Cygnet strikes late to stop Lions going back-to-back in SFL grand finals
The stage was set for an epic clash and Cygnet and Huonville did not disappoint – but the celebrations didn’t go quite to plan. WATCH THE FULL SENIORS, RESERVES AND COLTS MATCH REPLAYS >>
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- Huonville Lions on the hunt for second consecutive SFL flag
- Cygnet is first team into the SFL grand final after winning thriller over Lions
CYGNET is the new king of the SFL after taming the Huonville Lions in a gripping grand final contest at North Hobart Oval on Saturday in a contest that will go down as one of the great September showdowns.
After losing last year’s grand final to Huonville, The Port players were ecstatic to get their hands on the cup – and it took only a few minutes to break it.
The Lions gave the SFL’s most dominant team an almighty scare but a decisive final term sealed the deal for Cygnet, pulling away to win by 18 points – 11.10 (76) to 7.16 (58) – in front of 4150 Covid-19-safe mask-wearing fans.
The Cygnet players were swamped by supporters when the final siren sounded, and after the medal presentations the change rooms were packed tight.
Coach Thor Boscott’s first words to his players were driven by respect for Cygnet’s supporters.
He looked around and said: “Put your beers down and clap everyone here.”
When the noise calmed, Boscott explained the significance.
“I’m on top of the world. This means a lot, not just for the players but the community as well,” he said.
“We really rallied together and it’s fantastic we were able to get the job done.”
Cygnet dominated in the early minutes but Huonville drew first blood when Jack Philp, fresh into the side, slotted a running goal eight minutes in.
Left-footer Matty Schenk drilled Huonville’s second two minutes later when the Lions opened a huge gap in Cygnet’s defence.
The Port broke the ice soon after when Toby Cowen snapped a beauty, but with Schenk and Brady Jones ruling the midfield, the Lions kicked another two through Mickey Paul and Ethan Brock to make the scoreline 26-8.
Having been shadowed well by Alex Vincent, Boscott cut loose late in the term with a laser-like kick onto the chest of Jordan Lane for a second to The Port just before quarter-time.
Cygnet pulled the margin back to three points to start the second quarter when Bailey Gordon kicked his first, but from there it was one-way traffic towards Huonville’s sticks.
The Lions failed to capitalise, badly off-target and returning 1.9 for the quarter while Cygnet posted a miserable 1.1.
Boscott moved into the middle to start the third term and it was no coincidence he had six possessions in the first seven minutes and The Port kicked three goals in that time to grab the lead for the first time.
The lead changed four times and was level three times in the third, including when the siren sounded for three quarter-time.
Two goals to James Zeitzen and one each to Jordy Lane and Mitch Lister in the final term sealed Huonville’s fate.
“They put the pressure on us early. They’re a bloody good side,” Boscott said.
“We felt the momentum change in the third quarter. We knew we needed more out of the midfield and that’s when we got it.
“It’s great to win. We wanted redemption and I’m glad we came home with the chocolates.”
The Lions will be kicking themselves for the number of missed opportunities and missing out on back-to-back flags after dominating early.
Key Lions forward Michael Paul was dangerous but also wayward, finishing with 2.5 and another out of bounds on the full.
Brady Jones was brilliant for the Lions but he went down with an ankle injury in the third term and did not return as momentum swung Cygnet’s way.
CYGNET is the SFL premier for the first time in 17 years after grinding out a three-goal win over arch enemy Huonville.
Scores were locked at 50 apiece at the last change, but The Port booted the first four goals of the last term to set up the 11.10 (76) to 7.16 (58) victory.
Playing-coach Thor Boscott was outstanding for Cygnet in the second half, after his side trailed by as much as three goals during the second quarter.
MORE TO COME...
REPLAYS: Watch the full SFL Seniors grand final in the video player above and the Colts and Reserves grand finals below:
HEART OF LINS WILL BE NEEDED IN FINAL BATTLE
THOR Boscott faces the coach’s dilemma of potentially telling a Cygnet player he won’t be lining up in the SFL grand final against arch rival Huonville Lions at North Hobart Oval on Saturday, but it’s a responsibility the young coach accepts.
After winning a hard-fought contest over the Lions in the second semi-final two weeks ago, The Port has almost every player available, which means any tweaks to Boscott’s winning side will be a double-edged sword.
The minor premier is primed for this year’s battle for the cup, with the crowd restriction lifted to 5000 for the grand final and mask-wearing compulsory.
“We have no injuries, which is good, so we’ll do our match-ups and see if any changes need to be made,” Boscott said.
“We’ve got a game plan in place and match-ups as well, but last game against them we played three quarters and we need four quarters this time and hopefully we’ll have the people to do that.
>> SEE THE FULL SATURDAY STREAM SCHEDULE AND TEAMS LIST BELOW
“If changes need to happen, it will be tough to tell a player he’s not in the grand final. It’s one of the things you dread as a coach.
“Finals football, especially a grand final, it’s hard dropping someone, but I think we are in good shape going into this week.”
It will take more than four quarters of their best football to beat Huonville.
“We need every player to do their job and play their role for the team,” Boscott said.
“In finals football you never know what can happen, but if you stick to your structure and your personal role, you can go a long way.”
Lions star Callum Rawson said winning the premiership for the second year in a row would be a big deal in the Huon Valley.
“It’s why you play footy, to play in the last game of the year,” Rawson said.
“It has been an up and down year for us. We’ve played some good footy and we’ve played some bad footy.
“Through the whole season we knew this is where we wanted to be. When you get to the last day it doesn’t matter how you got there, it means you’re in with a chance and anything can happen.
“We’re wrapped we’ve made it but the job is not done yet.”
Huonville beat Lindisfarne three times in four weeks to make it to the September showdown, and a 25-point second-semi loss to The Port at Cygnet.
“They’ve had the wood on us this year and they’re the team to beat,” Rawson said. “They are a great side and it’s going to take a lot to beat them but we are full of confidence that our best footy can get the job done.”
WATCH LIVE
The SFL Grand Final livestream will be made available on this page on Saturday, September 18.
GRAND FINAL STREAM SCHEDULE - Saturday, September 18
COLTS
Southern Storm vs Hobart - 9.30 am
RESERVES
Lindisfarne vs New Norfolk -12.00 pm
SENIORS
Cygnet vs Huonville Lions - 2.30 pm
ALL STARS GF
Glenorchy vs Ulverstone - 1pm (Sunday)
THE TEAMS
SELECTED SIDES FOR 2021 SFL COLTS:
SOUTHERN STORM v. HOBART TIGERS Grand Finals 18/09/2021
Southern Storm to be selected from:
M. Fletcher, M. Shelverton, J. Fahey, A. Tymbas, D. Bantick, T. Clark,
L. Cooke, C. Rawnsley, R. Clark, A. Cutcliffe, O. Salter, T. Procter,
E. Cowen, A. Brereton, M. Direen, B. Lawless, J. Woolnough, N. Scott,
M. Bastick, E. Lovell, K. Wouters, S. Kelly, L. Carmichael, R. Gale,
C. Walter, L. Innes
In: A. Cutcliffe, L. Innes, T. Procter, R. Gale
Hobart Tigers to be selected from:
B. Campbell, A. Fisher, A. Wiggins, A. Fowler, T. Beswick, J. Smith,
R. Jones, J. Shaw, H. Britten, B. Bonnitcha, B. Phillips, A. Continenza,
S. Michalowski, J. Corbett, L. Andrews, C. Blaschke, L. Kreune, N. Howard,
H. Read, A. Murfitt, H. Arkley, J. Quinn, S. Cosgrove, J. Bourke,
C. Pearcey, A. Donovan, D. Ayliffe, D. Monks, T. Waddington
In: A. Fowler, A. Donovan, A. Fisher, S. Cosgrove, J. Corbett, H. Britten,
L. Andrews, B. Bonnitcha
SELECTED SIDES FOR 2021 SFL SENIORS
CYGNET v. HUONVILLE LIONS Grand Final - 18/09/2021
Cygnet to be selected from:
Emg: T. Boscott
N. Duggan, S. Dean, E. Cowen, W. Polley, J. Lane, J. Coad,
J. Tammens, M. Lister, J. Zeitzen, L. Ford, L. Watt, J. Lister,
A. Duggan, W. Ford, B. Livingston, R. Jennings, M. Direen, P. O’Neill,
J. Direen, J. Dance, T. Cowen, J. Gordon, B. Gordon, L. Ashlin
In: M. Direen, J. Coad, E. Cowen
Huonville Lions to be selected from:
B. Roberts, B. Penney, T. Barnett, B. Rundell, C. Johns, M. Walker,
J. McIndoe, D. Golding, D. Thorp, R. Ward, L. Ward, C. Rawson,
A. Vincent, M. Paul, R. Douglas, M. Schenk, A. Johns, J. Philp,
B. Jones, T. Lamprill, T. Keygan, D. Hay, J. Howarth, E. Brock
In: D. Thorp, J. Philp
SELECTED SIDES FOR 2021 SFL RESERVES
LINDISFARNE v. NEW NORFOLK Grand Final - 18/09/2021
Lindisfarne to be selected from:
H. Bodnar, D. Woodham, T. Currie, J. Kent, A. O’Meara, J. Anning,
A. Sharp, T. Steele, A. Harrison, R. Edmondson, C. Menzie, J. Mcpherson,
D. Johns, J. Fisher, N. Cranfield, M. Paolini, T. Jackson, J. Mitchell,
O. Rand, M. Phillips, A. Clarke, D. Zantuck, J. Harris
In: D. Johns, R. Edmondson
Out: T. Roberts
New Norfolk to be selected from:
T. Eiszele, M. Jones, T. Tangata, C. Donaghy, R. Thomason, J. Miller,
H. Bielleman, T. Heron, J. Fisher-Cooley, O. Haigh, J. Hills, K. Walker,
R. Heron, L. Harris, J. Eiszele, J. Foster, T. Purdon, B. Hodge,
L. Browning, M. Murray, B. Wardlaw, c. ransley, C. Curtain, J. King,
N. Ford, A. Minchin
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