Ten-goal win just perfect for Tigers
IT was the Tigers’ first win of the TSL season and there was no better way to get off the mark than a 10-goal triumph against fierce rival North Hobart at the Twin Ovals yesterday.
The Demons were hot early with their intensity and constant forward thrusts, but it amounted to only seven points on the scoreboard — a pattern becoming all too familiar for the Dees.
Tiger teenager Bailey Gordon got the party started for the home team with back-toback goals at the eight-minute mark of the first term, which not only gave his side the lead but also would have caught the eye of Tasmania Devils selectors ahead of their next NAB League outing against the Western Jets at UTas Stadium in Launceston next weekend.
The Tigers were ruthless on the rebound, and at times showed glimpses of a running game equal to the best in the competition.
North Hobart’s defence was brave — but like the fable of the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, something had to give.
It wasn’t big forward Mickey Paul who did the damage — his radar needs to be recalibrated somewhat — but Sam Duigan kicked a game-high four goals to be the best of the Tigers in attack.
Try as they might, North Hobart failed to tag rampaging Kieran Lovell out of the game and debutants Patrick Kelly and Alex Bessell also did their own damage.
Tigers coach Trent Baumeler said the win was reward for effort.
“We had to bring pressure because North Hobart has been a really good pressure team this year and we had to match that and exceed it,” Baumeler said.
“Our tackle numbers and our pressure numbers were the best they’ve been across our first three games.”
North Hobart coach Richard Robinson wanted his men to play for pride in the final term — but the Tigers had other ideas.
“We wanted to send a message that we weren’t happy to go goal-for-goal, we wanted to put the foot down,” Baumeler said.