CLARENCE bottom-age talents, Noah Holmes, Sam Banks and Darcy Gardner have dominated the Sports Association of Tasmanian Independent Schools (SATIS) Grand Final, steering their school Guilford Young College to a memorable come-from-behind 22-point victory over St Patrick’s College at Twin Ovals, the college’s first title since 2002.

Whilst St Patrick’s was missing bustling key forward and co-captain Jackson Callow, Guilford Young was also without fellow AFL Draft Combine invitee and Academy member Patrick Walker. It meant the remaining AFL Academy members – Oliver Davis, Sam Collins and Banks – ran out for the winners, while a host of developing talents including Holmes, North Hobart’s George McLeod, and Clarence’s Baker Smith also impressed in the win. For St Patrick’s the players to watch coming into the match were Oliver Sanders and Isaac Hyatt who had both had impressive showings at Tasmanian State League (TSL) level lately.

Despite not possessing the majority of state league talent and missing Callow as a target up forward, it was St Patrick’s that took an early lead into quarter time. Guilford Young owned forward half possession, but missed a few chances and it took until Lincoln Arnold kicked a great goal off the hands of Davis to register the first major of the game. Six minutes later, Declen Chugg put through a running goal and his effort was matched 90 seconds later by captain Bailey Gillow who made no mistake.

The Hobart-based side came out firing early in the second term as Lachlan Rowlands capitalised from the set shot, but it was all St Patricks from there. The green and gold side piled on four of the next five goals, with Chugg kicking a second, while Oliver Chugg, Zach Morris and Angus Jeffries all capitalised with majors. Only ruckman playing the role of rover, Ryan Hapka managed to get one against the momentum, roving Holmes’ marking contest in the square midway through the term to capitalise with quick thinking.

Trailing by 14 points at half-time, Guilford Young needed something special, and that someone was Holmes who booted five of the last six goals of the game. The bottom-age contested marking specialist missed a few chances in the first half, but he was kicking them from everywhere in the second, as he and Arnold (second goal) made the opposition pay. His five goals proved a match winner and he was clearly the best on ground to help Guilford Young to its first SATIS title in 18 years.

Holmes finished with 14 disposals, eight marks – six contested – and 5.3 on the day, with Banks racking up a ridiculous 34 disposals, six marks, six clearances and six inside 50s. Gardner also impressed with 21 touches, four clearances, six tackles and seven inside 50s, while McLeod played a consistent four-quarter game with 24 disposals, six marks – one contested – three clearances, three inside 50s and five rebounds. Smith proved a rock down back with multiple intercept marks (six total, four contested), as well as 16 touches, four inside 50s and two rebounds. Davis worked hard and was often gang-tackled on the inside to finish with 16 disposals, five clearances, three inside 50s and two tackles.

For St Patrick’s, Jeffries was busy with 24 disposals, six marks, seven clearances, two inside 50s and a goal as the losing side’s best, while Sanders helped himself to 23 disposals, eight marks, six clearances, five inside 50s and four rebounds. Sam Foley tried hard in defence often getting in Holmes’ way to pick up 12 disposals, four marks, five rebounds and three tackles. Morris had 12 disposals, five marks – three contested – two inside 50s and a goal for the losers, while Michael Stringel (10 disposals, four inside 50s and three tackles) was also impressive.

GUILFORD YOUNG 1.2 | 3.6 | 6.8 | 9.9 (63)
ST PATRICKS 2.0 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.5 (41)

GOALS: 

Guilford Young: N. Holmes 3, L. Arnold, L. Rowlands, R. Hapka.
St Patrick’s: D. Chugg, B. Gillow, A. Jeffries, Z. Morris, O. Chugg, D. Chugg.

ADC BEST:

Guilford Young: N. Holmes, S. Banks, D. Gardner, G. McLeod, B. Smith
St Patrick’s: A. Jeffries, M. Stingel, Z. Morris, S. Foley, O. Sanders