The New England Nomads completed an undefeated Tamworth AFL regular season with a 56-point win over the Gunnedah Bulldogs at Wolseley Park on Saturday.
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The Nomads warmed up for the finals with a 15.7-97 to 5.11-41 win before the Tamworth Kangaroos – their major semi-final opponents next week – belted the Moree Suns 27.22-184 to 0.2-2.
The Inverell Saints meanwhile found some timely form thrashing the Narrabri Eagles 17-34-136 to 0-6-6.
Dallas Baldwin kicked four, and Mathew Penberthy, Sam Kimmence, Anthony Pages, Keiran Te Velde, Johnathon Putt and Adrian Cox doubles for the Saints as they snapped a four game losing run.
In Gunnedah, Zac Economou led the way in the goal-kicking department for the Nomads with six majors while coach Jed Ellis-Cluff chimed in with three.
The signs were ominous for the Bulldogs when the Nomads outscored them 5.2-32 to 0.1-1 in the first quarter but they were able to rally and restrict the minor premiers to under 100 points for just the fourth time this season.
Dan Overeem then landed eight goals as the Kangaroos ensured they finished the regular season in second place on the points table.
Their crushing win featured 12 different goalscorers with Dean Hoy (four), Daniel Leon (three) and Daniel Johnson, Chris Pollock and Luke Robinson (two) all kicking multiples.
Tamworth racked up 48 points in the first quarter, followed by 52 in the second quarter, 41 in the third quarter and 43 in the final quarter.
Moree scored both of its points in the final quarter, with the first behind earning cheers from the sideline as the Kangaroos had notched 170 points at the time.
The Suns were best served by Matthew Bailey, Zach Collier, Joshua Walker, Max Beinke, Wyatt Roberts, William Caccianiga, while Leon, Johnson, Brad Rees, Brock Quinn, Ben Mitchell and Robinson were best for the Kangaroos.
Leon was later at the presentation dinner at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club, named joint winner of the Tony Gillies Medal as the competition's best and fairest with Ellis-Cluff.
The two polled 21 points, Ellis-Cluff also picking up the Gerry Griffiths Medal as the leading goalscorer for the season. The Nomads had a big night with Cameron Graham winning the Rising Star award.
Tamworth Swans’ Steven Fairless meanwhile won the Sporting Pulse Award. In deference to the Gillies Medal, which is decided on points from the umpires, the coaches vote for the Sporting Pulse award.
On the coaching front, Gunnedah coach Greg Piggott was named Coach of the Year after spearheading the Bulldogs into their first finals series for five years.
