This past weekend, preliminary finals took place in all the premier leagues around the state, with sides vying for a spot in their competition’s respective grand finals.
NWFL Premier League - Penguin vs Ulverstone, Ulverstone vs Wynyard
On Saturday morning, Penguin and Ulverstone’s senior women’s teams battled at Dial Park for a spot in the grand final against Wynyard.
Ulverstone made an impressive start against the Two Blues, kicking the only two majors of the opening quarter and leading by 14 points at the first break.
Penguin accounted for the only scores of the second quarter, which were five consecutive behinds.
Both teams notched 1.1 in the third term, meaning the Robins maintained their half-time lead at the last interval.
The final quarter was a highly entertaining affair, with the Two Blues rallying to draw level with Ulverstone in the dying stages.
However, in the final minute of the term, a late Penguin behind off the boot of Chloe Lynch saw the Two Blues eke ahead of the Robins and win 2.11 (23) to 3.4 (22).
Libby Haines (one goal, 14 tackles, 22 disposals) and Shania Saward (one goal, nine tackles, 20 disposals) were superb for Penguin in a thriller.
Meanwhile, Ulverstone’s Courtney Hingston (five tackles, 13 rebound inside-50s, 23 disposals) and Lucah Conkie (one goal, eight tackles, 18 disposals) played with pride.
After this match, Ulverstone and Wynyard’s senior men’s sides skirmished, with the victors to face Devonport the following Saturday.
The Robins made a solid start against Wynyard, kicking 2.4 to 1.2 in the first term.
The Cats hit back in the second quarter, kicking six goals to one and clinching a lead of 22 points at the eve of the first half.
In the third term, Ulverstone harnessed the wind that had assisted Wynyard in the previous quarter and put 4.5 on the board, thus retaking the lead before three-quarter-time.
The final quarter saw eleven majors notched between the two teams. However, the Cats registered eight of them to win 15.6 (96) to 10.13 (73).
Joshua Wolfe (four goals, five one-percenters, 10 disposals) and Beau Sharman (one goal, 12 rebound inside-50s, 29 disposals) were crucial for Wynyard in a hard-fought victory.
For the Robins, Jordan Quaile (five clearances, six tackles, 23 disposals) and Jordan Kelly (four goals, nine marks, 14 disposals) held their ground in a tough loss.
NTFA Premier League - Deloraine vs Launceston, Launceston vs South Launceston
At Windsor Park in Launceston, Deloraine and Launceston’s senior women’s teams faced off, with the winner to advance to the season decider against South Launceston.
Launceston started strongly on their home deck, kicking an unanswered 3.1 in the opening quarter.
The Roos got on the board with a trio of behinds in the second quarter, however Launceston notched another major in the same interval to further stamp their authority.
Neither side registered a score in the third term, meaning Deloraine still faced a notable deficit with a quarter to play.
In the final quarter Deloraine made a late charge and closed with single digits of the Blues, however the latter held on to win 4.1 (25) to 2.5 (17).
Launceston’s Jaimee Todman notched three of their four goals, and Georgia Hill (five marks, 17 disposals) and Kelsie Hill (five rebound inside-50s, 14 disposals) were vital for the Blues.
For the Roos, Alex Whitehead (five marks, seven tackles, 29 disposals) and Karina Baxter (five one-percenters, five clearances, 25 disposals) were impressive on a tough afternoon.
Following the match, Launceston and South Launceston’s senior men’s sides clashed in a preliminary final of their own.
Both teams were wayward in front of goal early on, and the Bulldogs went into quarter-time with a lead of seven points.
The second quarter was also an arm-wrestle, with both opponents notching three goals apiece and the Blues marginally reducing South Launceston’s lead to a goal at half-time.
Launceston’s inaccuracy continued in the second half, however they snuck ahead of the Dogs in the third term and held a six-point lead of their own at the final change.
In the final quarter, the Blues outlasted South Launceston with a three-goal to one effort and secured a gritty 9.20 (74) to 7.12 (54) victory as well as a grand final berth.
Launceston’s Zachary Morris (11 one-percenters, 12 rebound inside-50s, 37 disposals) and Archie Wilkinson (three goals, eight marks, 23 disposals) were brilliant for the Blues.
For the Dogs, Tom Graham (six inside-50s, eight marks, 27 disposals) and Olly Woodcock-Davis (eight one-percenters, 12 rebound inside-50s, 23 disposals) stood tall.
SFL Premier League - Clarence vs North Hobart
On Sunday, both Clarence and North Hobart’s senior men’s and women’s did battle in a pair of preliminary finals at North Hobart Oval.
The women’s match took place first, and the Roos made early inroads against North Hobart, kicking three goals to one in the first quarter.
In the second term, Clarence put distance between themselves and the Demons, piling on five majors in the term to lead by 41 points at half-time.
The Roos remained in control in the second half, notching four majors to North Hobart’s two in the third quarter.
Despite an inaccurate final quarter, Clarence cruised to a 12.10 (82) to 3.3 (21) win over the Dees and clinched a place in the season decider against the Kingborough Tigers.
The men’s teams faced off later in the day and it was a high-scoring clash early, with the Roos kicking 6.4 in the first term and North Hobart registering four majors.
The shootout continued on in the second quarter, with both sides snaring four goals apiece in the interval.
In the third term, the Demons put a half-dozen goals on the board to Clarence’s four and drew the ledger between the two sides even at 14.6 with a quarter remaining.
Despite a spirited performance from the Dees, the Roos were too good in the end, kicking five goals to win 19.12 (126) to 14.8 (92) and advance to a grand final against Lauderdale.