Brian Allen's Tips of the Week - Episode 8 (3/9/24) - video Dailymotion

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)

Transcript

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.