Tigers turn it on late
Hermit Park tops University
AFL Townsville round 6 saw Hermit Park surge over the top of the University Hawks with a fourth-quarter blitz, while Curra put the Suns to the sword with the “best team footy they’ve played”.
Meanwhile in the Women’s Cup, Curra Swans held on for a win over Northern Beaches and Tigers captain Gabrielle Dockray kicked the Tigers to a big win over the Hawks.
Hermit Park Tigers 10.11 (71) def University Hawks 8.7 (55)
A fast-finishing Tigers team pounced on the Hawks on Saturday, entering the final break behind by four points (47-43) before erupting with a 4.4 (28) fourth-quarter total.
The Tigers also contained University to 1.2 (8) during the fourth in a stout defensive display that allowed them to overtake their opposition.
Hermit Park coach Max Tink said it was just a matter of time until his team found their flow.
“Overall we probably struggled to find our rhythm for the first three quarters, and credit to University they played really well, put us under pressure and probably took us away from our system a little bit,” Tink said. “But in the last quarter we made a couple of changes to what we were doing and luckily enough, were able to find some momentum and finish the game.”
In reserve grade, Hermit Park Tigers junior Casey Jeffree made his senior debut after 10 years at the club in a sign that development at the club is in good hands.
Curra Swans 25.23 (173) def Northern Beaches Suns 1.1 (7)
The Suns started well, kicking an early goal before the game got away from them.
But despite the one-sided scoreline, Swans coach Sam Tonkes wasn’t happy with his team’s first-half showing after some individualistic play entered Curra’s game.
“At half time we were 11 goals 17 (behinds) and I said to the guys, I don’t care if we win by 10 points and we’re structurally awesome, I’d rather that than win by 100 playing selfish unrewarding football,” Tonkes said. “We definitely turned that around in the second half and played better.”
The Swans kicked a much better 14.6 (90) after the big break.
Tonkes said his squad lived up to the challenge he set them midweek.
“I said we can either go into this game and really work on our structure, and the way that we want to play football that has been lacking in the last couple of weeks, or we can just think we’re playing a lowergrade side and pretty much play circle work,” Tonkes said.
“That was the best team footy we’ve played and then to still continue that through the fourth quarter and finish with eight goals in the last, I was very happy.
“Connor Wright played in the half-forward line and he played one of his best games I’ve seen, he’s just a player that
I’ve never seen lose a one-onone contest.”
Hermit Park Tigers Women 6.10 (46) def University Hawks Women 2.1 (13)
After a scoreless first half, the Hawks found their kicking boots in the final quarter with two goals through Maggie Dwyer and Madeleine Moon.
It wasn’t enough to swing the result, but the University ladies can take solace from the fact they kept Hermit Park to just a behind in the fourth.
Hermit Park skipper Gabrielle Dockray kicked a game-high three goals on her way to victory, helping the Tigers improve their impressive percentage calculation.
Curra Swans Women 3.8 (26) def Northern Beaches Suns Women 3.3 (21)
It was a game of two halves as the Swans held an emphatic 24-2 lead at the break but failed to kick another major as the Suns surged home.
Northern Beaches won the second half 19-2 to ultimately fall by just five points.
Curra could have put the game to bed in the second quarter when they only kicked one goal in their seven scores (1.6), while the Suns were held scoreless.