From the Armidale Independent, 18/04/2007
New England Nomads had a giant start to the Tamworth Australian Football League (TAFL) competition on Saturday with a 185-point win against the Narrabri Eagles.

Nomads took the match 29.19.(193) to an under-strength Narrabri’s 1.2.(8) Nomads coach Adrian Walsh said he was pleased his players didn’t let the game get ahead of them.

“We’ve gone out there sometimes before and we’ve let it get ahead of us but this time the boys were really disciplined,” Walsh said.

“In a game like that it is very easy for everybody to get hungry and lose the team play but they continued to keep running, handballing, backing each other up and kept that team flow going.”

Walsh said he thought Narrabri would be under manned all year.

“They still have five or six very good footballers but I think it is going to be tough for them,” he said.

“They are a hard team to play out there because it is a very small ground which can create problems.”

Nomads new recruits shone through for the team, especially Mark Handley who scored 17 goals and 7 points, as well as giving away four other goals.

“He played one game with us last year but this year he has played and marked really well,” Walsh said.

“At the same time I have to praise the rest of the team who looked for him and help set him up.”

New back Matt West also played well along with Anthony Alderuccio.

“Alderuccio had only been in town for one day and managed to kick six goals for us,” Walsh said. “He’s a hard ball getter in the style of Greg Williams.”

Club stalwarts Matt Maxwell and Glen Northway are showing good form as is Soloman Hanks.

“Hanks played a good game as well. He’s starting to step up: he’s always been a goal sneak but he has been taking a larger role around the ground,” Walsh said.

Nomad’s discipline was particularly strong, taking their time to handball and pass to get the best opportunities, Walsh said.

The New England Nomads will play the Tamworth Swans on Saturday at 2pm at UNE Bellevue Oval.

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