Tigers end their NTFL title pain Districts eclipsed and history made
NIGHTCLIFF snapped one of the longest droughts in Australian football history y when they outgunned reign- ing premier Southern Districts in last night’s NTFL Grand Final.
The Tigers led for all but a brief period in the second quarter, restricting the Dis- tricts forward line to just five goals in an 8.13 (61) to 5.9 (39) win that buried the ghosts of 1965.
Second-year coach Chris Baksh could not contain his delight at the final siren, saying it was the highlight of his career as a player and coach.
“I’m just so proud of the boys and the whole club, we did the hard work and for Nightcliff players past and present, this was for them,” he said.
“No one rated us, but we rated ourselves and I’m really proud of what we achieved tonight.’’
A trademark Cameron Ilett snap produced the first goal of the match after two minutes.
But any thoughts of a firstquarter shootout were buried by some desperate defence from both sides, particularly the Nightcliff backmen, who marked or spoiled everything the Districts midfield threw at them.
A fine angle goal from Michael Mummery in the shadows of quarter time got Districts on the board, Dylan McLachlan picking him out with a well-weighted pass.
Ilett rewound the time clock to kick another left-foot goal, this time from 20m out, in the first minute of the second term, but a mark and goal from the prolific Jess Koopman from a Dean Staunton pass put Districts in front for the first time two minutes later.
Districts looked the better side for the next six minutes, Charlie McAdam and Ed Barlow finding plenty of the football.
But some clever tunnelball work from Jonathan Peris when he set up Matt Bricknell for a goal and another a minute later by Liam Holt-Fitz from a Danny Butcher handball shot the Tigers to a twogoal lead.
Poor discipline began to hurt Districts. Four 50m penalties against them for backchatting umpires ruined a lot of hard work from players further up the ground. TIGERS COACH CHRIS BAKSH
The magnificent Nightcliff defence held them together in the all-important third term.
Kaine Riley, Simon Deery and Clayton Holmes resisted everything Districts could throw at them, restricting the Crocodiles to two behinds in the first 15 minutes.
Nichols medallist Phillip Wills turned goalscorer after an early miss when he soccered through his side’s fifth goal to give them a three-goal break.
When Liam Holt-Fitz goaled from a 50m penalty the Tigers went to a 25-point lead and within touching distance of the premiership cup.
Rory O’Brien finally kicked a goal after four attempts following a powerful offensive tackle, and the Crocodiles had a chance.
A soccer goal by John Butcher 30 seconds into the last quarter from a ball that went over the back set up a 27-point lead and it looked a journey too far for Districts.