Nomads go missing in Second Semi-Final

On an extremely windy day at the Bellevue Oval, the Nomads lost by 20 points to the Inverell Saints. It was a far from impressive performance on the part of the locals who really didn’t adjust to the conditions as well as the boys from up north. Much more thought and game-sense wiill be required in the upcoming weeks if the Nomads are to bring home the flag.

Perhaps it was nerves or perhaps it was the wind but the Nomads seemed flat right from the outset. Although they scored the first two goals, the Saints soon responded and by quarter time the visitors were four points up. The Nomads mid-field – which was strong all day – was providing the forwards with plenty of opportunity, but the front half were playing profligate not smart and many reckless shots ended up out on the full.

The second quarter was where the game was really lost. The Saints scored four goals to the Nomads solitary major. The Saints’ ball use was much better. They settled in front of goal and centred the ball to find their best options. The back line, which has until now been abstemious (by far the most miserly back line in the TAFL), seeemed to have forgotten about manning up and, most importantly, punching. The backline was not providing its usual running drive out of the back line (the loss of Rowdy Ballagh in the first quarter with a groin injury did not help matters).

The third quarter saw the Nomads start to play some good football. The ball spent most of the quarter in the Nomads 50 and the Nomads kicked 5 goals. Unfortunately, a few lapses towards the end of the quarter meant that the Saints went to the final break with an 8 point lead. Again despite the good work of the midfield, careless football by both the forwards and the backs, let the side down.

The last quarter was a hard fought affair and at one point the scores were level. However, the Saints were able to score three goals through strong overhead marking and accurate kicking while the Nomads could only score one major.

It was a very disappointing result. However, there were many positives. David Graan, Weston Whitby, Jon Freund and Grant Elson were very hard working in the middle, creating many chances for the forward line. Lockie McLeod once again was successful in his role as tagger (the word around the club is that he is actually related to Cameron Ling not Dick Malone). Hughie Cook, Benji Julien and Riley Connor also played good hard football all day..

We move now to the Preliminary Final against the Tamworth Roos. The game will be held at the Bellevue and we hope the whole Nomads team turns up this week.

Round SF2 2012

Nomads def. by Saints
 GBP GBP
Q13018 3422
HT4226 7749
Q39660 10868
FT10969 131189

Team:

  • C. Ballagh,
  • R. Connor,
  • H. Cook,
  • A. Cruickshank,
  • S. Cusack,
  • C. Dobos,
  • G. Elson,
  • J. Freund,
  • J. Frost,
  • D. Graan,
  • T. Granleese,
  • L. Holmes,
  • B. Julien,
  • N. Lambie,
  • L. McLeod,
  • D. Richards,
  • K. Rowlings,
  • S. Stubbs,
  • J. Tilto,
  • A. Walsh,
  • W. Whitby,
  • M. Woodward.

Goalscorers:

  • A. Cruickshank (3),
  • B. Julien (2),
  • C. Dobos (2),
  • D. Richards,
  • R. Connor,
  • S. Cusack.

Award winners:

  • W. Whitby (Players' Player),
  • G. Elson (Coach's),
  • H. Cook (President's),
  • J. Freund (Captain's),
  • R. Connor (VC's),
  • D. Richards (Red Rooster).

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