NTFL Crocodiles on Nightcliff alert as the knockout preliminary finals looms large for both sides

LIONEL Ogden has lived and breathed red, black and white in 12 years of service under the Southern Districts banner

Lionel Ogden’s No.10 jumper will be busy in tomorrow night’s NTFLpreliminary final at TIO Stadium. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

LIONEL Ogden has lived and breathed red, black and white in 12 years of service under the Southern Districts banner.

Dubbed “The Creator’’ by Darwin’s media and his teammates for his ability to run off half back or set up goals across half forward, Ogden has become an integral part of the Southern Districts machine.

The 27-year-old runs on to TIO Stadium tomorrow night knowing a grand final berth is up for grabs if his Crocodiles can beat a rebounding Nightcliff in the preliminary final.

The 7pm game will be Ogden’s 148th senior game, a career that includes the 2017-18 grand final win over the Darwin Buffaloes.

But preliminary finals can be harder to win than grand finals, a fact Ogden knows only too well.

“Anything can happen in four quarters of footy when you’re playing finals,’’ he said.

“We kicked seven goals in the first quarter of that grand final two years ago and had seven kicked against us in the next 25 minutes.

“So this time we’ve got to be ready to play four quarters, because there’s no prizes for the loser of this game.

“I’d like to think we can beat them and that’s being optimistic rather than over confident.’’

Districts trained with their women’s grand final side earlier this week in a rare meeting between the players.