Post game, Lilydale coach Colin Lockhart had plenty of kind words for Old Launcestonians and how well they performed on the big stage.
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"Credit to OLs, they actually ran out and gave it to us and put us under a lot of pressure and we didn't handle it for long periods of the game," he said.
"We couldn't handle the pressure, but we just saw little breaks in the game just saying 'as long as we do this and control the footy', once we got control of the footy, used our foot skills and the space of the ground, that's the reason we won."
While Lockhart also praised the work of Chugg and ruckman Danny Hall, those words were ones that certainly weren't lost on OLs coach Laine Cleaver.
NTFA FINALS FEVER: Lilydale wins 2021 NTFA division one grand final against OLs
"Colin Lockhart after the game he had some very kind words to have to say to me and about our football club, where we've come from and how well we played today against them so we are extremely proud as a group," Cleaver said.
The Blues leader admitted mixed emotions came from the game after such a strong performance.
"Obviously its disappointing to lose a grand final, no one wants to lose a grand final especially with the effort we put in for majority of the game, for three quarters we had Lilydale on the back foot.
"We knew we could play that kind of footy when we play well, our best is really good but [despite] the disappointment of the grand final loss, our year as a whole, we are really proud of our efforts and pushing Lilydale to 17 points in a grand final."
MEDAL WINNER
As predicted by several coaches in the league, Lilydale recruit Daniel Viney took out the David O'Keefe Medal for best on ground in the grand final.
Joining the Demons from Scottsdale earlier in the year, Viney was best on in the semi-final win over OLs and showed how much he enjoys playing the Blues.
"We call him Silk - he's a class act," Lockhart said.
"Probably not a lot of people know this but coming into the game, he was injured, he had an injection and strapped his shoulder up so just to do that alone was sensational."
Viney was just one of several recruits to the Demons this year, mixing in with the 14 players who attended Lilydale District School.
"Nick McKinnon played at George Town for a lot of years, only played twos footy, he came out here and I gave him the opportunity and he grew from Corey [Lockett] and Lewis [Sheppard] and was a massive part of the side," Lockhart said.
"His brother Matty played on the wing all year, who I rate as being one of our top three in the best and fairest.
"Those boys as well as Sam Cooke who came over to play with his cousin Zach, they are great kids and part of the Lilydale family."
Lockhart also praised the work of Whiting, the competition's leading goalkicker for the 2021 season.