AFL Report Round 5 – 11/5
Top Spot on the Line
Sawtell/Toormina head to Ellem Oval today hoping to topple the Grafton Tigers and retain top spot on the AFLNC ladder. The Tigers were anything but premiership favourites last week at Port Macquarie but are expected to bounce back today and give the undefeated Saints their first real challenge for 2013. The rumour is that coach Adi Campbell has been away and the lads have gone back to some old bad habits but I expect that will change when the boss returns.
The Saints on the other hand have responded well to master coach Russ Mathews and are yet to taste defeat in 2013. Today poses their biggest challenge. Courtney Tune has been enormous for them in the ruck and comes up against fellow representative ruckman Grahame Connolly who is also in top form. If Connolly can get on top today Evan Duyrea, Ron Davis, Scott Onus and co will have an advantage over Trent Mitchell, Rick ‘The Count’ Zappula and Trent Baade. The Saints have the class in young Angus Burkitt and Jake Saunders and the half back line of Danniel and Nat Johnson is one of the best. Saints in a thriller.
Early Grab for Double Chance
It is only round five but already today’s game between North Coffs and Port Macquarie could decide which of the two has a genuine chance of snatching a top two spot and the treasured double chance. Port are coming off a fantastic win over Grafton but are rarely as dangerous on the road and generally travel light. The home side looked pretty light on numbers themselves at training on Thursday night and both sides will be stretched. The Roos are missing Lachie Miller, Adam Mason and Jordon O’Connor although Coach Mick Young was still confident that his midfield of Luke Palmer, Ryan Woolley and Tom Merrick would give plenty of cheek and he offered no excuses. Port may just have an edge in experience.
AROUND THE TRAPS with ‘Rocket’ Rod Macpherson
Swans Update
The Coffs Swans recently withdrew their senior side from the competition for the remainder of 2013 which has handed the league a fixturing nightmare. Clubs are currently being consulted over some proposed changes to the draw for the remainder of 2013 to compensate for the late change. The league remains confident that both Camden Haven and the Swans will field senior outfits in 2014.
Jackson is a Star
Camden Haven has entered a reserve side into the competition this year and already a new AFLNC star has been unearthed in Jackson Ireland. The stocky midfielder has dominated in all games this season and is clearly a class above reserve grade football. His outstanding form has earned him a spot in the senior rep side for Port Macquarie next weekend. So dominant was his performance last week that the umpires asked if they could award 3,2 and 1 votes to the same player!
Representative Squad Named
Some old familiar names and some exciting youngsters are among the talented list of players named by North Coast selectors during the week. Familiar names such as Mark Couzens, Greg Dean and Jessie Schmidt are joined by debutants Jake Saunders, Angus Burkitt, Kyle Lynch and Nick Stanton-Velt. The full squads for both senior and underage sides can be viewed on the AFLNC website.
Woodlock Honoured
Jim Woodlock has spent most of his life involved in AFL either playing or administrating and he has now added another prestigious award to his list. Already a life member of AFLNC and winner of the Merit Award for Outstanding service to AFL ‘Sir’ Jim has been honoured once again. The NSW Sport Federation has awarded Jim the Distinguished Long Service Medal and he and his lovely wife Jill will be off to Sydney next weekend to accept the award. I hear that Jim now has more medals than Grange Hermitage!
Last Modified on 10/05/2013 16:29