Tigers show no mercy ripping Magpies to bits
COULD this finally be the season for the Tigers to break a 52-year NTFL premiership drought?
That was what their boisterous fans were asking after the black and gold gave the Palmerston Magpies a 21.16 (142) to 4.6 (30) football lesson at Nightcliff Oval yesterday.
The hosts were dominant from the opening bounce, taking an unassailable 60-point lead into halftime.
As was the case last week in their loss to Southern Districts, the Magpies were guilty of too many cheap turnovers and free-kick offences as they were out-muscled at the contests.
In fact, the hosts won a whopping 28 more contested possessions going into the final quarter.
Tigers ruckman Seb Guilhaus was a standout, winning a truckload of stoppage ball as the visitors were dismantled by his height, physical presence and skill.
Plenty of talk before the game centred on former Melbourne Demons star Aaron Davey’s return to the Magpies’ midfield, giving them a muchneeded touch of class and pol- ish. He also dished out plenty of talk of his own, unleashing a volley of sledges toward Tigers forward Jackson Starcevich, but an early goal from the Nightcliff forward silenced the Magpies gun and his teammates.
Starcevich kicked three first-half goals out of his bag of four to help open the massive lead at the main change.
Two beautiful squaring kicks from Kayle Kossack led to first-half goals to Koko Niki and Kyle Emery.
Along with Starcevich, Adam Baird, Tyrone Downie and Niki were the other mul- tiple first-half goal scorers for the hosts as they racked up their staggering lead after the first two quarters.
Palmerston were fast starters early in the third term courtesy of two consecutive goals, one of them a classy finish on the run to standout Braydon O’Hara.
But the Tigers kicked some brilliant third-quarter goals of their own, Daly Shannon pushing off defenders to snap and score in an impressive transition play started down back by Downie.
Luke Turner then kicked a 50m goal, helping the hosts take a 68-point lead into the final break.
Kyle Emery started the fourth quarter in impression fashion, booting a 50m goal of his own and finishing it with a 55m special, while Palmerston were embarrassed further with a scoreless final term.
Emery’s speed, size and power was too much for the Magpies defenders.
Nightcliff defender Nathan Brown, big-bodied Central Districts recruit Patrick White (from the SANFL Reserves) and Downie were also dominant when a ball was there to be won.