Football
26 August, 2024
Tigers claim first finals win since 2007
Pimpinio won their first finals match since 2007 with a hard-fought 16-point win over Laharum at Pimpinio Recreation Reserve in Sunday's Horsham District Football Netball League elimination final.
It was a tough slog early and kicking with the breeze, Pimpinio scored the first goal through Brock Hamerston at the 14-minute mark of the first quarter.
Darcy Conlan kicked two goals later in the quarter to give Pimpinio a 19-point lead at quarter-time.
Pat Lattanzio kicked the Demons' first goal in the second quarter, but they would rue that quarter, kicking six behinds to trail by one point at the main break.
At the start of the third quarter, Laharum kicked the first goal of the quarter before Pimpinio's Nick Groves kicked the first of his three, giving the Tigers a four-point lead.
The storm front came in not long after, and in torrential rain and strong wind, Jason Westley kicked truly for the Tigers before Nick Groves kicked his next two goals, which gave the Tigers a 24-point lead at three-quarter time.
Laharum didn't give up, with the breeze, kicking two goals, but the Tigers held on, winning 8.9.57 to 5.11.41.
The Pimpinio crowd was up and about when the final siren blew. In 2007, the last time the Tigers won a final was against Laharum.
Matthew Rosier was sensational for the Tigers through the midfield, in the thick of everything, with Daniel Baker, Jason Westley, Mackay Baker, Adam Westley, and Dylan Thomas among their best.
Laharum was led by Robbie Miller, John Doyle, Daniel Easson, Brett Ervin, Reuben Launder, and Cody Richards as their best players.
Guy Smith was not coaching due to suspension, so Brett Thompson filled in as coach and was ecstatic after the match.
"It's a gutsy effort, and it's unbelievable. Every single player put their hands up," Thompson said.
"I have to give credit to the players. They went one-on-one and won the contest. Laharum was tough to crack, and the boys did a great job.
"Mackay Baker was brilliant. He is a star, and he played the entire second half in the centre and did not rotate at all.
"When Laharum kicked that first goal of the third quarter, it was crunch time, and we could have laid down or stood up, but the boys stood up, including all the young ones."
"It was Jason's [Westley] first game for three weeks, and Adam Westley got in the game in the second half, and they all stood up."
Mackay Baker was thrilled with the win.
"This is what I wanted. We are not done with yet. I want to go to the big dance," Baker said.
"It was a bruising encounter, and it was full on. We knew Laharum would come out hard and credit to them, as it was a tough fought-out game, and we will have a few bruises tomorrow."
Laharum coach Shannon Argall said the last five minutes of the third and second quarters cost them.
"We held steadfast there in the third quarter in trying conditions when that storm front came through, but they managed a couple of late goals to give them that momentum, and it was always going to be hard as the ball got greasier, to be able to use it effectively," Argall said.
"Pimpinio are a couple of years ahead in their development. They hit rock bottom and, over the last few seasons, were slowly building and are developing well. They defeated us in the conditions, so credit to them.
"We just couldn't get our structures up and running, and that's okay; you have to play to the conditions, and their cream came to the top."
Despite losing, the Demons have a massive future ahead. Making the finals after winning no games in 2023 was a tremendous effort. Argall believes they can come back better than ever.
"Everyone signed over to go around again last year, and it's looking like we will continue to do so again this year," Argall said.
"That continuity is essential in terms of success in footy as if you can get players that train together and play together for several years, you can build that familiarity, and you can become intuitive."
Pimpinio will now play Noradjuha Quantong at Rupanyup Recreation Reserve on Sunday.