After an upset victory in the first week of the finals, Big River Hawks earned the right to take on minor premiers Palmerston for a place in the grand final at TIO Stadium last weekend.
Having played each other twice during the home and away season, Palmerston entered the game as firm favourites having won on both occasions and given they boasted a team with 89 games of Premier League experience, compared to the six of Big River Hawks.
Yet, whilst some pundits did not rate the Hawks a chance, no one in the Hawks change rooms felt the same way. They were focussed, determined and ready to conquer their biggest challenge of the season and win the first spot in the grand final.
The boys from Katherine left at 6.30am to make it up to Darwin in time for the match and arrived at the ground at 10.15am ready for their match to get underway in an hour.
The feeling in the change rooms was nervous excitement. ‘Working for each other’ was the theme for the day and with a few specific players highlighted from the Palmerston team, some of the Hawks players were entrusted with some big responsibilities.
The match got underway at 11.15am, with the Hawks kicking with a slight breeze behind their backs. The midfield battle, like it usually is was key and although their opponents had Premier League experience this season, it was the Hawks, through ruckman Matthew Travers getting first use of the ball. Travers was about to play his best match for the season.
Alongside him was runner-up in the Club best and fairest awards Riley Sullivan, Marcus Hamilton and Cedric Robertson. The quartet proved to be more than up to the task of matching the more experienced Magpies midfield.
With the early ascendency in the centre, the game was mostly played in the Hawks’ forward half, which resulted in early goals to Ngukurr small forwards Lyndon Gumbula and Kurtley Silver. Palmerston were able to answer back with two goals of their own, through a counterattack where Holt-Tubbs marked and goaled.
For the majority of the quarter the Hawks controlled the momentum, however, entered quarter time with just a one point lead.
The second term saw Palmerston have their turn with the breeze as the game openrf up more than it did in the first quarter. Patty Kossack was doing a superb job of keeping Palmerston full forward Holt-Tubbs quiet, however, they found other avenues to goal through the Dhurrkay brothers.
The Hawks had the answers though, following each of the Magpies’ scores with one of their own as Marcus Hamilton and Caleb Clyden entertained the crowd with their silky skills and running goals.
The third quarter was the Matt and Pete show, with the ruckman winning every tap and Jilkminggan’s own Pete Duncan getting the clearances forward.
Duncan, who was a welcome return to the side was instrumental in shifting the game’s momentum firmly in the Hawks favour.
The defence, led by Jesse Bettison, James Hersey and Daniel Turner were rock solid, managing to keep them to just the single goal in the third quarter. While the Hawks were inaccurate, they managed to take back the lead thanks to goals from Captains Caleb Clyden and Marcus Hamilton.
The players were asked at the final break just how much they wanted to win the match and were reminded of the lack of respect shown to them throughout the finals. The Hawks were loud and proud as they left the huddle ready for the final term.
The last quarter saw Palmerston call on its players with Premier League experience to get them the win, however, Riley Sullivan and Keenan Waterbury kept danger man Tyron Baden quiet to continue the momentum going the Hawks way in the midfield.
Other standouts in the final quarter were Cedric Robertson, who was again amongst the best all day but was incredibly good at pivotal times in the last quarter.
Another was Isaac Bell who was almost a late withdrawal with illness, before being backed in to play and did his part for the team plus more. His tackling resulted in numerous turnovers and free kicks going in the Hawks favour.
The icing on the cake for the Hawks was a clean, bone shuddering hit by Travers, which left his opponent short of breath after trying to take him on.
Every time the Magpies tried to fight back, the Hawks answered immediately to keep the nine point margin until the final siren.
So the team that many gave no chance of having an impact in finals is the first through to the grand final, with the Hawks set to play either Palmerston or Nightcliff in two weeks’ time.
With just eight players remaining from last year’s premiership team, the Hawks have a far younger line up than in prior years and will be full of confidence heading into the decider.
The Grand Final will be held on Saturday March 15 at 11.45am at TIO Stadium so if you are in or can get to Darwin, come and support our boys in their quest to go back to back.
Final score:
Big River Hawks 2.2 5.3 7.6 9.7 (61)
Palmerston 2.1 5.2 6.3 8.4 (52)
