Geelong Advertiser |
GROVEDALE officially put an end to its 16-year finals drought on Saturday, cementing its spot in the top five with a 96-point demolition of the Roosters 19.16 (130) to 4.10 (34) at the Burdoo Reserve.
The Tigers hit the scoreboard early, booting the first seven majors of the day, including two back-to-back long punts from small speedster Nathan Deans within the space of a minute.
The defensive work of Nathan Martin and Alexander Gubbins laid the foundations for the win, disabling the Roosters from forward 30m entry until the six-minute mark of the second term.
"Our back six has been pretty good; they have been all year actually. There may have been two exceptions, but the problems were more in the midfield so I've been pleased with them and I trust them (the defenders)," Tigers coach Grant Tanner said.
Regarded as the "Chris Newman of the GFL", having played in 254 senior games without a finals appearance, Nathan Martin could not have been happier with his side's result as he prepared for his first September football in almost two decades.
"The club has a great feel about it from the supporters to the sponsors to the players. Everyone is so rapt and there is just electricity around the club," Martin said.
