Master coach Paul Lynch has guided Thomson to its fourth grand final in five completed seasons after the Tigers held off East Geelong by 11 points in the GDFNL preliminary final.
Thomson, which lost last year’s decider to Inverleigh, booked a meeting with Belmont Lions in next week’s grand final with the 9.7 (61) to 7.8 (50) result at St Albans Reserve,
It will be the first finals clash between the two clubs since the return to a single-division structure in 1996.
Lynch, who arrived at Godfrey Street post the Covid-impacted seasons, is chasing a premiership as coach at a fourth club after success with GFNL teams Lara and Colac and Birregurra in the Colac and District League.
In 2014, Lynch guided Colac to a premiership from an elimination final.
Thomson, which saw off Bannockburn and Werribee Centrals in the opening two weeks of the finals, trailed the Eagles by one point at three-quarter time.
However, they kicked the only two goals of the final term, thanks to veteran forward Lucas Boyd and former Geelong and Carlton player Billie Smedts.
East had its opportunities but could only manage three behinds.
It is the second time in three seasons the Eagles have claimed the minor premiership but failed to make the grand final.
Star forward Jacob Knight finished with four goals for the Tigers in a best-on-ground display, taking his season tally to 43 goals from 13 games.
Captain Travis McGuire, Dan Mowat and Regan Kerslake were also important for Thomson, which is chasing its first flag since 2018.
Captain John McIntyre, Tim Lee and Jacob Sobey did all they could to lift the Eagles over the line.
Caleb Ezard ended a fine season with two goals to finish with 34 for the season.
More to come
X: @krockfootball
