The New England Nomads have (only just) maintained their unbeaten record after a come-from-behind win against the Narribri Eagles. Down at the final change, the Nomads surged in the last quarter to run out 19 points winners. The final score was 10.13.73 to 8.6.54.

The respective teams arrived at the Bellevue to be greeted by wet and drizzly weather for the second game-weekend in a row. Obviously clean possessions were going to be difficult to garner and marking would be harder than usual. The Nomads were also missing some of this year’s guns including Media-Star Foley, Coach Economou, Wellsy (the Kid) and Shannon Macdonald. However, the Nomads were heartened by the return of Hoani ‘Rotate’ Morrell and an old favourite from an earlier sporting epoch, Graham ‘Knuckles’ Knuckey.

The Nomads began well in the wet with the Haitchman instrumental in a number of quick movements forward. However, the goal-kicking was appalling and five points were kicked from set shots before new boy Nick Sanders showed how to place the ball between the big sticks. The tyro’s first kick in an Australian rules game was a goal – not a bad way to start. Tom Hunt was working hard at centre half back and Gleeso was cleaning up anything that got into the back 50. Modra was once again causing trouble for their backmen. However, the Eagles were more economic in their use of the ball in the forward line and were only five points behind at the first change. If the Nomads had kicked straight early, there is a good chance the game would have been well and truly over at quarter time.

The second quarter saw the Nomads kicking to the grandstand end. The backline and midfielders were doing a wonderful job but the Nomads forwards weren’t able to exert enough defensive pressure and the ball rebounded out of the forward line too quickly, way too often. Woody Woodward was doing a great job in the back line at this point and Chux was providing plenty of drive on the wing. However, the Nomads only scored one goal for the quarter and at the half time break the difference between the two sides was only one point.

In the third quarter the Nomads shuffled the team around and Tom Granleese and Weston Whitby went forward and the move was immediately successful with both providing targets up forward and scoring goals. Unfortunately the Eagles were making the most of their chances with some remarkable kicking from their coach from extremely difficult angles (he finished with five goals).The Eagles kicked four for the quarter to the Nomads three goals, and were up by two points at the final change.

In the final quarter the Nomads’ fighting spirit kicked in and the local boys scored four goals to the Eagles’ solitary major. Tommy Hunt, who was in the ruck at this point, exerted his influence all over the ground and with Haitch and Rambo in the middle they gave the forwards plenty of opportunities. The game was sealed with a wonderful left-foot snap from young Cameron Graham. Weston also scored a couple in this quarter, finishing with four extremely valuable goals for the game.

Overall it was a strong effort from the Nomads who had to dig deep to win in far from perfect circumstances. It was really pleasing that the boys stood up in the final quarter. The club is extremely grateful to those who filled in for their missing comrades – that kind of help and team spirit is invaluable. The club is also very grateful to Gleeso who soldiered on despite being extremely ill-disposed the day before. Finally, it was wonderful to see some of the younger players such as Clarrie Barker and Ryan Davies finding their feet and starting to own a place in the side. Well done to those lads.

Next week the Nomads play the Swans at Tamworth which will, in all likelihood, be a closer contest than the last time the teams met.

Go the Green!

Round 6 2014

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