SFNL: How Hallam plans to turn tables on Hampton in Division 4 decider
Hallam coach Tom Dalton is confident the Hawks’ semi and preliminary final experiences has “done them good” and has them ready to turn the tables on Hampton this weekend’s Division 4 decider.
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The jitters are gone.
Hallam coach Tom Dalton believes his side has dissolved its nervous energy and enters the Southern league Division 4 grand final more equipped than it would have been if it beat Hampton in the first semi-final.
The Hawks are through to the flag decider after a come-from-behind 10.16 (76) to 8.10 (58) win over Lyndale in Saturday’s preliminary final.
They will meet Hampton, which lowered the Hawks’ colours with an eight-goal-to-one opening term in the semi-final.
Dalton thinks the Hawks’ preliminary final triumph was a nerve-settler and are better for the experience of a big-game win.
“I think they got over their nerves and got back on track,” he said.
“We over thought instead of trying to play our own game (the first week).
“I think they were nervous, they were sort of too excited – the experience (of another final) has definitely done them good.”
Dalton steered focus away from the semi-final during the week and instead kept his side focused on securing a chance to rectify the loss.
But he is assured that it was 10-minute pressure-free period that cost the Hawks.
“I think we had to bring our confidence and spirit up at training and not look back, we played a good side,” he said.
“They beat us in a good 10 minutes of football and we just had to learn from it, that’s all I said ‘let’s just learn from it’ and I said ‘we didn’t finish second for no reason, we finished there because we’re a good side’.
“I reviewed it pretty hard, just as a coach, but I told the players to just get through next week – there was no point getting into Hampton until the grand final.
“Our pressure for 10 minutes just wasn’t where it should have been.
“If we bring high-intensity pressure, that’s how we beat them earlier in the year.”
Hampton has suffered just one defeat this year, going down to the Hawks in a five-point thriller in round 11.
Dalton understands his side goes in as a huge underdog but knows they’re capable of knocking off the Hammers.
“We don’t underestimate how good of a side they are, I think we made mistakes in the first final we hopefully won’t make again,” he said.
“We’re a fifty fifty chance and anything can happen in a grand final, we go in pretty confident we will put up a good showing.
“We’re trying to build something where they’re successful for a long time, not just win and drop off the perch, so every final is going to make them better.”
Neither Hampton nor Hallam has won a Southern league premiership.
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