NEW England Nomads found their focus in the third quarter to overrun a game Tamworth Swans 153-44 in their third-round Tamworth AFL clash at Tamworth’s No 1 Oval on Saturday.
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The Nomads led 66-25 at half-time after the Swans had provided some stiff, and competitive, resistance for the reigning premiers.
However new Nomads captain-coach Jed Ellis-Cluff asked his new-look side for a better second half and they responded.
The Nomads kicked 22.21 153 to beat the Swans 6.8 44 with a powerful final two quarters much more to Ellis-Cluff’s liking.
The young captain also kicked seven goals whilst Dave Richards and Cameron Graham also booted three apiece.
Chris Oxford kicked three goals for the Swans.
Ellis-Cluff and his Nomads had a good half- time discussion.
“We spoke about our slow start to both quarters,” the 24-year-old student said.
“We were a bit flat for the beginning of both quarters and we spoke about having more focus.
“We jumped them in the third quarter, our best quarter by far.”
The Nomads turned the scratchy start and 41-point lead into a 79-point three-quarter lead and cruised with a 40-10 final quarter.
“I was pretty happy with that,” Ellis-Cluff said.
“I couldn’t be happier with the last two weeks.
“We had five or six changes too and a couple of Under 16s played today as well.”
Teenagers Morgan Dunn and Sam Bioletti both impressed the Nomads skipper while Hamish Pearce, ruckman Phil Mitchell and Johnathon Frost were Ellis-Cluff’s picks as his best.
He also thought the Swans were competitive and will only improve.
That was Swans coach Paul Kelly’s frank assessment too.
“We couldn’t stop Jed though,” he said of Ellis-Cluff.
“He was too good up front.
“They are a good side.
“We did have a few out but that’s no excuse.
“We did play well the first half.”
He thought Nathan Bradburn had a huge game, with Tom Kelly and Gavin Knee also “great in the middle”.
In other games, the Tamworth Kangaroos kicked two late goals against Gunnedah Bulldogs to steal their match 16.13 109-15.14 104 at Wolseley Park, Gunnedah while the other away side, Inverell Saints, also had a good win, overwhelming Moree Suns at Harbourne Oval, Moree.
The Saints won by 60 points, with Kieran Te Velde, Michael Gould, Chris Pay and Damien Harrison their best.
“We travelled over there a little light,” Saints coach Dick Gleeson said.
“All our on-ballers didn’t play but Moree have some pretty handy players.”
Down 16-15 at the first quarter, the Saints re-grouped to take control in the final three.
In Gunnedah, Daniel Leon, Luke Dennis and coach Tony Bishop all kicked three goals for the Tamworth Kangaroos and Vince Woodgate and Matt Hughes two against a Bulldogs side best served by Scott Hardy, who booted four goals.
Ben Maher (3) Andrew George (2) and Andy Mack (2) also had good games against a Roos side spearheaded by Daniel Johnson, Matt Hopson, Brad Rees, Brock Quinn, Daniel Leon and Dean Hoy.
