Thomson president Chris Scott said Inverleigh deserved their GDFL premiership after key Tiger was knocked out in the opening minute

Thomson Football Club’s president has provided a health update on a star Tiger who was flattened in the opening minute of the GDFL grand final against Inverleigh.

Thomson star Jahd Anderson “wasn’t in a great state” after the GDFL grand final following a concussion in the opening minute, Tigers president Chris Scott says.

The team of the year winger was flattened by Ryan Robertson not long after the opening bounce of the decider at St Albans Reserve on Saturday.

The Tigers never recovered from the sickening collision – which resulted in Anderson being stretched off – as the Hawks won comfortably 15.5 (95) to 4.8 (32).

Scott said the clash was “pivotal” to the start of the game but their concern was the ongoing health of Anderson, who he described as a “fair player and a really great guy”.

“We’ve got, not just a terrific player but a terrific person at Thomson, who was in a pretty average way (yesterday),” Scott said.

Thomson president Chris Scott said the Tigers had their worst day of the season. Picture: David Smith.

“We just want to wrap our arms around him at the moment and make sure he recovers well because it wasn’t a great concussion.

“It was one that did cause us a bit of worry.

“He wasn’t in a great state, for most of the yesterday and possibly into last night.

“Obviously losing your best player in the first minute is a tough one, the fairness of the bump will play out at the tribunal.”

However, Scott said Inverleigh was simply the best side on the day and deserved their 63-point win, breaking a 31-year premiership drought.

“It was pivotal for sure, but Inverleigh beat us three times for the year,” he said.

“There’s no denying they were the best team of the year.

“They’re well deserving premiers.”

Inverleigh’s Finley O’Keefe celebrates after the final siren.

He said the playing group was obviously disappointed to lose by a “pretty considerable margin” following two close matches during the season.

“We don’t think (it) was reflective of where we were at,” he said.

“It’ll drive us for next year, we probably played our worst game of the season in the most important game.

“But there’s a lot of hope for the future as well … there was still a good feeling in the rooms.

“It was local footy at its best, I just wish the game could have lived up to the billing.

“Unfortunately it was a bit one sided.”

He said the club’s B Grade netballers going back-to-back was crucial in allowing players to “pick each other up”.

“That netball section has really been able to carry us with some success,” he said.

“They’ve been leading from the front.”

Despite the result, Scott said senior coach Paul Lynch reminded his charges after the match they had been “fantastic” in most games this year, recording a 15-3 regular season.

Inverleigh maintained its winning streak against Thomson which extends back to June, 2019.

“Our worst performance was on the biggest stage of them all,” he said.

“But we’re going to stick together.

“We’re not going to shy away from it, we’ll be there and take it on and make amends.”

Scott, in his first year as president while still playing in the Tigers’ reserves, said the senior squad was a tight group and that wouldn’t change in 2024.

“It’s the closest playing group I’ve probably played with in my time at Thomson,” he said.

“We were able to pick each other up despite the sadness.

“We’ll be there ready to take up the fight next year.

“I love the club, it’s such a massive part of my life.”

Originally published as Thomson president Chris Scott said Inverleigh deserved their GDFL premiership after key Tiger was knocked out in the opening minute