Thuringowa stun in AFL Townsville 2023 Grand Final against Hermit Park

It was the largest margin of victory in a decider in 15 years, with Thuringowa’s mighty defence holding Hermit Park to the lowest score of any grand finalist since the 2009 season.

The Tigers were rocked by the late withdrawal of team leading goalkicker and captain Jason Di Betta, leaving a team of cubs to take on the battle-hardened Bulldogs.

Thuringowa was never troubled, picking off Hermit Park’s attempts to exit the rear 50m like a training exercise to notch up its 18th consecutive victory of 2023.

Brett Hughes, the former Hermit Park coach who led the yellow-and-blacks to the 2019 flag, returned to conquer his old club in his first season in charge of the Bulldogs.

He described the victory as one of the finest examples of the game plan his Thuringowa team had refined all season.

“That’s been our game style all year to try choke the opposition out of the contest,” Hughes said.

“I think over the two finals they have been our best performances of the season and a really good one today.”

Thuringowa had treated its unbeaten status as the ‘elephant in the room’ in the lead-up to Saturday’s decider but acknowledged the historic nature of the accomplish afterwards.

“It’s something to be very proud of,” Hughes added.

“We spoke about it after the game. We had nine guys who didn’t play in last year’s grand final that did today, and to be part of the team that did go undefeated is something they’ll remember for a long, long time.”

The Bulldogs converted fewer than half their shots on goal into majors, leaving a scorecard that flattered a Tigers team even in a 59 point defeat.

While magnificent Newman and Ricky Sullivan orchestrated a superb back pocket performance it was the club’s midfielders and retreating forwards that punished Hermit Park’s wayward backline.

Unable to progress the ball up the field, Hermit Park’s defenders were put to the sword as razor sharp Thuringowa’s counter-attack returned fire with a withering barrage that would have threatened the record books with straighter kicking.

Creative small forward Charlie Gaudion kicked a goal in each quarter to lead the decider with four to his tally, while finding teammates unmarked to create even more scoring opportunities.

Hermit Park’s stand-in captain Josh Andrews and star Callaway Parker tried in vain to stem the tide while midfielder Jesse Mclay and key defender Cale Neville were left shattered as their 100 game celebrations ended in heartbreak.

“The scoreline was pretty indicative of how the game went,” defeated coach Max Tink said.

“The Bulldogs were too slick and were very deserving winners this season. We’ve got a few things to work on but we’ve got a young group and we’ll come back bigger and better.

“Today wasn’t an ideal result but the development I’ve seen come through and the joy I’ve had working with this group has been hard to measure and I really looking to coming back next year.”

The warning signs were there from the opening quarter.

After starting the game 0.4, Thuringowa roared into action with goals to Stuart Guest, Lachlan O’Dwyer and Gaudion in the space of six minutes to lead 22-1 at quarter-time.

Callaway Parker kicked Hermit Park’s first goal of the final in the second quarter but that headway was soon eliminated as Dominic Marshall and Gaudion snapped majors in response to hold a 5.6 (36) to 1.3 (9) lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs saved its best for last, kicking 4.1 in the final quarter to ice the decider.

Hermit Park women break through for flag

Hermit Park’s women have broken back-to-back seasons of grand final heartbreak by stopping arch rivals Curra short of a hat-trick of AFL Townsville flags.

The Swans were closing in on the greatest run of premiership success in North Queensland women’s football history but were dismantled by a pumped up Tigers outfit ready to avenge defeats in 2021 and 2022.

Hermit Park co-captain Gabrielle Dockray, winner of the best on ground medal, described a wave of elation that swept over her side following the 4.8 (32) to 2.1 (13) victory.

“A few of us have been around a long time, five or six seasons, and it’s been hard the last few years to get so close and fall at the final hurdle,” Dockray said.

“It was the fourth grand final between us and they’ve set the standard the last few years so we knew they’d be hard to knock off.

“It was elation, gratitude, a sense of exhilaration around finally getting one back.”

Maggie Dwyer made a heroic return from ankle surgery six weeks ago to deliver the final dagger goal in the fourth quarter, shutting down a late Swans momentum swing that threatened a comeback.

Bulldogs survive in reserve grade overtime thriller

Thuringowa’s reserve grade side inspired the club’s elite side to grand final day domination after edging Hermit Park 6.2 (38) to 4.8 (32) in an overtime thriller.

Thuringowa coach Brett Hughes said watching the Bulldogs’ fight through a 26-all stalemate at full-time to win lit the fire in his team to match their accomplish­ment.

James Ryan snapped true in the first 30 seconds of overtime to put the Bulldogs ahead before David Carroll’s mark and goal put the score at 38 to 26. Cody Evans was best on ground and Brendan McGrath kicked a hat-trick of majors in regulation time.

2023 AFL Townsville Grand Final Preview

Hermit Park have declared the AFL Townsville grand final a “free hit” for the club as undefeated Thuringowa closes in on premiership history.

The Bulldogs have won 17 straight in 2023, including five against the Tigers team that now stands between them and a 16th senior men’s flag.

Hermit Park captain Jason Di Betta insisted the pressure was all on Thuringowa as the favourites attempt to match the feat of Ricky Sullivan’s all-conquering 2016 Bulldogs.

“We know it’s a free hit for us,” the veteran small forward said.

“The ’Dogs are clearly the benchmark so we need to be on our game if we’re any chance. They’re undefeated but we know we’re a shot, we’ve just got to take it.

“The pressure is on them. We’re going to bring the heat; plenty of pressure, if we’re not doing that we have no chance.”

Through five encounters in 2023 Hermit Park has failed to kick 60 points against a stifling Thuringowa defence.

Thuringowa has exceeded 60 in all but one clash, with an average margin of victory just shy of four goals.

Bulldogs skipper Charlie Gaudion said the winning streak was proof the club’s game plan could work and would not prove a distraction at the final hurdle.

“It’s a good feeling for us to know what we’ve been doing this year has worked really well but when the ball is bounced it’s nil-all so all the focus is on Saturday,” Gaudion said.

“2016 is the last time we went undefeated but there’s been other games we’ve gone in expecting to win and it hasn’t gone our way. It (going undefeated) is not something we’re harping on about too much but we have embraced it as well.”

Gaudion added that he expected Hermit Park to rise to the occasion, as they did a season ago.

It took until the final minute for Thuringowa to topple the Tigers in 2022, when former Hermit Park gun Matthew Steiner’s long-range strike sealed a 8.6 (54) to 7.10 (52) win for the Bulldogs.

“The theatre around the day brings the best out of a couple of their blokes,” Gaudion said.

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“They’ll be a much harder contest being in a grand final. They’ll find a bit more form after a good win against Curra last week. They’re probably expecting the same from us.”

While Thuringowa cruised into a second round bye by beating the Tigers, Hermit Park has taken the long route to the decider, thumping rivals Curra in the preliminary final to earn a rematch.

“To have two really good hit-outs has been a perfect prep for the big game,” Di Betta said.

Originally published as Thuringowa stun in AFL Townsville 2023 Grand Final against Hermit Park