The Lions Reserves’ fighting 31-point loss at the hands of Sydney and NT Thunder’s win over Redlands means the final NEAFL ladder is now confirmed.
After leading the competition for the latter half of the season, the Lions stumbled at the final hurdle and were pipped for the minor premiership.
NT finish first on 60 points with 15 wins, a game ahead of Brisbane and Southport, the Lions taking second spot with superior percentage.
Redlands- losers by 78-points in Darwin on Saturday night, and Gold Coast Suns-who also lost this weekend to Mt Gravatt, round out the clubs who’ve won a post-season berth.
This equation means the Lions will clash with Southport at home next weekend, the winner playing off with NT the following weekend in Darwin for a Grand Final spot.
Next week will also feature an elimination final between Redlands and Gold Coast, the victor meeting the loser of Sharks vs. Lions in week two of the finals.
While a little disappointed to lose top spot in the last round of fixtures, Lions reserves coach Nathan Clarke says he’s happy to be playing Southport in Brisbane next weekend.
The Lions will go into the crucial clash with some momentum, having kicked six goals to one in the final quarter against the Swans.
“I’m happy with that last quarter; you tend to take that form into the next week, how you finished off the game,” Clarke said.
“That [finishing strongly] was a really impressive emphasis from our guys. It wasn’t me giving the direction, it was them saying at three-quarter-time we’ve got to fight this out and finish strong.”
While no loss is ideal, Clarke was encouraged by his charges’ fight, the Lions overcoming extensive injuries and a sluggish start to break even with Sydney for the final three quarters.
“We showed tremendous courage and fight to get back into the contest after conceding the first six goals,” Clarke said.
“I really don’t feel like we outplayed much at all; we hung in there really well. Sydney just took pretty much every opportunity and that’s what counted in the end.”
Brisbane was minus a host of regulars including Sam Sheldon, Patrick Weardon and Richard Newell.
With young tall Jackson Starcevich was injured early on Saturday, Aaron Cornelius a late withdrawal, Captain Bryce Retzlaff out for the season, and Jordan Lisle playing seniors, it was inarguably the Lions’ weakest team of 2012.
With such a dearth of key personnel (only 13 listed players available on Saturday) the Lions’ gallant performance against Sydney is all the more impressive, particularly considering they were belted by 150 points in the corresponding fixture last year.
“It shows we’re improving as a team,”
“We were smashed in round 21 last year against the Swans. We had 12 listed players that day-today we had 13, so to lose by five goals today and scrap all the way to the end is a good effort.”
