On a cool day in Armidale the New England Nomads were awaiting the arrival of the Saints so as to keep their slim finals chances alive. The first quarter was good for the Nomads and they would have gained confidence by the end of the quarter being 4 points up. The saints again had some wayward kicking to blame for them trailing, 2 goals from 6 shots. In the second quarter the Saints got their radar sorted out kicking 5 goals 1 behind and restricting the Nomads to just 2 goals. The Saints looked like they might run away with the game at this stage taking a 2 goal lead into the long break. The third quarter was a tight tussle with the Saints radar going out of whack again, 1 goal 5 behinds, and the Nomads doing everything it could to win the game. It worked with the Nomads cutting the Saints lead to just 8 points at the last break. As the Saints did in the second quarter they got their radar on track again in the last kicking 5 goals and at the same time keeping the Nomads to just 2 behinds for the quarter giving the Saints a 38 point win. The Nomads Caleb Dobos was their main avenue to goal with 5 in the absence of the injured Weston Whitby and Adam Wright was named as their best player. For the Saints their 2009 recruit Beau Ryan was their best player and booted 5 goals as well. So what does this mean for these two teams this close to the finals? The Nomads are finished as far as finals go and they can now start looking forward to building for next year. This is the first time in ten years that the Nomads have missed the finals and you can bet they will use this spur for 2010. In the mean time the Nomads can still shape the final four if they could upset either of the Kangaroos or the Bulldogs in their last 2 games. The Saints have now moved into third spot on the ladder and could even go as high as second by the end of the home and away games if they beat the Bulldogs in Inverell and the Cats in Tamworth. The Saints are a real chance of making it to the Grand Final now.
In Tamworth the Swans were keen to get back on the winners list, but faced a snarling pack of Bulldogs coming off their first home loss of the year. This was the match of the round but you wouldn't have thought so in the first quarter. The Swans flew off the blocks kicking nine goals straight and holding the Bulldogs to just one goal, four behinds. At the quarter time break the Swans lead by 44 points and looked set for a big day. The Bulldogs, as they have done all year, fought back well in the second quarter. They outscored the Swans for the quarter and showed that they are determined to make this year their best year yet. The Bulldogs went into the long break with their tails up having cut the Swans lead to 3 goals. The Bulldogs continued their good work in the premiership quarter again outscoring the Swans and setting up a big last quarter by going into the last break trailing by only ten points. After their first quarter this had been a huge effort by the Bulldogs and you would have expected them to go on with it. But the Swans found their first quarter form and steadied kicking 6 goals to 4 goals for the quarter to win by a handy 28 points. The Bulldogs would have been annoyed with their first quarter as this is where they lost the game. The Swans were happy to get Dean Hoy back for this game as he lead the way up front with 6 goals and Josh McKenzie followed up his efforts from the week before to be named their best player. For the Bulldogs they had a three pronged attack on goal with Aaron Donnelly, Scott Hardy and Chris Hayden all kicking 3 goals apiece and Hayden being named there best player. This loss has cost the Bulldogs dearly as they have dropped from second to fourth on the ladder.So what does this mean for these two teams this close to the finals? Both these teams will be playing finals. The Swans can finish anywhere from first to fourth. The Bulldogs can now finish anywhere from fourth to second but need to win their last two games. The first of these games is going to be tough though as they have to travel to Inverell and take on the Saints after they cleaned up the Nomads again. The Swans play the Cats next and would be expected to win that game before setting up a final round clash with arch nemesis the Kangaroos for the decider in the Billy Holder Cup.
Down at the Cattery the Kangaroos continued their good form on their way to the finals. The Kangaroos got a flying start in the first quarter kicking 8 goals. It could have been worse for the Cats had the Kangaroos been on target and not kicked 7 behinds. The Cats could only scrap 1 behind for the quarter leaving them 54 points down at quarter time. The Second quarter saw more pain for the Cats as the Kangaroos kicked 6 goals, but on the up side the Cats did kick 2 goals for the quarter going in at the long break 81 points down. The third quarter was the Cats best of the year; they outscored the Kangaroos by 7 points. The Kangaroos would have received a blast at three quarter time from Coach, Tony Bishop, because they went to town in the last quarter kicking 9 goals 5 behinds, while keeping the Cats to just 2 behinds for the last quarter, winning by 131 points. The Kangaroos Captain, Tim Cotter, kicked 10 goals for his side and was just piped as his team's best player by Luke Robinson. For the Cats they named young Quinton Foxcroft as their best player and the ever reliable Stuart McAdam kicked 3 goals. So what does this mean for these two teams this close to the finals? The Cats have been out of the finals race for a while now and will be looking to 2010 to get back into the finals. The Kangaroos are sitting pretty on top of the ladder on equal points with the Swans. They can drop down the ladder but not next week, it will probably be the round 15 clash with the Swans that decides top spot.
Staring into my cracked crystal ball I can see a double header in Tamworth in the first week of the finals as a distinct possibility.
Last Modified on 09/08/2009 09:00