Tigers late surge keeps season alive
LANG LANG kicked away late to defeat Longwarry and keep its season alive.
With Tigers coach Josh Collie reflecting post game that a win was required to ensure the final eight weeks of their season were not irrelevant, the visitors were pushed by a determined Crows side looking to hold their position in the five.
While Russell Lehman was an important inclusion for Longwarry, injuries provided more opportunity for junior talent as Clancy Pope made his debut with Ned Ashton another inclusion.
With four goals from Lachlan Spinks and the likes of Cooper Brown, Fintan Fox, Seth Ashton and Bailey Stephens joining Lehman among the best, the future looks bright for the Crows who were not disgraced in going down 16-12 (108) to 10-9 (69).
The sides were locked at 2-3 apiece early in the second term, and it gave true indication of the tight contest to come before the Tigers broke the game open in the final quarter.
With Daniel Lewis opposed to two, a big second effort and tackle saw him rewarded with a free kick and goal.
Brock Duggan snapped truly as the Tigers edged clear, but the Crows would respond through Fintan Fox.
Lewis added another before Mitchell Tribuzi sent the ball forward, Collie taking the advantage to run into the open goal.
Just as the Tigers had looked to kick clear, the persistent Crows responded again through Fox. Spinks closed the margin again on the other side of half time as another challenge presented for the Tigers.
Lewis added another but again the Crows were quick to respond, as a shot from Ben Cuckson just cleared the line.
Lewis showed evasive skills to add another before consecutive goals to Luke Clarkson reduced the margin to just two points.
Patullo snapped truly to give the Tigers some breathing space heading into the final change but the Crows would come again, adding another through Seth Ashton early in the final term.
Good lead up work from Josh Brown, Patullo and Collie set up Liam Heatherington before a long goal from Jake Stewart closed the margin again.
With the threat of another fade out looming, the Tigers were able to take it to another level.
Heatherington added another before a Ben Barwick snap made it difficult for a Crows comeback.
Not content the Tigers would add another three goals in short time, the Crows' bad luck summed up when Lewis cut off a chip pass from Lehman to put the icing on the cake.