Filo’s really upper crust as Tigers feast on Pies
A FOUR-QUARTER display from Nichols medallist Brodie Filo highlighted an 80-point Nightcliff win at Palmerston yesterday.
The Tigers were always going to win the Round 17 game against the Magpies after a five-goal to nothing first term. But it was the class of Filo and good work in close by Hayden Filliponi and Ashley Duncan that proved decisive.
Nightcliff began like a team in a hurry, running the ball out of centre in waves in a first quarter dominated by the black and gold jumpers.
Matthew Bricknell’s two goals were from the top shelf, one a snap around the corner and another from the left forward pocket jammed up against the boundary line that cleared the pack and rolled through.
The Magpies had no answer to the dominance of players like Michael Mummery running down from a wing, Duncan, Troy Coates, Filliponi and Patrick Taban in the ruck, at one stage dropping 16 players into the back half to prevent an avalanche of goals.
Nightcliff’s edge in class became more evident as the game went on. Their foot and hand passing spotting up targets on a regular basis in comparison to the Magpies, who were under pressure every time they got the ball.
Mummery’s class produced another two goals in the third term, one of them a toe-poke on the goal line when everyone else, including the Palmerston defence, had given it up as a rushed behind.
Filo was back to his creative best after ankle problems delayed his start to the season, picking up possessions almost at will as the Magpies refused to man up on him.
Just as important for coach Coates, who played his 50th game in a Nightcliff jumper, was the spread of goalkickers.
Bricknell’s four goals and three to Mummery and Patrick White were added to by singles from six other players.
The Tigers have the in-form Buffaloes to come on a Friday night before preparing for a qualifying final in the first week of the finals, more than likely against Wanderers. PALMERSTON V NIGHTCLIFF 0.0 1.1 2.4 4.6 5.7 7.9 12.10 16.14 GOALS