READ MORE - SATURDAY SCOREBOARD - August 31, 2019
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SEA Lake Nandaly has won its way through to its first North Central league grand final.
Having stumbled in the preliminary final the previous two years, the Tigers - who joined the league in 2016 - made the most of the chance to take the direct route through to the decider, defeating Birchip-Watchem by 27 points in Saturday's second semi-final.
The game was up for grabs at three quarter-time with the Tigers holding a slender two-point advantage, 11.8 to 10.12.
But it was the Tigers who had the better of the final term, kicking the only four goals of the quarter to run away with a 15.10 (100) to 10.13 (73) victory at Wedderburn.
"At three quarter-time it was definitely anyone's game," Tigers coach Joel Donnan said.
"I had spoken to the boys before the game that if we could get to three quarter-time and be thereabouts that with the extra work we did during mid-season and the way we rotate, we should be able to run over the top of them.
"We were able to find that bit extra in the last quarter with a few fresh legs."
The Tigers' key forward duo of Billy McInnes and Brad Collins kicked five goals apiece, including two each in the final term.
The Tigers started well to lead by 15 points at quarter-time and 18 points at half-time.
Sea Lake Nandaly's lead got out to a precarious 25 points for the Bulls early in the third quarter after a McInnes goal.
However, the Bulls kicked five of the next seven goals - the last of them from Lachlan Foott to cut their deficit back to under a kick heading into three quarter-time.
The best players for the Tigers were led by Collins, star ruckman Ryan O'Sullivan and gun midfielder Bryce Delmenico (two goals).
Also among the better players was William Simpson, who ended the game on the interchange with an injury concern.
With Sea Lake Nandaly having already won its way through to the decider, it now means that every club will have played in a senior grand final between 2009 and 2019.
Birchip-Watchem must now front up again in the preliminary final next Saturday against a rested Charlton at Boort.
Two of Birchip-Watchem's stars in Nathan Gordon (two goals) and Dale Hinkley headed the best players for the Bulls, whose score of 73 was the highest kicked against Sea Lake Nandaly this season.
The Tigers also have their reserves and under-16s already through to grand finals.
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