Nomads eye off Inverell after dispatching Muswellbrook

By Matt Nicholls (Armidale Express, 10/05/2010)

New England will go into this week’s blockbuster match against Inverell full of confidence after they defeated Muswellbrook with relative ease on Saturday. The Nomads can leapfrog the Saints on the Tamworth AFL ladder if they manage to win, which would make it four victories on the trot for the Armidale-based side.

On the back of wins against Narribri and Gunnedah, New England travelled to Muswellbrook expecting a victory, but had to do it tough in the first half as they led by just 11 points at the main break. But through a five goal third quarter, the Nomads were able to pull away from the home side, leading by 43 points at the final change. The last quarter mirrored the third as New England put the foot down to go on and win comfortably 119 to 57.

Nomads coach Brendan Meehan was impressed with the victory. “It was close at half time but we missed a lot of set shots at goal,” he said. “I think we kicked 17.17 for the game but it was 12.17 at one stage. Muswellbrook have got a really good full forward in Stuey McAdam and every time they got the ball inside their 50 he marked and goaled. He only kicked one goal in the second half and finished with six for the day so we got the better of him in the end.”

Nomads captain Nick Schultz was the man responsible for shutting McAdam down in the final half, while midfield/forwards Matt Maxwell and Paddy Tobias were the shining lights at the other end of the ground, kicking five and four goals respectively. With four key players still to return from the Nomads line-up – Weston Whitby, Matt Bourke, Jay Wright and Joe Harland – New England is on target for a big performance against Inverell, one of the premiership favourites.

“It’s a big game for us and it will really be a guide to see where we are at,” Meehan said. “Inverell are a tough opponent and they come to Bellevue Oval fired up. We should be at full-strength, though, which will really help.”

Inverell go into this Saturday’s match on the back of a 23-point loss to new ladder leaders Tamworth Kangaroos. In the other Tamworth AFL match on the weekend, Tamworth Swans also had a 23-point win, defeating Gunnedah.

NEW ENGLAND 4.5, 7.9, 12.17, 17.17 (119) defeated MUSWELLBROOK 3.1, 6.4, 7.4, 8.9 (57)
Goals (NE):
Matt Maxwell 5; Paddy Tobias 4; Hamish Pearce, Anthony Reid, Chris Murray 2; Ben Page, Johnathon Frost.
Best: Tobias, Maxwell, Pearce, Ballagh, Baillie, McLeod.
Goals (M): Stuart McAdam 6; Clint Blenman, Ken Garland.
Best: Blenman, Howard, Howarth, McAdam, Foxcroft, Garland.

Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express

Round 5 2010

Cats def. by Nomads
 GBP GBP
Q13119 4529
HT6440 7951
Q37446 121789
FT8957 1717119

Team:

  • A. Baillie,
  • C. Ballagh,
  • D. Bioletti,
  • M. Clayton,
  • M. Dowdle,
  • D. Dunlop,
  • J. Frost,
  • M. Hamilton,
  • M. Maxwell,
  • L. McLeod,
  • C. Murray,
  • G. Nelson,
  • B. Page,
  • H. Pearce,
  • A. Reid,
  • N. Schultz,
  • O. Temoso,
  • P. Tobias,
  • J. Vesey,
  • G. Wagstaff,
  • A. Walsh,
  • T. Walsh.

Goalscorers:

  • M. Maxwell (5),
  • P. Tobias (4),
  • A. Reid (2),
  • C. Murray (2),
  • H. Pearce (2),
  • B. Page,
  • J. Frost.

Award winners:

  • P. Tobias (Players' Player),
  • C. Murray (Coach's),
  • M. Maxwell (President's),
  • G. Nelson (Captain's),
  • A. Reid (VC's),
  • H. Pearce (Red Rooster).

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