The New England Nomads had their first win for the year against the Moree Suns at the Moree showgrounds. On a warm day, with both side agreeing to play 20-minute quarters, it was a tight tussle with the Suns ahead at the first two changes,. Andy Gray, up forward in the square, demonstrated that Echunga boys know how to kick truly, scored 5 goals. In the middle Tom Hunt, Luke “Rambo” Raymond, David “Rampaging” Richards and Morgan Dunn dominated and all 4 were in the best. The final scores were Nomads 10.14.75 to Moree 5.5.35.

For this week’s game the Nomads found themselves short of few players from the week before either through injury or misadventure. Jesse Petrascu, Conor Nest, Sol Hanks and Clarrie “No.4” Barker were all unavailable. However, Phill Mitchell’s return to the Nomads colours was a definite bonus.

The team all made it on time to the ground with no Min-Min light distractions or side-trips to the TAB. There was some controversy about the length of game-time and threats of insurrection to the managing directors if the quarters weren’t shorter. Ah… young people these days – so little stamina.

Perhaps revolutionary thoughts were too much in the minds of the players when the game started as the team was slow out of the blocks. A number of the young Moree players showed the Nomads a clean pair of heels and Moree scored the first two goals. The Midfield Four (Dunn, Hunt, Raymond and Richards) won every centre clearance but there was too little forward pressure in our 50 and the ball came out too quickly placing the backs under tremendous pressure. Taidgh O’Loughlin scored his first goal for the Nomads (perhaps in Aussie Rules generally) and put the Nomads on the board. By the end of the first quarter Moree were leading 4.2.26 to the Nomads’ 2.3.15.

The second quarter saw some ugly football with the backs under tremendous pressure. What to say? What can you say other than, thank god for Phill Mitchell. And thank god for his trusty band of backmen, including Ira “Enjoy your footy boys” Sulzberger, Lindsay Brown (from Ardlethen), Nicko Buckland and Eric-the whale-D’Gluyas. Despite the bnall bneing tin the Moree half for much of the quarter, they only scored 2 behinds. Andy Gray was causing headaches for the Moree backs with his strong overhead marking and goal-kicking (though one such goal might have been a little high on the leg for the purists). By the end of the quarter the Nomads were starting to show some form and were only 3 points behind with the scores 4.4.28 to 3.7.25.

At the half-time break the Nomads sat in the shade of a gum tree and gathered themselves before kicking to the northerly end. When the game resumed they were playing a much better brand of football. Rambo and Modra were dominant in the middle gathering kick after kick. Tommy Moscou2 was providing plenty of leads on the wings and there wasn’t a ruck that Tom Hunt didn’t win. At the final break the scores were 7.9.51 to Moree 5.4.34.

The final quarter saw the Nomads pull away and start to play the running football that has been their trademark over the past few years. Overall it was a good effort with only 18 (17?) players. The senior players really stepped up and a number of the new boys such as Walcha’s Sam Feltham started to find their feet. When the time came to sing the song – at an appropriate social distance – only a few old stagers seemed to know the words.

Players’ Player: A. Gray
Coach’s award: T. Hunt
President’s award: D. Richards
Meehan’s Plumbing award: L. Raymond
Captain’s award: M. Dunn

Round 3 2020

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