match with severe injury doubts, wingman Tom Prebble (shoulder) and mid-fielder Robert Jones (leg) were both under fitness clouds but both took their places as both sides ran out onto the ground in front of a crowd pushing 5,000.
On a fast track and in a swirly wind, Naracoorte put their devastating 20 goal loss in the second Semi behind them to kick the first four majors of the match. Michael Parker was brilliant, kicking three of the four to get the Demons off to the best possible start. One man and one man alone appeared to be keeping Lucindale in the game, ruckman Mark Snowball was dominating general play as well as winning his fair share of ruck taps as Lucindale floundered a bit in the early stages.
A couple of misses from set shots may well have put the Demons further in front, but to be fair to Lucindale they started to settle and were having a fair amount of the play, but still looked a little nervy and appeared a bit rattled.
Mid-way in the quarter Demons skipper Nathan Smith was in great touch but copped one high and had to leave the ground. Late in the term, Syd Patterson copped a heavy knock in the centre square and required assistance to return to the bench. Only a free kick was given by the Umpire on each occasion when perhaps stronger action may have been taken.
Indirectly or not the game changed after the Patterson incident, as goals came from the clever Travis Ware and the speedy Sam Mardling, so at the first change only 14 points separated the teams – Naracoorte 4.5 to Lucindale 2.3
In the second term, Lucindale started to hit their straps, as the game lifted a level. Snowball continued to play well on ball and with Mardling and McInerney starting to win their positions the Second Semi winners looked back on track. Shane McGurk was proving to be a pest for the Demons defence and kicked a spectacular goal from deep in the left forward pocket – a six-pointer that set the momentum the Roos way. 16 year-old Ethan Gill – 97 kg and about six foot five – was causing some problems on the wing and with goals to Walsh and also Mardling, Lucindale hit the front late in term.
To Naracoorte credit, they realised they had to lift and Mitch Hartree started to sweep up in the Demons defence, picking up possessions at will. Brodie Borg was blanketing Todd Price and with a brilliant goal coming late in the term to the mecurial Jones, there was just two points in it at the main break. Lucindale 6.9 to Naracoorte 6.7
In the main break, one sensed in the Demons rooms that they knew they’d need to play at the top of their game to win their third Premiership in a row. A few players were looking tired and there were several others getting treatment ahead of the second half. The word from the Lucindale rooms was that if they could keep applying the pressure, that eventually they could break Naracoorte.
The game opened up in the third term and Lucindale continued on where they left off, with Snowball winning in the centre and in the early part of the term looked as though they might run away with the game as tallman Walsh sneaked forward to kick a couple of goals.
Lucindale seemed fortunate early in the term to receive two or three free kicks forward of centre from dubious umpiring decisions, which helped them keep their momentum which they had built in the second term. Naracoorte supporters were rightly annoyed, particularly when some more spiteful incidents in the first term didn’t really receive the penalties they should have.
McInerney was also starting to prove elusive as Lucindale again picked up the pace. Naracoorte’s Hartree again had to hold his opponents at bay as things were looking bad for his team. His rebound and drive from defence was faultless.
Leading Goalkicker in the competition, Simon Cox started make his presence felt leading front and centre for a couple of goals and with James Dixon starting get a few touches, including a good goal, after a very quiet first half, the Demons were hanging in there on the scoreboard.
Snowball crept forward to score a handy goal and with Walsh kicking his third for the term – Lucindale had a nine point lead with a quarter to play. Lucindale 11.10 to Naracoorte 10.7
Under overcast skies, the last term started with many spectators asking the question – could Naracoorte dig deep a find something to win their third flag on the trot, or would the Roos’ break the Demons stranglehold on the pennant and win it themselves?
When Demons forward Brett Gould, who had been very quiet for much of the day, had a great chance to goal early in the term but missed – you sensed that was the spark that was needed for Naracoorte to win the game.
It was to be Lucindale’s day. McInerney, Mardling and the reliable Handbury all kicked goals as the Second Semi Final winners started to scent victory. Naracoorte players were on their last legs, and were battling to stay with their opponents. The Demons defence, led by the magnificent Hartree were doing their best, but the run from the Lucindale on-ballers was proving too much. When 16 year-old Ethan Gill showed a bit of class and goaled just into time on, the game was all over as the Roo’s headed for their first Premiership since 2005.
Naracoorte’s Simon Cox kicked his 5th for the game, to finish with 112 goals for the season – but as the siren sounded, it was Lucindale who could do all the celebrating, winners by 26 points, a fair margin.
After quarter time Lucindale had plenty of winners around the ground, with ruckman Snowball a clear best on ground in my book. While Ryan McInerney was a very good player, Snowball was holding it together when his team was under the pump in the first term and clearly won his battle with Virgo Medalist Craig Beggs. Tim Walsh another good player with his four goals, while Jamie McCarthy did a superb blanketing role on James Dixon to effective shut the Demons star out of the game.
For a game Naracoorte outfit, Hartree was a clear best player. He went into the match a double fracture in his hand but swept across the backline and played brilliantly right to the end. Others to do well were Syd Patterson was knocked out early and responded in the best possible way while Wilson and Munro were superb in defence. Youngster Brodie Borg dominated Todd Price, who was goalless after a 8 goal haul in the Second Semi and skipper Nathan Smith led his team in the best possible way.
In the final analysis, Lucindale were a slightly classier team, while Naracoorte’s youngsters led the way and were let down a little but some of the senior players who struggled to work themselves into the game.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the Naracoorte FC and the KNTFL people for a well run Grand Final. The home of the Demons is a great venue and the footy on the day was great to watch – well done to all concerned including outgoing Demons President Glen Hamlyn and his harding working team.
Grand Final at Naracoorte - September 17, 2011
Lucindale
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2.3
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6.9
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11.10
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15.13 (103)
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Naracoorte
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4.5
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6.7
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10.7
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11.11 (77)
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Best: Lucindale – Ryan McInerney, Josh Walker, Mark Snowball, Tim Walsh, Kane McCarthy, Jamie McCarthy. Naracoorte – Mitch Hartree, Sid Patterson, Luke Munro, Nathan Smith, Brodie Borg, Matt Wilson. Goals : Lucindale - Tim Walsh 4, Sam Mardling 3, Ryan McInerney 2, Shane McGurk 2, Mark Snowball, Ethan Gill, Travis Ware, Rob Handbury. Naracoorte - Simon Cox 5 (112 for 2011), Michael Parker 3, Robert Jones, James Dixon, Jake Gilbert.
Last Modified on 07/05/2012 12:21