BSR Tigers win sixth North Eastern Football League flag in-a-row

By PETER ARGENT

BSR Tigers has won its sixth successive premiership and eighth North Eastern Football League (NEFL) A-Grade title in the past nine years, making it the team with the longest premiership streak in South Australian country football.

In the 2025 decider on September 20, the Tigers defeated the Mintaro-Manoora Eagles by 12 points, coming from nine points down at lemons, kicking four unanswered goals in the final term to grab an exciting victory.

The final result in a game where goals were at a premium was BSR 10.11 (71) defeated Mintaro-Manoora 8.11 (59).

“We lost one minor round game to Eudunda-Robertstown when I played in the state country game in WA,” playing-coach Matt Longbottom recalled.

“That was a cold, wet and miserable day here, while we were enjoying good conditions in Perth.

“Then we lost second semi-final to Min-Man by a goal.

“They said from the sidelines it was a good contest, as it was goal for goal in the second half of that finals match at Clare Oval.

“Northern Zone representative footballer Taaj Nicholls kicked a couple of late goals that day to get the Eagles home.

“We beat the Southern Saints by a comfortable margin in the preliminary final to have another crack at the Eagles.”

The Grand Final was another absorbing tussle, keeping patrons on the edge of their seats to the final siren.

“(We were) going into a slight breeze in the last quarter, our experienced guys stepped up when it counted,” Longbottom said.

“I kicked the first, Ash Bruce then slotted through the major to get us the lead

“Alex Morgan then dribbled a goal through, our third from the boundary out of a ruck contest and Kyle Blesing kicked the last of the game.

“This is most probably the best win from my perspective, coming from behind and playing at home at Spalding Oval.”

Along with Matt Longbottom, Sam Wilsdon – the younger brother of North Adelaide’s Lachie Wilsdon – skipper Jackson Lee and Alex Morgan were strong contributors on the day.

A member of the extended Hayes clan, Daniel Hayes had played in his nine successive premierships in the past nine seasons for BSR Tigers.

Daniel played in the eight A-Grade Grand Final wins – the pair at the start of the dynasty in 2017 and 2018, came back from a knee injury to play in a BSR Tigers reserves premiership in 2019, when the Tigers lost the Blyth-Snowtown Cats A-Grade level and the six in-a-row from 2020.

Woodville-West Torrens Eagles Jack and Nick Hayes’ younger brother Luke Hayes, along with Ben Cousins and Cameron Longbottom have played in the eight flags in this era for the NEFL Tigers.

Luke Hayes played alongside younger siblings Cooper and Ryder in this year’s title. Back in the 2019, he participated in a Grand Final in the now defunct Mallee Football League Grand Finals for Pinnaroo and Districts.

“I’ve now won six Grand Final, lost one and have been the playing coach of the last three titles,” Matt Longbottom continued.

“I’m handing the reigns back to Liam Whitwell, who is coming back to coach us next year.”

Along with being best on ground in the Grand Final Matt Longbottom was the NEFL’s Mail Medallist for a second time in 2025, having won his first in 2021, before spending the 2022 season at North Adelaide, playing reserves.

There is now 23 NEFL premiership medals in this Longbottom family.

“Now Dad, Darren and I are equal have six flags each, while older brother Cam has eight,” Longbottom said.

“Our younger brother, Zac is now getting involved.

“He’s now 23-years-old and has three A-grade flags to this point.”