Kingborough tall Jack Tomkinson on missing last year’s decider ahead of TSL grand final

Kingborough tall Jack Tomkinson has lifted the lid on the pain of missing last year’s TSL grand final ahead of Saturday’s decider.

Jack Tomkinson missed the Tigers 2022 grand final loss with injury but is ready and raring to go for this Saturday’s 2023 TSL grand final against North Launceston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Kingborough tall Jack Tomkinson has lifted the lid on the pain of missing last year’s TSL grand final with the big man as motivated as ever to secure a win in Saturday’s decider against North Launceston.

Tomkinson joined the Tigers at the start of last season and made an immediate impact before a late season stress fracture in his tibia saw the influential man mountain miss their charge towards a maiden grand final.

Jack Tomkinson has become an influential figure at the Twin Ovals since joining the Tigers. Picture: Linda Higginson

The former Brisbane Lions academy player was a too big a hole to fill in last year’s grand final with the Tigers going down by 72 points to Launceston.

But after spending the entire home and away season atop the ladder, and securing a 36-point win in the qualifying final two weeks ago over the Bombers, Tomkinson and the Tigers will have the opportunity to turn the pain of a grand final loss into the elation of a premiership win come Saturday.

“Last year was pretty tough to watch on if I’m honest,” Tomkinson said.

“From a personal perspective missing the game really drove my off-season. The goal was always to get back and not miss much footy, if any.

“If anyone tried to tell me I wasn’t playing this week then good luck to them.”

It’s been some kind of rebound for Trent Baumeler’s men this season with a number of key players leaving the club following the loss last September.

But the impact of first-year Tigers James Webb, Murray Bastick, James Zietzen, Jake Williams and Nic Baker has been a main driver behind their charge to a second consecutive grand final.

Former Cygnet player James Zeitzen has filled the hole of Jordan Lane this year after he went to the VFL. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“After the loss last year, the guys that played in it and the boys like me that experienced it off-field, really drove the standard over pre-season,” he said.

“The new guys coming in definitely understood the drive for us to get back there and go one better.

“But like any player their goal is team success so it’s been a real focus from the entire group to be back here.”

Tomkinson’s enjoyed just a strong a year personally as the Tigers have collectively with the imposing figure polling 10 votes in Monday’s Alastair Lynch Medal count to finish equal-eighth, while he also finished third in the media-voted Player of the Year award.

Named at full-forward in the TSL Team of the Year, Tomkinson played every game and kicked 36 goals to finish fourth on the Hudson Medal table.

“I’m pretty happy with how I started the year but I thought I was probably a little up and down throughout the middle part of the year,” he said.

“I know I just need to play my role for the team, as do all the boys, and if that results in a premiership this weekend then I’ll be pretty happy.”