Chris Baksh wants hat-trick to make history for Nightcliff Tigers, but St Mary’s captain Raph Clarke will be standing in the way
NIGHTCLIFF coach Chris Baksh will join some iconic NTFL names if his Tigers can beat St Mary’s in tonight’s Men’s Premier League Grand Final. But towering Saints co-captain Raph Clarke will be standing in the way of the yellow-and-black outfit.
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NIGHTCLIFF coach Chris Baksh will join some iconic NTFL names if his Tigers can beat St Mary’s in tonight’s Men’s Premier League Grand Final.
Already a two-time premiership coach with Nightcliff, Baksh will join John Taylor and Aldo Rossetto as three- peat coaches if his side gets over the line.
The John Taylor Medal recognises premiership coaches at Premier League level.
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Taylor won 11 premierships in his time at St Mary’s, including runs of five consecutive flags from 1984-88 and three more from 1990-92 and ’94-96.
“It’s an exciting time for the footy club and we know St Mary’s present a big challenge for us,” Baksh said.
“It’s been a good season so far and to win three in a row will be a good result as well.’’
Nightcliff will play its second game in a month against the resurgent Saints, who have bounced back from a qualifying final loss to Wanderers to earn a shot at their 33rd Premier League flag.
St Mary’s joint-captain Raphael Clarke hopes to lead the green-and-gold jumpers to a win after they lost to Nightcliff in last season’s decider.
The former St Kilda defender dismissed talk of a farewell game in the grand final.
“I want to play my 150th next season, so that’s my goal going forward,” Clarke said.
“We can definitely win this one. We’ve beaten them during the year so it’s a good time to do it again.”
The Saints’ forward line fired in the preliminary final win over Wanderers.
Big spearhead Jackson Calder grabbed a series of marks on the way to a seven-goal haul and his work with Jackson Paine showed up several positives in the forward half.
Down back Clarke, Matt Wilkinson and Tylah Saunders have been stoppers for the Green Machine.
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