Walsh first to 150
By Ben Lonergan (Armidale Express, 20/06/2014)
Adrian Walsh will become the first New England Nomad to play 150 games for the club when he steps on to Tamworth’s Number One Oval tomorrow to take on the Tamworth Swans.
Adrian Walsh will make his 150th appearance this weekend.
The club and Tamworth AFL League stalwart has been wearing the Nomads jersey since 2003.
Walsh is also the current assistant coach of the Nomads and president of the Tamworth AFL.
The centre-half forward has played in three premiership wins for the Nomads, but was very modest about his achievements when talking to The Armidale Express on Wednesday.
“It’s pretty exciting I guess,” Walsh said.
“It’s been great to be around such a good club for so long.”
Walsh rates the 2004 premiership win as one of his biggest highlights as a Nomad, but it isn’t his biggest.
“I think the top highlight for me is all of the good people I have met and played with over the years and the friendships I’ve made,” he said.
To make tomorrow more special for the Nomads, star forward Dave Richards will play his 50th game.
The Nomads crushed the Swans by 200 points the first time the two sides met this season, but Walsh, standing in for coach Zac Economou, said it will be a much stiffer test this time around.
Economou is overseas for a wedding and his absence was noted last weekend when the Nomads trailed after three quarters for this first time this season.
“He’s the best backman in the league,” Walsh said.
“It leaves a pretty big hole in our defence.”
Walsh is also expecting the Swans to be much tougher at home. Coupling that with the fact the Nomads are missing a number of big stars, he believes the side will be in for a tough battle.
“We are a bit short at the moment,” he said.
“We can’t afford to take anyone lightly.
“It’s certainly not going to be as easy as it was last time.”
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