Sport
10 September, 2024
Saints charge into first grand final since 1996
TRENTHAM 15.11 (101) def LEXTON 3.5 (23)
The Saints are marching into a grand final for the first time in 28 years, with Trentham dominating the second half to win by 78 points against a tiring Lexton.
It was a game of high pressure early on, with the Saints constantly asking questions of Lexton’s defence, but it was the Tigers who delivered the first punch, with Jack Cuttler’s snap giving Lexton the start they needed.
Trentham would dominate territory for the first 15 minutes, but a combination of Lexton’s good pressure and the Saints bombing the ball inside 50 meant that goals were hard to come by for all the Saints’ dominance.
Luckily, then, they can call upon Joel Cowan when they really need it.
Cowan delivered a good ball to James Regan in the goalsquare, who scored to finally settle Saints’ nerves, and that was followed minutes later with a second goal, a brilliantly crafted banana kick from the pocket.
James Templeton was able to deliver a response from a free kick for Lexton, however, and it was a two-point Trentham lead at the first change.
The second quarter was a power struggle for 15 minutes, as neither team could fashion a goal.
Enter Cowan.
Cowan would deliver a big kick from just off a couple of steps in congestion, and launched from 50 to give the Saints their third goal.
That was the only goal of the quarter, however, as the Saints led by eight points at the main break.
The Saints got the dream start to the second half courtesy of Ryan Thiesz, who crafted a quick snap to extend the lead to a game-high 14 points.
At the 16-minute mark, it was still 17 points and anyone’s game.
But quick thinking from Stefan Lendrec gave the Saints the breathing space they desired, and that rattled the Tigers into a game-changing moment when Jaykeb Lench floored Regan out of frustration, gifting him his third goal of the afternoon.
When youngster Ryder Henchie delivered the Saints another goal, it was suddenly 35 points in a devastating three-minute burst.
That set up the Saints as the last term started, with Regan delivering his fourth goal to extend their lead to 41 points, before goals to Sam Kelly and Spencer Ratliff in quick succession made it 53 points.
Cowan’s game delivered a second goal at the eight-minute mark, while Mark Strickland joined the party in his 150th game for the Saints.
Henchie added his second, before Templeton finally ended a run of 11 straight Saints goals with his second after a free kick.
Regan’s fifth, and Lendrec’s second, ended a dream day for the Saints, who will now face Natte Bealiba for their first premiership in 30 years.
That’s been the culmination of hard work across the season, according to Trentham coach Clive Raak.
“They have been starved of success. We’ve been close — last year we got to a prelim but we weren’t a really good team,” he said.
“We’ve worked hard over the summer, and I think we worked on what we needed to. We were good at the start of the year and then we had all these injuries and went backwards a bit.
“It’s huge. We have gained a lot of confidence, but I also think the club needed this. We were a bit deflated last year, but we have injected a lot of excitement into the club for next year as well. It will mean players will more than likely come back.”
Raak admitted there were a combination of nerves and sloppiness in the first half as the Saints struggled to get their game going thanks to the pressure Lexton were able to put on them.
“We went inside our forward 50 nine times in the first quarter, but we just kept bombing it, and we weren’t finding the little 25 metre hit-up, we were relying on our key forwards to maybe take a mark,” he said.
“In saying that, Lexton were really good at putting the pressure on us when we had the ball, so it was always rushed going inside 50.
“In the second quarter, we were fumbly. Looking back, maybe the week off hurt us in a way. Compared to the first final, where we were very clean, we were very messy with the ball in the first two quarters, but after half time, we got better.
“We did really well around the contest. I think we worn them down a little bit, but maybe they also had a harsh finals series as well. In the last two quarters, we did what we wanted to do, and played the way we should. It’s pleasing.
“To do what we’ve done in these two finals games has been good and really pleasing, but not only that, we have finished games and done what we needed to as well.”
Raak said it was a perfect way to honour co-captains Harrison Knight and Strickland, playing their 200th and 150th respectively, while Zach Gervasoni celebrated his 100th.
“Harry Knight and Mark Strickland are our co-captains, and Knight was celebrating his 200th and Strickland his 150th,” he said.
“But they are more than that — they are the heart and soul of the place.
“We do have a bit of fun, but they also keep the group levelled a bit, and they are really good competitors. That’s their secret, they want to win and they’re really good competitors, and they bring a lot to the table.
“With Zach Gervasoni, I think he’s had an outstanding year. He’s played 100 games, but I think this year, he has taken his footy to another level. I think he is the premier ruckman in the competition at the moment, and I think he should be around the mark for the best and fairest.”
Raak admits there will be two forced changes, with Liam Ratliff hurting his shoulder, while Zane French was carried off with the help of trainers after a leg issue.
“Liam Ratliff has done his shoulder, and Zane French is out with a foot or maybe a knee. It’s not ideal, and we did lose two backs before half time, so we had to find our way. We rested Joel Dovaston a bit as well, as he had a bit of an issue leading in, so hopefully he will be right as well,” he said.
“We made three changes [for Sunday], not through injuries, but through personnel, so we do have some freedom in the background as well.”
Raak is excited for the challenge Natte Bealiba will present, knowing their previous meeting was only decided in the last 10 minutes.
“To their credit, they have been the side all year. They deserve to go into the grand final as favourites. But anything can happen in grand finals,” he said.
“We kicked something like nine points in the last quarter [in round five], but we were one point up halfway through. We didn’t do ourselves any favours, but I think Natte also had three different blokes in the side yesterday compared to that game the first time around, and they have been good inclusions as well.”