Gunnedah Bulldogs AFC player-coach Greg Piggott has had a big year.
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Last Saturday night he was named Coach of the Year as the Tamworth AFL held the Tony Gillies Medal Count and Presentation Awards at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club.
Now he is preparing to lead the Bulldogs into battle as they take part in TAFL finals action for the first time in five years.
The stage is set for the third-placed Inverell Saints to host the fourth-placed Bulldogs this Saturday, with the loser eliminated while the winner goes on to meet the Tamworth Kangaroos or New England Nomads.
Gunnedah lost 20-21-141 to 10-6-66 against Inverell at Varley Oval back in round five, before the Saints also won the rematch as they scored 18-11-119 to Gunnedah’s 10-8-68 at Wolseley Park in round 12.
The third time the teams met this year however was vastly different from the previous two encounters, with Gunnedah winning 12-17-89 to 10-14-74 at Varley Oval.
Piggott was upbeat after Gunnedah’s loss to New England last Saturday, noting that the Bulldogs won their most recent tussle with the Saints.
“We believe our game plan does stand up,” he said.
Piggott also spoke highly of the Bulldogs’ back six, saying they had been “unreal all year”.
Whilst Piggott’s team lost 15-7-97 to 5-11-41 against the first-placed New England last Saturday, the Saints had a 17-34-136 to 0-6-6 victory against the last-placed Narrabri Eagles.
Only a week earlier, Inverell lost 27-27-189 to 2-3-15 against New England.
The Nomads remain the gun side of the competition as they pursue five consecutive premiership titles, having been undefeated in the round robin season.
TAFL AWARD WINNERS:
Rising Star Award: Cameron Graham (New England Nomads);
We believe our game plan does stand up
- Gunnedah Bulldogs AFC coach Greg Piggott
Sporting Pulse Coach’s Award: Stephen Fairless (Tamworth Swans);
Golden Whistle: Robert Smith;
Gerry Griffiths Leading Goal Scorer: Jed Ellis-Cluff (New England Nomads);
Volunteer of the Year Award: Neil Dunn (TAFL Juniors);
Coach of the Year Award: Greg Piggott (Gunnedah Bulldogs);
Tony Gillies Medal: Daniel Leon (Tamworth Kangaroos) and Jed Ellis-Cluff (New England Nomads).