The Examiner's Brian Allen gives his tips for the preliminary final of the NTFA premier season. Video by Aaron Smith and Paul Scambler (3/9/24)
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00:00Welcome to another week of NTA Premier Footy Tips.
00:03I'm Brian Allen, a sports journalist at The Examiner.
00:06This week we've got the preliminary final
00:08between Longford and Roach Raleigh at Longford
00:11and I think that Roach Raleigh will win this by 8 points.
00:15I'm expecting it to be a wet weather contest
00:17and really muddy given the rain that we've had
00:20in recent weeks and that's due to come this week
00:23so I reckon that's going to make for a real close game.
00:27Roach Raleigh coach Josh Ponting
00:29is hopeful of having arguably the league's best player
00:31Jordan Cousins right after he rolled his ankle
00:34last weekend in the semi-final win against Hillwood.
00:37For me his presence or his absence
00:39will have a big impact on this game.
00:41When the teams met at Longford last time
00:43he kicked three goals in a low scoring affair.
00:46He plays and I think Roach Raleigh have the edge.
00:49If he doesn't I'm a bit unsure which way this game will go.
00:53Roach Raleigh were missing Cousins, Luke Richards
00:55and Dakota Bannister to suspension
00:57when these teams met in the qualifying final
01:00so that's worth noting going into this one.
01:02But Longford beat what was in front of them that day
01:05at Roach Raleigh winning by 17 points
01:07and that's all you can do.
01:09The country tiger Zach Morris was brilliant up forward
01:12in the last quarter when the game was won
01:14so if he plays well again Longford are every chance.
01:18I think Longford will be highly motivated
01:20not just by the chance of playing in the grand final
01:23but talking to coach Mitch Stagg
01:25they were really disappointed with their first half
01:27against South Launceston in last week's semi-final.
01:30They also lost to Bridge North and Roach Raleigh
01:32on the home deck earlier this year
01:34and I reckon that's lit a fire in them
01:36to re-establish the fortress.
01:38I hope you enjoy your football this weekend
01:40and you get to the game.
01:41You can catch up on all the highlights
01:44at the examiner's website and in print following that.