LPFL grand final: Briody's long wait over

HUGH Briody felt tingles race up the back of his neck as he sung the Lexton song after the Lexton Plains Football League second semi-final.Swamped by Tigers fans for the first time in a long time,he knew his team was in for something really special.Lexton was through to its first, and last, Kingprint LPFLgrand final. On Saturday, Briody will be the only Tiger on ground tohave played in the club’s last grand final appearance —that was in 1998 and ironically the last season of the Lexton Football League.Teammate Dave Impey was also in the Tigers’ runner-upfinish, but will miss this season’s grand final after a season plagued by an ankle injury.Briody quipped that while it had not been a long timebetween drinks at Lexton, the Tigers had waited a long time for success.The 36-year-old half-back flanker was thankful Tigers’coach Eamon Johnson had convinced him to play on forone more year.‘‘This is pretty exciting,’’ Briody said.‘‘I nearly had the boots hung up at the start of the year. ‘‘But there’s always one last chance — that’s what you’re all playing for, a premiership, and I’m still to get one.’’ Briody was dropped for the 1992 grand final when theTigers’ last won a flag.He was one of the ‘‘young ones’’ back then.Now in the twilight of his playing journey, Briody hasbeen through his share of highs and lows and an ‘‘unbelievable’’ turnover in teammates.Briody said the difference the past two seasons had beenJohnson’s tutelage. ‘‘He’s got us working as a team instead of individuals,’’ Briody said. ‘‘We’ve been helping each other out and seem pretty fit.‘‘We are all playing together and clicking well.‘‘The last couple of weeks, everyone has taken that nextstep up in training and their game — they haven’t beenasked to, they just did.’’The home-grown Tiger said there had been a bit of a buzz about Lexton since the second semi-final win against Skipton, who the Tigers will face in the grand final.Briody said most locals were interested in the game, but were trying to keep a lid on the excitement until matchday.This time Lexton — the town and club — wants to winthe last flag up for grabs in a league, going one step further than the Lexton league final of 1998.Briody said there was pressure to win, especially in aleague sharing the town’s name.He relished the challenge. ‘‘There’s pressure for sure,’’ Briody said. ‘‘Put as much pressure on as you like.‘‘I think it will make us want it more,’’ he said.