Grafton Tigers play out tie against Northern Beaches

Trailing by 16 points heading into the final period, Grafton Tigers managed to claw their way back and set up a thrilling finish against Northern Beaches to start this year’s AFL North Coast season

Action between the Grafton Tigers and Northern Beaches to kick off the 2021 AFL North Coast season. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

Trailing by 16 points with one quarter of football left to play in their season opener, the Grafton Tigers senior men’s side went down to the wire against Northern Beaches, with nothing to separate the two teams at full time.

The AFL North Coast senior men’s reigning premiers opened their 2021 campaign with a thrilling opening round draw, with Grafton 8.14 (62) putting on a late surge against Northern Beaches 9.8 (62) to avoid defeat.

Both teams will be rueing missed opportunities, while the Tigers will be keen to find their radar after eight of their first nine scoring shots returned just one goal.

Action between the Grafton Tigers and Northern Beaches to kick off the 2021 AFL North Coast season. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

Ned O’Neill kicked his third goal for the Tigers with three minutes remaining on the clock to tie the scores up but neither side was able to snatch the lead despite some desperate efforts on very tired legs.

Grafton coach Adi Campbell said it was more than just inaccuracy in front of goal that stopped the Tigers getting all four points.

“Missed opportunities and our work rate around the footy hurt us a fair bit like spreading the ball out of contests, we didn’t spread hard enough,” Campbell said.

“But it was a good fight back. To be almost three goals down in that last quarter and come back and draw it was good but we just ran out of time.”

Action between the Grafton Tigers and Northern Beaches to kick off the 2021 AFL North Coast season. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

Blues coach Rory Evans said he was reasonably happy with the result.

“If you said before the game you can come up here and face the premiers from last year and get a draw, the greedy person in me probably wouldn’t have taken it but the sensible person would’ve,” Evans said.

“It’s good to come up here and challenge them and do that.

“I’m not really focused on the last quarter. I’m probably more really happy with how we responded from the first half of the first quarter.”

Action between the Grafton Tigers and Northern Beaches to kick off the 2021 AFL North Coast season. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

ROUND 2 – Saturday, May 1

Northern Beaches v Coffs Breakers at Centennial Oval, Woolgoolga

(11.50am – Women; 1.20pm – Reserves; 2.50pm – Seniors)

Lismore Swans v Port Macquarie at Oakes Oval, Lismore

(1.20pm – Women; 2.50pm – Seniors)

Casino v Grafton at Queen Elizabeth Park, Casino

(2.50pm – Seniors)

Sawtell/Toormina v Nambucca Valley at Richardson Park, Sawtell

(10.00am – Under-17s; 1.20pm – Reserves; 2.50pm – Seniors)