Wagga Tigers completed a remarkable return to the top of the Riverina League with a 20-point grand final win over Griffith on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tigers only managed two goals in the first half but staged an impressive second half comeback to down the Swans, 11.9 (75) to 8.7 (55) at Narrandera Sportsground.
Down by 19 points early in the third quarter, Tigers suddenly sparked their running game and kicked nine of the next 12 goals to run away with the premiership.
It completed a fairytale season for Tigers, who won just two games last year and finished in eighth position on the ladder.
In the space of 12 months, they were able to turn their fortunes around on the back of a strong recruitment drive where a number of the club's talented juniors returned home to help the club rise again.
And it was those returning juniors, Ron Hutchins Medal winner Brendan Myers, Dylan Morton and Jackson Kelly that laid the foundation for a famous grand final victory.
A dour first half belonged to Griffith as the Conlan brothers, Lucas and Jacob, kicked the Swans to a 13-point half-time lead.
The signs did not look promising for Tigers early as they struggled to get their outside running game going in blustery conditions that was backed up by Griffith's high pressure.
But the hunted became the hunters in the second half as Tigers' produced a high level pressure game of their own to put Griffith under the pump.
Tigers forced Griffith to cough the ball up and then rebounded hard with their slick running game.
Tigers had the majority of the play for the third quarter but could only manage three behinds in a tense 14-minute period until Nick Ryan goalled to put them within five points.
It proved a pivotal moment. Jacob Conlan missed from straight in front at one end of the ground, only for Tigers to go coast-to-coast with Ryan putting the finishing touches on a length of the ground play.
Kelly then put Tigers in front for the first time four minutes later and they went into three-quarter-time with a two-point advantage.
With the stage set for an epic finish, it was Tigers who continued on with the momentum.
After only kicking five goals in the first three quarters, Tigers kicked six goals in the final term and finished full of running.
In the end, they had winners everywhere.
Myers was judged best-on-ground after another dynamic performance where he won a lot of the ball in the midfield but also proved a handful up forward, kicking two goals.
Tigers' defence was super. Dylan Morton was again the general and rebounded strongly, Reid Gordon had a big game at centre-half-back and Jake Mascini provided dash.
Shaun Driscoll, Kelly and Nick Ryan also had big impacts on the game, providing a lot of run through half-forward and the midfield. Driscoll was quick and clean, while Kelly kicked a couple of important goals.
Jesse Manton also came into the game with three second half goals, while Will Keogh nailed a couple of big moments with two final-quarter goals.
Full-time
Wagga Tigers: 1.3, 2.3, 5.7, 11.9 (75)
Griffith Swans: 2.2, 4.4, 5.5, 8.7 (55)
Goals: (Tigers) J Manton 3, B Myers 2, J Kelly 2, W Keogh 2, N Ryan, N Cooke; (Griffith) L Conlan 5, J Conlan 2, K Spencer.
Best: (Tigers) B Myers, R Gordon, D Morton, T Osmotherly, S Driscoll, N Ryan; (Griffith) L Conlan, J Toscan, H Northey, M Duncan, I Campbell, N Richards.
BOG, Ron Hutchins Medallist: Brendy Myers (Tigers)
READ MORE