Fourth-time lucky as plucky Pies take out flag
NIGHTCLIFF had beaten Palmerston on all three occasions before the Under-16 Hickman Grand Final yesterday, but Magpies coach Glen Patrick had a feeling his players could cause an upset.
And they did it in the most dramatic circumstances at TIO Stadium, Jaeden Watts kicking a “golden point” behind in extra-time for the black-and-whites to prevail 5.5 (35) to 4.10 (34) over the minor premiers.
“It was the first time we had fielded our full team and I just had confidence in the boys,” Patrick said. “The past three weeks they’ve reacted. At training I haven’t had to tell them to do anything.
“Nightcliff are a great team. They’re up there every year.
“I said to the boys ‘you’ve just got to stick at it’.
“I said to them before the start of the game, ‘this game will be decided by one kick. And you boys have got to go all the way to the end’.”
That was exactly what happened, and Palmerston’s gifted utility Clarence Baird was the best on ground.
“Clarence’s football speaks for itself. His will to win is amazing, and there are a couple of other boys in the (leadership) group who are like that as well,” Patrick said.
“They’re 15-year-olds and they’re making a difference. The two league best-andfairest players are on this team — Jonty Patrick and Clarence.
“Three kids on this team played senior football this season — Clarence, Jonty and Misha Perry Jr.”
Nightcliff coach Glen Boath lamented his team’s missed opportunities in front of goal.
“We kicked four goals, 10 behinds, and with this team which had the highest for and lowest against during the season, usually you’d back them to kick seven goals seven,” he said. “Credit to Palmerston — they had numbers around the ball all day.
“We were in it to the death and had to compete with the elements at the end.
“We have to take the calls that went against us because we had our opportunities to win.”
Andy Moniz Wakefield, Liam Wilkins and Jermaine Heard were among Nightcliff’s best.
In the Under-16 Leverence Grand Final, Tracy Village also caused an upset, beating Buffs Light Blue 6.9 (39) to 3.6 (24), after the Buffs beat them three times this season.
The Razorbacks’ Thomas Kalitsis was best on ground.
“It’s extremely pleasing. The boys have put in a lot of hard work going back to the pre-season,” Tracy Village coach Greg Pusterla said.