New North Gambier coach Ben Hardy has enjoyed the perfect start to life as a new coach by winning his first game against arch-rival East Gambier on Saturday.
Although the Tigers had the last laugh by winning the knockout final, they could not topple the Bulldogs for the entire 2021 WBFL season.
But this year there are no such worries with the yellow and black victorious after a topsy-turvy battle.
Hardy said it is a good feeling getting his first win on the board, especially after the club experienced some COVID difficulties with the coach only escaping isolation less than 24 hours before first bounce.
“Coming into a new league I was a little nervous about not knowing everything and wanted to get the first one out the way,” he said.
“We have not had a good record against East recently, so the main thing to walk away from it is everything is going well after getting a win away from home.”
Although North won the battle by the relatively comfortable margin of 22 points after leading at every change, the side did not have everything its own way.
The Tigers entered the game with eight players missing due to COVID-19 restrictions, but still dominated the first term registering seven scoring shots to two
However, it was a “waste” after North missed five of them to keep the Dogs interested.
“We had the wind in the first quarter, but missed a lot of opportunities and wasted it,” Hardy said.
“The heat in the game was on straight away, so we took a bit of time to calm down our nerves and systems right.
“Which is okay because it will be a bit of a process for a couple of weeks.”
The game then came alive in the second term with the hosts revving up the crowd by banging four goals on the scoreboard.
Wearing the red sash for the first time, Garret Ha found the big sticks, while returning co-coach Matt Scanlon led the way booting two majors.
The goals were also coming thick and fast at the other end with Nick McInerney, Nicholas Moretti, Jake Schutz and Sam Stafford being the main targets kicking a pair each.
At the main break North held a one-goal advantage and fans were pumped for another classic, but the visitors took control when play resumed and did not look back.
With renowned goal-kicking machine Justin McConnell playing a new role in the middle the Tigers were a different looking force and were tough to stop once they lowered their eyes and moved the ball methodically with composure.
North kicked four goals to one in the third term to kill the game by the halfway mark of the fourth quarter.
Hardy said he felt safe at that point with the work done in the defensive 50 critical to the success.
“I think our back six was really good with Tim McInerney and Jordan Hollitt doing well,” he said.
“But a young kid called Joel Griffith played a specific forward-defensive role and was outstanding.”
