2022 runner-up Inverleigh has secured its place in the GDFNL Grand Final in two weeks’ time, after beating minor premiers Thomson by nine points at St Albans Reserve thanks to a final-quarter comeback from the Hawks.
The wind picked up in the second half of the game, with the Tigers keeping the Hawks scoreless in the third quarter and only scoring four points against the Hawks’ 27 in the fourth, but Inverleigh coach Chris Moore said there was more to the story.
“Thomson came out and really challenged us,” he said.
“We were down for a majority of the day but the boys pulled through in that last quarter, which was very pleasing.
“We thought the wind came up a bit in that third quarter, but also Thomson played really well and put us under a lot of pressure.
“But thankfully our defence really held up, so it could have been a lot worse at three-quarter time on the scoreboard.
“It probably came down to we started to play some good footy and we started to play the way we wanted to play and took our opportunities when we went forward.”
Moore said Luke Wilson was a stand-out player for the Hawks, kicking two goals and winning the ruck battle, but also gave credit to the rest of the team.
“He was our best player, and then it was pretty evenly spread after that,” Moore said.
“Matt Tyquin and Finley O’Keefe played really well and then I just thought it was a great team effort.
“Paddy Bourke kicked a couple of goals, which were very crucial as well.”
Inverleigh now has to wait for the result of next week’s preliminary final between Thomson and Bell Post Hill to see who they will take on in the grand final.
Inverleigh has beaten both teams during the home-away season and the finals and is looking forward to having a week off before playing either team.
“We could be up against Thomson again, but whoever we play it doesn’t matter, they’re two very good sides, so we’re going to be challenged no matter who we play,” Moore said.
“The most pleasing part about (the break) is we’ve had two pretty brutal finals, so it gives our players a bit of time to recover and no more injuries going into the grand final.
“We were without Dalton Grundell on the weekend, who is one of our most important players and we’re confident he’ll get up for the grand final.”
