NTFA premier grand final: Dogs dip deep to topple tenacious Tigers
They’ve been the clear standouts all season, but it took all of South Launceston’s resolve to hold off a gallant Longford in a pulsating NTFA premier division grand final on Saturday. Get the reaction here.
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South Launceston were asked the question, but like most of the season they had the answers after holding off a gallant Longford in Saturday’s NTFA premier division grand final at UTAS Stadium.
In an outstanding contest the Bulldogs were down by 15 points early in the third term. But the minor premiers kicked five of the next six goals, and defended grimly into the breeze in the last quarter to prevail 10.8 (68) to 8.11 (59).
Tom Foon’s fourth goal from the pocket in the dying minutes sealed the flag for South Launceston, who capped a dominant season with the trophy.
Bulldogs ruck Cody Lowe enhanced his reputation as the league’s best big men after being named player of the match.
South Launceston’s only loss of the year was against Longford in round 13. Led by five goals from surprise packet Mitchell Bennett, the Tigers threatened another upset.
But South Launceston’s experienced heads, including defender Luke McCarty in his 150th game, held their composure as Longford pressed hard late kicking with the wind in the last quarter.
“I did give them a bake at half time just with effort, and going away from the things we’ve done all year,” Bulldogs coach Jack Maher said.
“The second half was massive. Obviously it started with Cody but also Brendan Taylor and we put Jay (Blackberry) in there (midfield), just to gain control and our forwards stepped up.
“Everyone stepped up and said ‘you know what, we’re not going to let this opportunity slide, and the defensive effort was amazing that last quarter.
“Tom (Foon) kicked 2.3 in the second semi and he worked on his goal kicking all week. You do the work it pays off, and he was unbelievable today.”
The Tigers had to dig deep on heavy tracks just to qualify for the grand final, and didn’t quite have the fuel required to finish the job.
“I’m immensely proud of the group,” Tigers coach Mitch Stagg said.
“The last three weeks we’ve been bloodied and battered to get here, but they left nothing out there.
“We take a couple more chances and we could be premiers, I’m super proud of how they took up the fight to South Launceston.
“They’re a wonderful side and have lost only one game this year for a reason, I couldn’t ask more from my group.”
The Bulldogs took a tick over a minute to land the first punch when Tom Foon kicked truly from a set shot 40 metres out.
But kicking into the breeze it was Longford’s defence, the Tigers’ backbone all year, who got on top for the rest of the term to restrict South Launceston’s lead to a point at the first change.
The Tigers dominated inside 50s in the second term but squandered a number of chances, kicking five straight behinds.
Late in the quarter they finally cashed in when Casey Brown’s superb set shot from the boundary line was followed by Bennett’s third goal of the first half just two seconds before the half-time siren.
Longford applied more scoreboard pressure to the minor premiers when Jack Donnellan backed up a strong first half with a goal after a free kick to extend the Tigers’ lead to 15.
But South Launceston found a response when needed, kicking five of the last six goals of the term.
After dominating around the ball, the Bulldogs responded through Bradley Dodds’ 40th goal of the season, and when Tom Foon booted his second of the day they close to within three points midway through the third term.
Experienced midfielder Brendan Taylor began to take over the game for the Bulldogs and Matthew Lee’s second goal gave them the lead entering time on in the third quarter.
Bennett nailed his fourth for the game after Bulldog Jordan Tepper gave away an unnecessary free kick off the ball to hand Longford back the lead.
It barely lasted a minute when Foon snapped his third for the game, and Dodds’ second of the term after the siren gave the Dogs a ten-point three quarter time lead.
Longford kicked with the breeze in the last term and closed to within a kick when Liam Davies, one of their best, made no mistake 12 minutes into the quarter.
He coached Longford to the reserve grade flag earlier in the day, but Tigers defender Dylan Headland’s day turned sour when he was given a yellow card for a hit on Dodds.
Dodds kicked the goal from the free kick to restore South Launceston’s breathing space.
Luke McCarty was superb down back for the Bulldogs in his 150th game, particularly late in the game as Longford pressed hard.
The reserves grand final was taken out by Longford, their fourth in succession, after a dominant 34-point win over the Bulldogs.
Daniel Bennett, brother of Mitch, was named player of the game.
In the under 18s decider, South Launceston survived a spirited late fightback by Bridgenorth to prevail 9.8 (62) to 8.6 (54).
The Parrots booted three goals in seven minutes to get within four points with five minutes remaining, and a subsequent shot from Harry Templar hit the post.
Bulldogs Lochlan Harris kicked his second goal of the game in the dying stages to seal the flag.
NTFA PREMIER DIVISION GRAND FINALS
UNDER-18S
South Launceston 4.2 4.7 7.7 9.8 (62) def Bridgenorth 1.1 1.2 5.3 8.6 (54)
Goals: South Launceston - Patrick Gatenby 3, Toby Morrison 2, Lochlan Harris 2, Nash Barron, Lincoln Burrows; Bridgenorth - Harry Templar 2, Xavier House 2, Ethan Bakker, Joshua Corkery, Cade Sather, Jack Roach
Best: South Launceston - Patrick Gatenby, Riley Prewer, Lochlan Taylor, Toby Morrison, Andre Brown-Cross, Kale Fraser; Bridgenorth - Joe Flint, Zachary Jones, kaidyn apted, Harry Templar, Corey Mccormick, Cade Sather
Player of the match: Patrick Gatenby (South Launceston)
RESERVES
Longford 2.4 3.7 6.7 9.9 (63) def South Launceston 2.2 2.5 3.6 3.11 (29)
Goals: Longford - Oliver Chugg 3, Koby Hovington 2, Ben Murfett, Daniel Bennett, Thomas Dwyer, Sam Chugg; South Launceston - Bailey Lowe, Jake Elmer, Will Bennett
Best: Longford - Daniel Bennett, Aaron Dakin, Ben Chugg, Benjamin Murfett, Mitch Hodgetts, Luke Pearton; South Launceston - Lachlan Rowlands, Kurt Hibbs, Nicholas Homan, Joshua Harris, Charlie Dyer, Samuel Shaw
Player of the match: Daniel Bennett (Longford)
SENIORS
South Launceston 2.3 3.4 8.7 10.8 (68) def Longford 2.2 4.7 6.9 8.11 (59)
Goals: South Launceston - Tom Foon 4, Bradley Dodds 3, Matthew Lee 2, Sebastian Page; Longford - Mitchell Bennett 5, Casey Brown, Jack Donnellan, Liam Davies
Best: Longford - Mitchell Bennett, Liam Davies, Michael Larby, Connor Alexander, Jaidyn Harris; South Launceston - TBC
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