THE Coffs Swans didn’t win a single game in 2012 and 2013 but have started this season with two straight wins.
Travelling to Grafton was thought to be a stern test of the Swans’ capabilities this season and the test was passed with flying colours.
Coffs Swans were too strong in the second half turning a 3 point advantage at the main break into an impressive 51 point victory.
Grafton coach Adi Campbell admitted he was impressed with what he saw of the visitors.
“Coffs are a lot stronger than last year,” Campbell said.
“They’ve got some good recruits and will be up there this season.”
Campbell, however, was not overly concerned by the final score, revealing the loss of three key players had left the Tigers undermanned.
“Shawn Purton, Lee Anderson and Dan Zacek were all missing and we had about four inexperienced first graders which made it harder,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting much but they did well. Discipline went out the window but that’s something to work on.”
Coffs assistant coach Pat Curtain was happy to claim the win but said there was room for improvement.
“We got off to a good start which helped,” Curtain said.
“We’ve struggled for the last few years so fingers crossed we reach the top four this year.
“I think it’s just a matter of everyone gelling and we’ll be right.”
COFFS SWANS 1.4 6.7 10.11 16.15 (111)
GRAFTON 4.0 6.4 8.5 9.6 (60)
Goals: Swans: J Mapleson 4, N Von Schill 4, N Whittle 3, T Snow, S Turner, K Bellemore, M Pearce, M Cannan. Graf: M Blundell 4, L Newman 2, S Morrison, S Duroux , C Holder.
Reserves: Coffs Swans 20.69 (129) def Grafton 7.0 (42)
Saints spoil the Pies party
Sawtell/Toormina ruined Port Macquarie’s party and exacted a little bit of revenge when the Saints trounced the reigning premier by 116 points on a day when the Magpies unfurled their premiership flags from 2013.
Still missing some key players, Port Macquarie coach Scott Abercrombie admitted being presented with the club’s flag moments before a grand final replay probably wasn’t the best ingredient to add to a recipe for success as it appeared to give the Saints some additional spark.
"We knew they were going to come out hard," Abercrombie said.
On Paul Sheldon Memorial Day, the Magpies started strongly as well but the endeavour dropped away quickly.
A list of better players for the reigning premier showed a dearth of experienced players. Michael Kemp was strong down back but then much of the work was left to the younger players in the squad.
After a spirited opening Sawtell/Toormina drew away to a 57 point lead at the main break before kicking 10 goals to one in the second half to rub salt into the Magpies’ wound.
The Saints had 11 different goalkickers for the clash and now go into the Easter break sitting where it has so many times over the past decade, on top of the ladder.
SAWTELL/TOORMINA 4.2 12.5 15.9 22.12 (144)
PORT MACQUARIE 2.2 3.2 3.4 4.4 (28)
Goals - Saw: J Ellis-Cluff 3, B Foote 2, G Faithfull 2, M Couzens 2, D Johnson 2, S Taylor 2, M Longbardi, D Linares, E Greenway, L Matthews, M McHeyzer. Port: M Lill 3, R Irwin.
Reserves: Port Macquarie 10.5 (65) def Sawtell/Toormina 2.7 (19)
Under-18s: Port Macquarie 17.16 (118) def Sawtell/Toormina 2.4 (16)
Bombers flying high after historic first win
Camden Haven recorded its first win in senior competition in style.
Playing against an undermanned North Coffs, the Bombers were able to stay ahead of the Kangaroos while kicking into a strong wind before kicking 19 goals to two when it was at their backs.
When Camden Haven secured a 13 point advantage at the first break despite kicking into a strong breeze in the opening stanza, the sniff of a first win spurred the Bombers on to a goal blitz.
Prior to the clash, teenage ruckman Brad Smith was asked to step up and he didn’t disappoint.
Smith took several telling marks around the ground and managed to push forward to kick four goals as well.
Several members of the Bombers midfield appreciated some lax marking from a tiring North Coffs outfit with Matt Gallagher, Jack Tate and Tyson Wiegold prominent.
Jamie Coad and Clint McCoy tried hard to stem the constant Bombers attacking raids but more often than not Camden Haven’s superior numbers around the ball won the day.
CAMDEN HAVEN 7.2 16.10 20.15 30.19 (199)
NORTH COFFS 5.1 5.1 8.2 10.3 (63)
Goals - C.Hav: B Smith 4, J Tate 4, C Wright 3, T Wiegold 3, M Gallagher 3, D King 2, A Gallagher 2, B Hayward 2, K Pursch 2, D Rumble, L Boxhall, G Wiegold. N.Coffs: B.Greenshields 5, T Heather 3, D. Funston 2.
Best - C.Hav: B Smith, MGallagher, B Hayward, K Pursch, J Tate, W Wright. N.Coffs: D Funston, J Coad, C McCoy, T Heather, A Mason.
Under-18s: North Coffs 17.13 (115) def Macleay Valley 12.13 (85)
AFL NORTH COAST SENIOR LADDER
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
% |
Sawtell/Toormina |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
334 |
86 |
8 |
388.37 |
Coffs Swans |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
239 |
77 |
8 |
310.39 |
Grafton |
2 |
1 |
- |
1 |
226 |
147 |
4 |
153.74 |
Camden Haven |
2 |
1 |
- |
1 |
216 |
191 |
4 |
113.09 |
North Coffs |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
121 |
389 |
0 |
31.11 |
Port Macquarie |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
64 |
310 |
0 |
20.65 |
Last Modified on 14/04/2014 16:41