SFL livestream: Lindisfarne defeat Huonville Lions to reach grand final

Lindisfarne have maintained their perfect record for 2022, knocking off the Huonville Lions and booking their spot in the SFL grand final. REPLAY the game here

Ahead of their huge showdown with the undefeated Two Blues on Saturday, the Huonville Lions say they’re hungry and full of belief they can win this year’s SFL flag after their convincing win over arch rival and reigning premier Cygnet last week.

And you can replay the big game with KommunityTV in the player above.

The Lions have had an up and down 2022 and despite ending the home and away season in third spot were seen as a long shot to host the premiership cup in September after suffering huge losses to powerhouses Cygnet and Lindisfarne throughout the year.

But with a much healthier list and the wind in their sails the Lions have regained their roar at the right time of the year and last week smashed their way into premiership contention after easily accounting for Cygnet by 36 points to book a show down with the Two Blues at Anzac Park.

James McIndoe of Huonville Football club and Trey Westbury of Lindisfarne Football club. Picture: Linda Higginson

On Friday, Lions captain James McIndoe said the big win over Cygnet was a huge confidence booster for his side.

“We contained our emotions pretty well on the field but then when we go back in the rooms we sort of thought ‘yeah we are in with a shot this year’, so it definitely restored belief back in the group,” McIndoe said.

“Throughout the year we’ve had the belief and obviously at times it has waned after some big losses to Lindisfarne and Cygnet.

“But being able to not get flogged and then actually beat one of them tops up that belief.”

James McIndoe of Huonville Football club. Picture: Linda Higginson

The stocky wingman said after an inconsistent and injury riddled season it was the increased availability of their core players along with a new found hunger for the contest that has helped the Lions regain their mojo.

“Getting the personnel back on the track and stringing a few games together with a core unit and not having five or six changes every week definitely helps,” he said.

“But while personnel plays a big part I think our hunger and determination around the footy was great [against Cygnet].

“Especially when they had it, I think we had a fair few tackles that game compared to other games this year so I think our desire and hunt is brought out in us at this time of year.”

McIndoe said reliable fullback Adam “Whacky’ Johns would get the matchup on Two Blues star Josh Green who is just seven goals away from the magical century this season.

Trey Westbury of Lindisfarne Football club. Picture: Linda Higginson

Coming off a week off Lindisfarne will enter the clash refreshed and rejuvenated but said it didn’t feel any pressure despite being undefeated in 2022.

“Internally we still consider ourselves the underdog,” Two Blues onballer Trey Westbury said.

“We haven’t proven anything yet.

“We still think we are hunting Huonville and Cygnet and Dodges as well.

“So internally there’s no pressure at all.”

“The 16 games we played this year have got us to this point but now they are irrelevant.

“We wanted this home game to get in the ‘granny’ and we got it so that’s all that matters to us now and all we’ll focus on.”

Westbury acknowledged it had been a difficult past month for the club following the lifetime deregistration of skipper Jack Gleeson, but that the club were now in the right frame of mind for an assault on another premiership.

“I won’t lie there was a couple weeks the club was a bit flat and internally the mood was down.

“He’s a huge part of the club and whether he’s out there or not he’s still our captain and still the leader of the club.

“I think once we kind of came to terms with what’s happened it really made us think OK he’s still a part the club, and since then we’ve lifted right back up.”

Westbury said containing the Lions’ top end talent would be a key to Saturday’s game, highlighting Lions powerhouse full forward Michael Paul as the obvious man to stop.

The Two Blues and the Lions will battle it out for a place in the grand final at Anzac Park at 2pm on Saturday.

The loser of Saturday’s matchup will get a second chance next week as they host a home final against the winner of Saturday’s clash between Cygnet and Dodges Ferry.