Round 5 2010

MULES INSPIRES THE TIGERS TO CRUNCH WIN

A STIRRING three-quarter-time speech from injured skipper Ben Mules sparked Glenelg's gutsy three-point win over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday.

Mules, who has been sidelined all season with a hamstring injury, ran from the grandstand at the final change and urged his teammates to take the game on.

"We lacked a bit of excitment and once we started getting around each other and playing for each other, we're a lot better side," Mules said after the win.

"I just said 'the first contest, the first goal, make sure we get around each other'."

With Mules' words and the tune of The Last Post still ringing in their ears, the Tigers responded and kicked two goals to none to emerge from a dogged final term with a crucial win.

Every player did their bit at times. Sam Rudolph produced an inspired final term in defence, Byron Murphy put a big smother on Damon White 20 minutes in, and Daniel Kirk took two huge contested marks in time-on.

When the siren went, coach Mark Mickan forgot his usual ice-cool persona, leapt in the air and pumped his fists.

"It was bloody reflective of the type of win it was - just a real character win," he said.

"Early on we looked like we came to play, then we had a sudden period where we lost our way... but the effort to get it back and fight out the last quarter like we did was a fantastic performance."