The annual general meeting and award presentation were held on Saturday October 11 at the Wicklow Hotel.

The annual awards for 2008 went to:

• Best & Fairest: Weston Whitby
• B&F Runner-up: Anthony Reid
• Most improved: Mark Clayton
• Most consistent: Matt Maxwell
• Most determined: Clint Ballagh
• Clubman: Craig Collins
• Players’ player: Weston Whitby
• Goalkicker: Weston Whitby
• Best 1st year player: Josh Keogh

The following office bearers were all unanimously elected to serve during 2009:

• President: Ben Page
• Treasurer: Adrian Walsh
• Secretary: Ron Crump

The Vice-president position remains unfilled.

Congratulations to all concerned.

All Nomads, family and supporters are invited to attend the Nomads 2008 Presentation Night at the Wicklow Hotel.

The presentations will be held on Saturday, October 11 from 7pm with tickets costing $15, including dinner.

Please reply to Ben Page by Tuesday, October 7 (via email or phone 0429682001).

The 2008 AGM will precede the presentation dinner on Saturday, October 11, commencing at 6.00pm upstairs in one of the Wicklow’s conference rooms.

Can all players and supporters please consider putting their name forward for either an executive or general committee position?

The executive positions to be voted for on the evening are President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

The front room of the Wicklow has been reserved for the Nomads for Saturday’s Cats v Hawks Grand Final. See you there.

Dave MacLellan
Just a brief wrap up of the season from a Nomad point of view. The Nomads finished the finals in third spot; arguably we could have finished better, although in reality the Nomads lost to the top sides (Kangaroos and Saints) on seven occasions during the regular season and finals series. More »

From the Armidale Express Extra’s “On ya, sport”, 10/09/2008
The New England Nomads may have come up short on the field this year, bowing out in the preliminary final a fortnight ago, but there is still one last prize on offer to the club. More »

Story - Dave MacLellan, Photos- Mel Gatsby

As reported in last week’s newspapers, the New England Nomads went down to the Saints in Inverell. Apologies for the lateness, but here is my match report. The loss ended the finals campaign of the New England Nomads and catapulted the Inverell Saints into the Grand Final, which they ultimately lost on Saturday.

As has happened numerous times throughout the 2008 season, a lethargic opening quarter cost the Nomads the match with the Saints laying siege to the their defenses. However, unlike the opening quarter against Gunnedah the week before, where only one goal was managed, the Saints piled on 49 points for the term. The Nomads awoke in the second term, but with an injury riddled Weston Whitby too often the target of Nomad forward raids, the Nomads only managed five goals before half time. The Saints meanwhile had continued their momentum and had eleven goals to the main break. More »

The Tamworth Kangaroos are the 2008 TAFL Premiers having beaten the Inverell Saints 16.10 (106) to 14.10 (94) at Tamworth No.1 Oval on Saturday. The Roos lead for the first three quarters, but the Saints were able to come back during the third quarter while they had a man advantage and took the lead in the fourth quarter. A final flurry from the Roos saw them home by 12 points. A fuller report is available on the TAFL site. Congratulations Roo Boys and Roo Girls.

Last weekend the Nomads season ended with a disappointing defeat in Inverell. The Saints came out fired up and lead from the start, pinning New England back. The Nomads dropped deep, and then had no outlets when the ball was cleared meaning that it just came straight back. While they recovered and battled away for the whole match, the Nomads were unable to come back from the damage done in the first quarter and went down 19.14 (128) to 11.9 (75).

Match day award winners for the Nomads were Weston Whitby (Players’ Player), Glen Northway (Coach’s), Anthony Reid (Captain’s) and Dylan McGrath (President’s).

The Nomads goalkickers were Weston Whitby (5), Rich Malone (2), Dylan McGrath (2), Sam Trotman and Adrian Walsh.

Story - Dave MacLellan, Photo - William Webb
As part of the celebrations of Australian Football’s 150th Anniversary, a competition is underway to decide which of the hundreds of original club jerseys is Australia’s favorite footy jumper. The jumpers were judged on originality, layout and most importantly the history of each jumper’s evolution. The first stage of selection has been completed and the home strip of the New England Nomads AFC has been placed in the top 20 jumpers nationally by a panel of selectors.

The final stage involves an internet poll, with less than two weeks of voting remaining. To vote visit www.150years.com.au, go to the section marked ‘Australia’s Favorite Footy Jumper’ and vote for the New England entry. All Nomad players, families, sponsors and football fans are strongly encouraged to vote online and to help bring the major prize back to Armidale.

Full text of the competition entry:

For a decade, the New England Nomads have flourished as the sole AFL Club in Armidale (NSW). Armidale is the home of the University of New England, but dominated by other codes. UNE provides many players to the club, although most do not settle. Our nickname and logo, featuring a football in a compass, arose because we arrive from all states, but are always on the move. Our main colour is bottle green because unlike other league grounds, ours is always brilliantly green. Jumper modeled on grandstand, in front of recent match score.