Cock-a-hoop Crocodiles unlock the finals puzzle

SOUTHERN Districts threw the finals monkey off their back in the best possible way when they beat a resurgent Buffalo outfit in yesterday’s elimination final.

Bundled out of the finals in straight sets in the last two seasons, the Crocodiles found the winning formula in time to prevent another back door exit from the premiership countdown.

Assistant coach Matt Cannard said the players took heads full of belief into a game most experts had predicted would be a Buffalo stampede.

“The boys always had the belief to win the game, finals footy is a different style and different tempo and they stepped up today,’’ he said.

“Everyone wrote us off over the last few weeks, but internally we knew the work we had to do and the boys showed that.’’

Cannard pointed to long serving Districts coach Shannon Rusca as a big force behind the club’s positivity after the disappointment of early finals exits.

“It’s really important for (coach) Shannon (Rusca) and the amount of work he does behind the scenes,’’ Cannard said. “The boys knew this was a must-win for the club and they got behind the coach and the club to get the good result.’’

Districts were good enough to turn back a Buffalo surge in the last quarter when the big crowd at Marrara yesterday sensed the double blue jumpers were taking control of the final.

“We’ve been challenged all year and, yes, there’s been times we’ve fallen away, but there’s been others we’ve come out in front,’’ Cannard said.

“This week the challenge was there again and the boys didn’t want to lose, they were very good when it really counted.

The mood in the Darwin camp was one of disappointment after they headed Districts three times in a lastquarter goal avalanche when 15 goals were scored by both sides.

“It’s pretty disappointing, we managed to work our way back into the finals but two years in a row we’ve let ourselves down,’’ acting captain Cameron Stokes said.

“But we’re on the right track, we’ll recruit the right players, get back on the track early and be ready to go again.’’