Coach on the offensive
New England coach Zac Economou booted seven goals against the Swans on Saturday.
Zac Economou is giving defenders a bad reputation.
Centre half-backs are supposed to be dour, tough and unforgiving – and definitely avoid kicking goals.
But the New England Nomads coach continues to defy the stereotype.
On Saturday against the Tamworth Swans, Economou went forward to kick seven goals in a best afield display.
The Nomads won by 83 points at Bellevue Oval, kicking 18.17 (125) to 6.6 (42).
It was the fourth time this season the playing coach has drifted up the ground from defence.
He kicked four goals in a short period against Gunnedah in round four, before booting five against the same opponent three weeks later.
Last week he nabbed four against Narrabri, while his seven on Saturday took his season tally to 21.
Not a bad effort for a bloke that had only kicked nine goals combined from the previous two seasons.
Economou is now fourth in the club’s goalkicking, behind Dave Richards (59), Weston Whitby (29) and Isaiah Graham (23).
”It was nice to get a few goals again,” he said.
”I played down back in the first quarter, but we struggled going forward with Tom Hunt out and Matt Folpp wasn’t making them.”
The coach was critical of his side’s first half against a side that only brought enough numbers to Armidale for a 16-a-side match.
”We just weren’t switched on,” he said.
”I think we got pretty lazy, knowing we were going to win.”
Economou knows it’s about to get a lot tougher for his side.
The Nomads travel to play Inverell this Saturday in a rematch of last year’s grand final.
New England has beaten the Saints twice this year, by 58 points in round three and five points in round eight.
”They are our biggest rival and they would have been disappointed to lose to us last time,” he said.
”We will have to play a lot better than we did on Saturday to beat them.”
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Independent
Round 12 2014
| Nomads def. Swans | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| HT | 7 | 6 | 48 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
| Q3 | 14 | 13 | 97 | 4 | 3 | 27 | |
| FT | 18 | 17 | 125 | 6 | 6 | 42 | |
Team:
- C. Ballagh,
- C. Barker,
- V. Chakalisa,
- H. Cook,
- D. Davies,
- R. Davies,
- Z. Economou,
- M. Foley,
- M. Folpp,
- C. Graham,
- I. Graham,
- T. Granleese,
- Z. Old,
- L. Raymond,
- J. Shirley,
- M. Shirley,
- M. Spencer,
- O. Temoso,
- A. Walsh,
- Z. Wells,
- W. Whitby,
- M. Woodward.
Goalscorers:
- Z. Economou (7),
- M. Foley (3),
- C. Ballagh (2),
- I. Graham (2),
- V. Chakalisa (2),
- W. Whitby,
- Z. Old.
Award winners:
- Z. Economou (Players' Player),
- Z. Old (Coach's),
- M. Foley (President's),
- L. Raymond (Captain's),
- W. Whitby (Gleeson's),
- C. Ballagh (Spectators').
