Nomads unhappy in triumph
By Ben Lonergan (Armidale Express, 29/07/2015)
Most Aussie Rules coaches would be ecstatic with a 143-66 win.
But the high standard New England Nomads coach Zac Economou and his troops have set themselves in recent years meant the defending premiers were far from fully satisfied with their win over the Narrabri Eagles.
“We were pretty up and down,” Economou said.
“We played really well for the first quarter and let them back in the game.”
Economou may have been a little modest about their performance in the opening quarter.
The Nomads led 52-7 at quarter time after an eight-goal onslaught.
That was extended to 90-32 at the main break, but the pesky Eagles continued to hang around. The Nomads managed just seven goals in the final two quarters, lacklustre by their lofty standards, which left Economou with a little bit of a sour taste in his mouth after the match.
“We came out in the first quarter and hit them pretty hard,” he said.
“But that was it, we only ended up playing one decent quarter of footy.
“After that we went through the motions a little bit.”
The Nomads were missing 10 regulars from their starting line-up, which Economou said contributed heavily to their performance.
“We were a bit undermanned and lacking a bit of experience down back,” he said.
“We had some guys get isolated.
“But we got the win and it was great for the guys who played to get that experience, they will take a lot from that game.”
Missing Tom Granleese, Zac Wells and Al Mitchellson left a huge hole in the Nomads backline and Narrabri gun Todd Fagan took full advantage to kick six goals.
“We lacked a bit of leadership down there,” Economou said.
“Todd is a very big boy and has good hands.”
Economou produced a huge individual effort to boot seven goals for the Nomads.
“On a field that small the ball gets down the front so quickly,” he said.
“That makes it easier to kick goals,”
Clarrie Barker was a standout for the Nomads with his four goals just a part of a tremendous all-round performance.
“Clarrie was fantastic,” Economou said.
“I think that was one of his best games for us.
“Tim Keys was great too.”
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express
Round 13 2015
| Eagles def. by Nomads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 52 | |
| HT | 5 | 2 | 32 | 14 | 6 | 90 | |
| Q3 | 8 | 5 | 53 | 17 | 11 | 113 | |
| FT | 10 | 6 | 66 | 21 | 17 | 143 | |
Team:
- C. Barker,
- M. Darton,
- T. Dickson,
- Z. Economou,
- J. Ellis-Cluff,
- M. Foley,
- W. Hall,
- T. Hunt,
- T. Keys,
- S. Macdonald,
- P. Mitchell,
- P. O'Connell,
- J. Petrascu,
- L. Raymond,
- D. Richards,
- J. Shirley,
- M. Shirley,
- S. Snowden,
- M. Woodward.
Goalscorers:
- Z. Economou (7),
- D. Richards (5),
- C. Barker (4),
- J. Ellis-Cluff,
- J. Petrascu,
- L. Raymond,
- M. Foley,
- T. Hunt.
Award winners:
- T. Keys (Players' Player),
- J. Petrascu (Coach's),
- M. Darton (President's),
- T. Hunt (Captain's),
- L. Raymond (Meehan's Plumbing Services').
