Piling on the points
By Ben Lonergan (Armidale Express, 27/05/2015)
A seven-goal performance from player-coach Zac Economou has helped give the injury-stricken New England Nomads some much-needed breathing on the Tamworth AFL ladder.
Economou was at his destructive best at Bellevue Oval on Saturday as his side thrashed the Narrabri Eagles 101-36.
The Eagles were nipping at the Nomads’ heels for second spot heading into the fixture, but the Armidale side now has a one-win buffer and sits a further win outside top spot.
Modest as always, Economou deflected the praise to his teammates.
“The delivery forward was fantastic,” he said.
“I had lots of space to work with, with blokes like Jed Ellis-Clough and Dave Richards feeding me the ball.”
Even with some wayward kicking in the first quarter, the Nomads opened up a 23-8 lead courtesy of three goals and five behinds.
A five-goal second quarter mixed with suffocating defence all but sewed up the win for the Nomads with half the game still to be played as they led 54-10 at the main break.
“The boys down the back were fantastic, they’ve been great all year,” Economou said of his defensive line.
After a quiet third quarter, the Nomads goal-kickers again exploded in the final period with five goals in a 33-point rampage.
Economou said he was delighted with the performance from his side in such an important game.
“It was a promising performance,” he said.
“We played some really good footy.
“It was a big game for us and to come away with a win like that was great.”
Phil Mitchell, Ellis-Clough, Luke Raymond and Shannan MacDonald all drew plaudits from their coach, but it was Mitchell in particular who received the biggest mention.
“That was Phil Mitchell’s fifth ever game of AFL and he’s been one of our best every week,” Economou said.
The Nomads again finished with just one on their bench as they battle a severe injury crisis.
“Injuries has been a big problem for us this year,” Economou said.
“It’s really tested our depth.
“It hasn’t been an ideal start to the season, but I think it’s going to help us later on.”
In other matches around the region, Tamworth Kangaroos trashed Moree Suns 174-33 and Inverell edged out Gunnedah 100-89 in a thriller at Wolsley Oval.
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express
Round 6 2015
| Nomads def. Eagles | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| HT | 8 | 6 | 54 | 1 | 4 | 10 | |
| Q3 | 10 | 8 | 68 | 2 | 5 | 17 | |
| FT | 15 | 11 | 101 | 5 | 6 | 36 | |
Team:
- C. Barker,
- H. Clarke,
- H. Cook,
- T. Dickson,
- Z. Economou,
- J. Ellis-Cluff,
- A. Garraud,
- T. Granleese,
- W. Hall,
- S. Macdonald,
- P. Mitchell,
- A. Mitchelson,
- H. Morrell,
- Z. Old,
- L. Raymond,
- D. Richards,
- J. Shirley,
- S. Snowden,
- M. Spencer,
- O. Temoso,
- A. Walsh,
- Z. Wells.
Goalscorers:
- Z. Economou (7),
- D. Richards (3),
- J. Ellis-Cluff (2),
- H. Cook,
- S. Macdonald,
- T. Granleese.
Award winners:
- J. Ellis-Cluff (Players' Player),
- Z. Old (Coach's),
- H. Cook (President's),
- L. Raymond (Captain's),
- S. Snowden (Meehan's Plumbing Services').
