The New England Nomads—playing an attractive brand of frantic running football—were able to post an impressive win against the Inverell Saints at Varley Oval. Up forward first year player Ethan ‘Karps’ Karpany starred with 8 goals and Cameron Graham 5, with notable contributions from first gamers Nick Locke, Will Gardner and Alex Shem as well as older hands like Tom Hunt, David ‘Rampaging’ Richards and Clarrie Barker. In the engine room, Jesse Petrascu and Jez Ratcliffe were also unstoppable. Indeed the Nomads had winners all over the park. Final scores were 23.13.151 to 5.6.36.

The Travelling Nomads were met with warm weather when they arrived at Inverell. There was a great atmosphere with the women’s game underway and this having followed a Juniors match. Conditions looked good for football although there was an inconsistent zig-zagging breeze which looked like it might cause some havoc with delivery.

The Nomads kicked to the Tingha end and the first quarter began with the ferocious contests one has come to expect. The Nomads initially had difficulty playing the free flowing football they had hoped to play. The midfield JMP team of Jesse and Jez were teaming up well with their fellow medico, Keysie while Shannon-the-Mcdon-Lad and Velani Chakalisa were getting a great deal of ball on the wings. Luke Rambo Raymond was also throwing himself in places where only the crazy-brave are willing to go and winning lots of hard possessions. Still things were tight and the situation was not helped by the Saints sitting three talls behind the ball – making things very difficult for the Big Dawg, James Treweeke. Still there were good signs. In one memorable passage of play a goal resulted though from Chaks starting a passage of crazy-ball on the wing which after 15 or so handpasses resulted in a Nomads goal. At quarter time the scoreline was close with the Nomads leading the Saints 2.2.14 to 1.3.9.

The Nomads finished the quarter with an unfortunate hamstring injury to the full forward James Treweeke. There was thus the question of how to structure the forward line. But as the sagacious Nomads runner Harry Wakefield declared at the time “necessity is the mother of invention” (or something along those lines).

It was thus decided to run with a small forward line and send Karps to the square. Our man Karps immediately honoured the move and started kicking goals. The mosquito squad forward line ran amok in the second quarter. Modra was at his lethal best and his brother Cammy was unstoppable. In one memorable he collected the ball between the wing and the half back flank on the scoreboard side, ran past three players and goaled from 30 metres out. Wulu Hall was also his usual irrepressible self. It was the quick ball movement and precision kicking that formed the basis of the 10 goal quarter (a shame Geelong was not as precise with its kicking on Sunday). By half time the Nomads led the Saints 12.5.77 to 2.4.16.

During the half time break Coach Tom Hunt urged the players not to be complacent. The Saints are a good side and give them a chance and they will take it. The boys responded appropriately and continued the relentless pressure. Karps continued on his merry way – though his dribble kick ratio is only 50%.* (See note below) The backline continued to hold firm. The Smiley One – Liam Cudmore – directed traffic with his judicious kicking and hard running football – while Paddy Tobias and Tom Hunts were rock solid on the half backline. By the final break scores were 17.7.109 to 4.6.30.

The final quarter saw more of the same. The ball was coming into the forward line at an alarmingly furious pace. The run and spread was impressive indeed. This was a very pleasing effort but there is still a lot of work to do with so many new players needing to learn each others’ game. Still it is hard to be too critical when the team wins at what has traditionally been a graveyard for Nomads football.

** (Note to team, the disciplinary committee has decided that unsuccessful dribble kicks will be subject to the Jason Dunstall Levy of $10 per failed dribble kick).

*** Speak to Big Dog and Harry if you wish to challenge any of the Disciplinary Committee’s decision-making processes

Round 4 2017

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