Century win for Nomads
By Ben Lonergan (Armidale Express, 03/06/2015)
The rebuilding Moree Suns club may have been no match for three-time reigning premiers the New England Nomads on Saturday, but that didn’t stop one of the competition’s leading players giving the Suns some encouragement.
“Moree haven’t had the best start to the season, but they played some good footy on the weekend,” Nomads’ player-coach Zac Economou said.
“They are a club trying to find their feet and they are going well.”
A scoreline of 178-34 in the Nomads’ favour may not echo Economou’s statements, but many clubs have suffered hidings from the premiers in recent season.
It could have been even more convincing, with wayward kicking holding the Rams back from cracking the 200-point barrier.
They booted an astonishing 22 behinds to go along with their 26 goals on Saturday.
“I’m probably a bit to blame there,” Economou said.
“We didn’t take our chances in front of goal, but we did move the ball well to create so many chances.
“It’s something we need to work on, it could cost us a game against a better side.”
The smaller dimensions of Moree’s Taylor Oval created ample scoring opportunities for the Nomads.
Centre-half-forward Hayden Clarke was one who took full advantage, booting a team-leading five goals in his top performance of the season.
“The smaller oval really allowed him to pepper the goals,” Economou said.
“He is a very good footballer.”
The Nomads led 43-6 after one quarter and had extended that to 83-15 by half time. An eight-goal third quarter ensured there would be no easing up by the Armidale side and six more in the final period extended the scoreline to 178-34.
Zac Old, Phil Mitchell and Al Mitchelson drew praise from Economou for their efforts along the half-back-line.
“It’s only a small ground out there and those guys really drove the ball forward,” Economou said. Fifty-one-year-old club stalwart Adrian Walsh also wound back to the clock with a three-goal performance.
“It’s the best game I have seen him have in a long time,” Economou said.
The Nomads now have a weekend off sue to the long weekend before regrouping for a top of the table clash against the Tamworth Kangaroos in a fortnight.
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express
Round 7 2015
| Suns def. by Nomads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 43 | |
| HT | 2 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 83 | |
| Q3 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 20 | 16 | 136 | |
| FT | 5 | 4 | 34 | 26 | 22 | 178 | |
Team:
- C. Barker,
- D. Bioletti,
- H. Clarke,
- T. Dickson,
- Z. Economou,
- J. Ellis-Cluff,
- M. Foley,
- T. Granleese,
- W. Hall,
- S. Macdonald,
- P. Mitchell,
- A. Mitchelson,
- Z. Old,
- D. Richards,
- J. Shirley,
- O. Temoso,
- A. Walsh,
- Z. Wells.
Goalscorers:
- H. Clarke (5),
- D. Richards (4),
- M. Foley (4),
- A. Walsh (3),
- Z. Economou (3),
- C. Barker,
- J. Ellis-Cluff,
- O. Temoso,
- T. Dickson,
- W. Hall,
- Z. Old,
- Z. Wells.
Award winners:
- J. Ellis-Cluff (Players' Player),
- C. Barker (Coach's),
- S. Macdonald (President's),
- W. Hall (Captain's),
- A. Walsh (Meehan's Plumbing Services').
