TAMWORTH Roos underlined their TAFL premiership credentials with a big local derby win in Saturday’s second round of TAFL matches.
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While the Nomads were rebounding by kicking 21 goals of their own in a 72-point thrashing of the Saints on Inverell’s home Varley Oval, the Roos were kicking 21.17 143 to the Swans’ 7.4 46 at No 1 Oval in Tamworth.
It left the Roos at the head of the TAFL table on percentages from the Gunnedah Bulldogs who followed their first-round win over the Swans in Tamworth with a 13.18 96 to 11.5 71 win over Narrabri Eagles on their Wolseley Park home track on Saturday.
The Roos had a handy half-time lead against the Swans but blew the game wide open in the third quarter.
“We struggled for clearances,” Swans club president Josh McKenzie said.
“We hardly got the ball forward across half way. We did struggle with some injuries too.”
The loss of hard-working Dean Finlay to a broken and dislocated shoulder didn’t help.
“They are a good team – we were outplayed,” McKenzie said.
Roos coach Tony Bishop had plenty of kind words about the Roos.
“They deserve plenty of credit. They didn’t stop trying all game.
“They made our guys accountable.
“Every time we dropped off they made us pay and kicked a goal.
“I think there are some wins just around the corner for them.”
In saying that, Bishop also thought his side can play much better while the “smaller grounds like No 1 don’t suit us”.
“It’s not conducive to the running style I am trying to employ.
“The Roos played hard today and stuck to the game plan for the most part.”
While delighted with the man of the match performance from Daniel Johnson, Bishop’s impressed by the way WA recruits Ben Evenis and Ben Mitchell are coming along.
He was also impressed by the return of Brock Quinn.
“We’ve got four training sessions now before we play the Eagles up at Narrabri,” he said of what is a general bye weekend this Anzac weekend.