THOMSON TRIUMPHS

THOMSON made history on Saturday by becoming the first side to knock off one of the elite three sides — Bell Post Hill, Bannockburn & Inverleigh — since 2015. The Tigers would be without a bench in the final term after interleague star Samuel Jacka (hamstring), pictured, joined defender Jake Aldering, Paul Davis and Todd Macleod on the sidelines. However, a late two-goal final term from second year Tiger Jeremy Stacey would help inspire the team to a memorable 10-point victory in wet conditions. “Jeremy was missing in the first three quarters but he really stepped up and kicked a few late goals,” Thomson playing coach Reece Holwell said. Ocean Grove recruit Daniel Freeman was tagged throughout the game before celebrating his first GDFL senior match in the winners’ circle. “We rolled the dice a bit but we backed our fitness and got the result in the end. Thankfully we were accurate at the start of the final term to hold that 10-point buffer for the last 10 or so minutes while we were running the clock down,” Holwell said. The afternoon also marked Thomson’s first victory over Bell Post Hill since Round 3, 2012, when the Tigers pulled off an impressive four-point victory over the GDFL powerhouse.