NTFA grand final: Tigers look to seize on UTAS flag experience

It’s the scene where Longford broke a 33-year flag drought in 2022. And they’re banking on that familiarity with UTAS Stadium to help spring an upset in Saturday’s NTFA premier division decider.

Longford skipper Kacey Curtis hunts the ball at the bottom of a pack during the qualifying final clash with South Launceston. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Longford coach Mitch Stagg will lean on his side’s previous grand final experience at UTAS Stadium to try and spring an upset in Saturday’s NTFA premier division grand final against South Launceston.

And he believes a long overdue dry day on the state’s best surface is an ideal chance to show the league’s “detractors” what they’re capable of.

The Tigers broke a long premiership drought in 2022 against Rocherlea at UTAS Stadium, and 16 players from that side will line up against the Bulldogs on Saturday.

While South Launceston would fancy unleashing their strong running game on the big ground, Longford likewise believe it will suit their style of play.

The two clubs will also clash in the reserve grade decider before they move into the inaugural NTFA Premier League next year.

The finals have been dogged by wet tracks this year, in particular the Bulldogs’ 33-point qualifying final win over Longford.

“We took some lessons out of what transpired and implemented them accordingly on the weekend (preliminary final win over Rocherlea),” Stagg said.

“We think we’re much better placed, the conditions are looking dry on Saturday and we’ve played good football at UTAS in the past.

“We’re under no illusions South Launnie (minor premiers, one loss) have been the benchmark all season, and they’ll be favourites. But we’re going to back our experience on UTAS on grand final day.

“We’ve got 16 guys who were part of that 2022 premiership. We’ll certainly be drawing on that and we’ve got a lot of belief out of last weekend.”

Both teams have aggressive rebounding games which should make for a good spectacle.

“Both sides, the structures we’ve both implemented are probably tailored to UTAS,” Stagg said.

“You’ll see a similar style of football from both teams and in big games basics are really important.

“We let ourselves down in that regard (in qualifying final), they were able to move the ball a lot cleaner than we were and translate that into scores.

“You’ll see some pretty dynamic, fast flowing football at times. From a supporter’s perspective I think it will be a great game to watch.”

Stagg believes it will be the ideal advertisement for the league before a new era of northern football begins next year.

The Tigers, Bulldogs, Deloraine and Scottsdale will join TSL sides Launceston and North Launceston in next year’s Premier League.

“It will be a really good showcase of NTFA football,” he said.

“I think there’s been detractors over the last couple of years, especially those currently involved in the TSL, but it’s a great standard of football.

“Some elite people have come back into our competition which has pushed the standards higher and higher.”

Longford are looking to take out the seniors-reserves double for the second time in three years, after accomplishing the feat in 2022.

The reserves required double overtime to beat Bridgenorth in last weeks’ preliminary final, while the seniors held off a fast-finishing Rocherlea to prevail by two points.

“Given the two games of footy that were played on the weekend, it’s an exciting week,” Stagg said.

“Longford is a small community but you already see the paraphernalia out there and the businesses getting right behind us.”