MUSWELLBROOK Cats couldn’t have picked a worse day to produce their worst effort of the season at Werriman Field in Muswellbrook when they hosted Tamworth Kangaroos in their stand-alone Essential Energy Tamworth AFL match on Saturday.
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The Roos kicked 20.23 143 to the Cats’ 4.12 36.
The Cats had former AFL star Jason Akermanis making a guest appearance for them against the reigning premiers but even he was blown off the park by the Kangaroos in their huge 107-point win.
The Roos won after leading by 90 points at half-time.
“We got pummelled, the first half especially,” Cats coach Steve Mullane said.
“We were down 90 at half- time but came back better in the second half.
“In the first half we stepped away from everything we’ve been trying to create.”
Akermanis was unable to provide any spark.
“Nothing flash,” was Mullane’s assessment of the former AFL star.
“He wasn’t quite what we expected but a lot of that was because of the way we played – we didn’t create any options or any free space for him.”
Tamworth Kangaroos captain-coach Tim Cotter thought Akermanis was good.
“They had a big crowd and were all cheering,” Cotter said yesterday.
“It was all one-way traffic though.
“I was talking to Akermanis at half-time and asked him how he was enjoying it.
“He said he wouldn’t mind playing with us.
“I told him they probably needed another one of him so he could kick to himself.
“He said probably three. But I thought he was good.
“And the young bloke, Brock Quinn, we played on him went real well – played fantastic.
‘They (Muswellbrook) didn’t kick a goal until the third quarter. Justin Hathway and Daniel Johnson, who were both fullbacks, carved it up.”
He said Matthew Hodge kicked “about seven goals” while Jarred Birrell (Cotter’s cousin) “kicked his usual, about four goals 12”.
“It was good to get my team back,” Cotter said.
“We’ve been playing with four and five out every week.
“To finally have everyone back was great.”
Nathan May, Johnny Mahey, Jerrard Brahbon and young Jordan Gageler were the Cats’ best.
They play Gunnedah next week in Gunnedah and will need to rediscover some of their good plays to beat the Bulldogs in Gunnedah.
New England Nomads are at home to the Tamworth Swans while Tamworth Kangaroos return to No 1 Oval, Tamworth to tackle unbeaten Inverell Saints this Saturday.
