Sport
8 September, 2024
Tigers to defend crown against Bulls after impressive preliminary final win
Sea Lake-Nandaly is through to the 2024 NCFL grand final
Sea Lake-Nandaly will have the chance to defend its premiership crown in next week's NCFL grand final after a dominant 11.6 (72) to 5.10 (40) preliminary final win over Wedderburn.
The Tigers were commanding across the opening three quarters, leading by 46 points at the last change before smartly taking their foot off the gas as the game ebbed to a conclusion.
It sets up a date with Birchip-Watchem at Donald in next Saturday's decider, the same team and venue where the Tigers lost by two points in the second semi-final last weekend.
While the Redbacks came out with intent, they went into quarter-time goalless and 18 points in arrears.
The Tigers grew their margin throughout the middle portion of the contest, and when the game opened up after half-time, they put their opponents to the sword with a four-goal to none third stanza.
Tigers coach Bryce Delmenico was impressed with his side's pressure towards the contest.
"Wedderburn was good early on, and we had to weather their storm, but we gradually began to get on top, and it opened up in the third term, which allowed the boys to click into gear," Delmenico said.
"It was a solid win, and we took the foot off the pedal late, which gave them a few junk time goals, but it was a great performance from the boys considering Joshua Jenkins and Trent Donnan were out.
"Our pressure around the footy was excellent.
"We got back to what we are good at, which is numbers at the contest and utilising our fitness."
Jenkins and Donnan are expected to be back for the grand final.
Donnan's brother Wade, the NCFL Feeney Medallist, was among the Tigers best alongside Jack Poulton and Tyson McKenzie.
In the absence of Jenkins, Jackson McMahon became the Tiger's spearhead and slotted five crucial majors.
McMahon is playing his first proper season at the Tigers after making a one-off appearance in 2023.
Delmenico, who is McMahon's cousin, said the former South Adelaide and Keilor player had added a dimension to his side's attack that they lacked.
"Jackson (McMahon) is not overly quick but is 6'2 and has long arms," Delmenico said.
"He's not flashy but is a great mark for his size and seems to read the play better than everyone else."
While the Redbacks came up short, they can take plenty of positives heading into 2025.
They claimed their first finals win in a decade and played an impressive brand of footy under first-year coach Tom Metherell.