By Matt McLennan (Armidale Express, 1/08/2008)
The New England Nomads will be looking to capitalise on a near full-strength squad this weekend when they take on the Muswellbrook Cats in round 14 of the Tamworth Australian Football League (TAFL).

Saturday’s match will be played at Tamworth’s No 1 oval to ease the Cats’ travel commitments, and will mark only the second time in a number of weeks the Nomads will have anything resembling a full-strength squad.

The only player missing will be Josh Keogh, who is expected to miss the match due to shoulder ligament damage.

Nomads coach Brendan Meehan said his side is confident of coming back up the hill victorious.

“Everything is going really well, we should be able to get ourselves a good win,” he said.

With only two rounds remaining in the competition, the Nomads are aiming for third spot on the ladder, which will get them a home semi final against the fourth placed team. Meehan is confident his team can be well on the way towards third with a win this weekend.

“Getting this home final is what we really want, and when we are at full strength we are one of the strongest sides in the competition,” he said.

“Last week we got up by one point, and you could see the improvement as the match went on, so in another week we should be really good. Hopefully we can keep it going through the finals.”

Meehan was looking for big games from his whole side, but said he was looking to three particular players to continue their good form in the competition.

“Reese Whitby, Anthony Reid and Johnathon Frost all had good games last week, so I’ll be looking to them again this weekend,” Meehan said.

It seems the only danger to the Nomads this weekend is the Cats’ lack of numbers, after they were forced to forfeit their match last weekend.

“We don’t want a forfeit this close to the finals,” Meehan said.

“They didn’t play last weekend, and we are hoping they don’t forfeit this weekend.”

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