GRAND FINAL - ROVERS 10.14.74 v TIGERS 10. 4 64
In the AFL Mount Isa Pickerings 2007 Premiership season, Rovers and Tigers went to battle for the Stewie Horwood Memorial Premiership Cup. Rovers who have been the yardstick this year, losing just the one game to Tigers on the 40th Anniversary Foundation game. Rovers where seeking revenge on last years Grand Final loss.
With a large crowd in place, it would take a huge effort for the Tigers to produce an upset.
With the teams lined up and the Australian National Anthem over, and local volunteer Steve Strudwick had the honor of tossing the coin for the ground final, with that over it was down to business.
The first quarter underway and Rovers got first use of the ball, pressure from both side was full-on as each side tried to settle the nerves and get the first major on the board, Rovers had a fair bit of the ball in the first quarter and had several shots on goal, Tigers backmen, as they had done all season applied physical pressure on their opposition forwards repelling many attacks mainly thanks to Greg Davey and Mick Murnane. Rovers held a 10 point lead at quarter time.
Aaron Harrison was in everything making a great start to his Grand Final picking up several touches across the half back line, 2007 Cargill Medalist Clint Austerberry began to make his presence felt taking a couple of big grabs. A fairly even quarter, Tigers hitting the front at one stage, but like they've done all year the Rovers hit back to grab an 11 point lead at the major break. Rovers 7.6.48 to Tigers 6.1.37.
The third quarter, known as the premiership quarter would decide who wanted to win more.
Rovers played some team orientated football, sharing the ball amongst themselves, passing the ball to team mates in better positions. Rovers Dale Atkinson was like the "Rock of Gibraltar" at full-back, playing some gutsy football, Jim Faulkner played his classy style football running all over the oval to pick up his possessions and make the most of each one. Tigers John Hockley who has been on fire over the past month or so, was battling hard for his side, at the bottom of many contests and also clearing the football to the Tigers forwards on many occasions. A small scuffle started across the Rovers forward line, while the play continued, James Emsley marked for the Tigers directly in front of goals, however the umpire had stopped play, two Tigers players where yellow carded and sent off the ground, a free kick given back down field to the Rovers who went on to kick a goal, a critical turn over and loss of Tigers players which may have been the difference between victory and defeat. Rovers extended its lead at three quarter time to 21 points, certainly not an unattainable lead, but the Tigers would have their work cut out in the last quarter.
Tigers coach Shaun Johnson fired his boys up, this was it, there is no next week, the Tigers created and control of the majority of the football in the last quarter, they found it difficult shake the shackles of the relentless Rovers players, Tigers were trying their hearts out, they gave all they had, you could almost sense a comeback, they kicked a couple of goals in a row they where almost within striking distance, the gap narrowed to 10 points, neither side stopped, there were 36 players giving there all to the very end. The siren sounds, the Rovers are victorious by 10 points, their players, supporters and coaching staff are starting the party. The Tigers can walk off with their heads held high, they may have lost, but they did all the Tigers fans proud.
Tigers John Hockley won the inaugural Paul White Medal for being voted by the 2 central umpires for being best on ground in the Grand Final, although a great individual effort I'm sure he'd trade it for a Premiership medallion any day.
Congratulations to coach Steve Haynes & the Rovers Football Club, Premiers 2007.
The Premiers 2007.
The Umpires 2007.
Here is league Vice President Brian Kotanko welcoming Chris to Mount Isa.
Thanks to Marina Quays who donated the night for two with breakfast on the Gold Coast with all proceeds going to the family who's house burnt down last week.
The lucky winer was Meg Henderson, Meg is the Auskick coordinator at St Kierans catholic school and the better half of Cargill medalist Clinton Asterberry. On the Asterberry's Clints brother will be playing in the Isa next season.
It's that one day in September come Sunday at Sunset Park at 1.00 pm where the Pickerings Premiership Competition two best sides in Mount Isa play off to win the Stewie Horwood Perpetual Premiership Trophy. This is the one both Rovers & Tigers have been aiming for all season & past victories during the year mean little when it comes to this prize.
Rovers will be hot favourites after a very polished second semi final performance which was nothing short of being clinical. With the bitter taste of defeat from last years Grand Final behind them there is no more motivation this team needs. Tigers coming off a tough Preliminary Final on the other hand have got the chance to win back to back Premierships for the first time since the 70's.
With so much at stake, match ups will be critical. Rovers strengths lies with their forward line of Jeremy Doolan, Rory Evans & Daniel Willersdorf, & with Cargill Medallist Clinton Asterbery at Centre Half Forward the Tigers defence will have their hands full, without Mick Murnane who is out with an ankle injury, his likely replacement Daniel Kerr at fullback, with support from Greg Davey & Toby Oliver who have had great seasons in defence. Tigers drive & strength lie in their mid-field of Jack Doyle, Johnny & Calvin Hockley, who are in awesome form, the probable match ups for Rovers are Alex Farrer, Jim Faulkner & Jim Thornton, this promises to be where this game is won or lost. Other match ups will include Tigers forwards Jimbo Emsley & Clinton Nemo, they will be against fullback Dale Atkinson, Dale will have his hands full with Jimbo, but will be well supported by Hayden Bachmann & Adam Beswick.
With all the match ups in place, these two sides have met each other in the last three Grand Finals & both are out to spoil each others celebrations. One lesson to be learnt in the Pickerings Premiership Competition is that you have to have a great start right from the first quarter, all sides who have won the first quarter have gone on to win their respective Finals.
Both Rovers & Tigers have developed a fierce rivalry over the years & this years Grand Final will be no different, discipline & hardness at the ball for four quarters will determine which side holds up The Stewie Horwood Premiership Trophy at 3.30pm.
This is a fitting climax for what has been a sensational 2007 season for AFL Mount Isa. This is your last chance to see two great sides battle it out. Pre-game build up starts at 12.30pm with the first bounce at 1.00pm sharp.
Tiger Grand Final 2007
As my first season as a senior coach I am absolutely wrapped to be playing in the Grand Final this year, It was a good return to form by the team to beat the in form Buffaloes unit on the weekend, however the loss of Mick Murnane with an ankle injury who has had a stellar year down back will be a big loss for the team, we have had a solid defensive team all year with Mick being a huge part of it. However we are able to cover him with player's like Greg Davey, Judd Wisneski, Daniel Kerr, and our English import Gary Davies all stepping up as the season goes on.
Our strengths lie in the midfield with a very quick and skillful midfield player's like John and Calvin Hockley and Jack Doyle continue to drive the team forward and will be very hard to beat at Ground Level, however with Brian Menz being unable to make it back for the last week we will also be a little undermanned in this area. Our ruck stocks have been somewhat limited at times this year but thankfully we will have all of our tall men available for the weekend, with Sam Cavill leading the charge, he will be well supported by Jonathon Whelan who has also found some form late in the season.
With the hopeful return of old Stager Mado Fidler along with man mountain James Emsley and Shaun Johnson up forward we will have some good targets to kicked to at the business end of the ground, these guys will be well supported by crumbing forwards Clinton Nemo and Andrew Hurst.
All in all the side that will run out on the Grand Final day will be a strong chance of winning the day, we believe we are back to the form that saw us have two very close games with the Rovers earlier in the year. Grand Finals are a different ball game and on the day, player's will be an absolute bundle of emotion, they will feel nervous, excited, pressured, and above all keenness, in my experience it is the team that harnesses these emotions the best on the day and settles down the earliest that will have the best chance of winning on the day.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my players for the commitment that they have shown this year as well I would like to wish the Rover all the best for a close contest on the day, I would also like to thank the efforts of the games umpires throughout the year and trust that they will have a good game on the weekend as well.
Shaun Johnson
Last Modified on 05/04/2009 07:49