Economou leads the way
A seven goal effort from player-coach Zac Economou was the catalyst for the New England Nomads’ massive 125-42 belting of the Tamworth Swans at Bellevue Oval on Saturday.
The win leaves the Nomads undefeated through 12 rounds this season.
The Nomads jumped out to a 25-7 lead after the first quarter.
Some resistance from the Swans in the second period saw the Nomads take a 48-25 lead into the main break.
“We didn’t play great footy in the first half,” Economou said.
“The way we used the ball was poor.”
The Armidale side got back to their usual destructive ways in the second half as the Swans scored only two behinds in the third quarter while the Nomads were going on a seven goal rampage at the other end.
Four more goals in the last quarter extended the score-line to 125-42 by the time the final siren had blown.
“We really turned things around in the second half,” Economou said.
“We used the ball a lot better and our delivery to the forward line was great.”
Economou deflected praise for his seven goal effort.
“It’s the most goals I’ve ever kicked in one game,” he said.
“But it was the boys delivering it forward so well that allowed me to do it.” The Nomads biggest obstacle to achieving an undefeated season may well be this weekend’s matchup against the Inverell Saints in Inverell.
“It’s the most important game of the season for us,” Economou said.
“We will see where we are at after this.
“We need to use it to get some momentum going into the finals.”
Economou said their goal has never been to go undefeated, but admits it would be pretty special.
“It’s not something we have discussed as a club, but it’s certainly on the back of the mind” he said.
“It would be nice not to lose a game, but we are not getting ahead of ourselves.
“If it happens, it happens.”
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express
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').