2023/2024 TIO NTFL Wrap: Men's Premier League - Finals Week Three

Photo by Celina Whan | AFLNT Media

St Mary's played their way into the 33-time Men's Premier League champion's fourth grand final in five seasons with a workmanlike defeat of Southern Districts in Saturday night's preliminary final.

The game also signalled the end of Shannon Rusca's coaching days at Districts after 213 games at the helm of the rural club in three stints, including the 2017/18 grand final win over the Darwin Buffaloes.

The Saints only led by a single point at half-time before a big third quarter when they kicked four goals without a reply from their opponents set up their 12.11 (83) to 8.9 (57) win.

Nathaniel Paredes, Jack Landt and Mitch Musgrove were four-quarter performers for the green and gold jumpers, while big marking spearhead Jackson Calder kicked four goals in a matchwinning performance.

Districts looked in control of the match when a clever snap by Roy George gave them a two-goal break in the early minutes of the second quarter.

But that was when lesser known Saints like Musgrove, who booted two third quarter goals, Xavier Vallejo, Luke Davies and Charlton Offermans moved up a gear to take the game away from the Crocodiles.

Jake Toa's physical strength in ruck contests where he restricted the leap and effectiveness around the ground of Districts big men Matthew Dennis and Wyatt Ryan was another big factor in the win.

Saints skipper Dylan Landt said a big week on the training track after the semi-final loss to Nightcliff had put some spring back into the players' legs.

"I'm super proud of everyone after that performance, we knew we had to improve on a few things that weren't up to scratch a week earlier,'' Landt added.

"We needed our mid-range players to step up against a side like Districts with a lot of top end talent and to play super well like they did in a big final made it 22 contributors in the side.

"Nightcliff has had the wood over us this season with three wins out of three, but you only have to beat them once in a grand final and for us, that's next weekend.'' 

An emotional Rusca said preliminary finals were always hard to win and his players were the side on the wrong end of the result when the final siren went.

"But credit where credit is due when players rock up ready to play and they (St Mary's) were ready to play tonight, they beat us at ground balls and the contested ball where we've been very good at all season,'' he added.

"They worked harder than us and the result was on the scoreboard, so kudos to Chopper (coach Anthony Vallejo) and his players.''

Rusca will sit down with the club once the season is over, but his body language and a lot of emotion when he spoke to his players individually, pointed to the end of an 18-year coaching dynasty at Fred's Pass.

"It's been a long road, I'll reassess things with the club hierachy, but for me, the coaching road has been long and winding and it might be time for a change,'' he said.

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