Inverell Saints extended their perfect start to the AFL North West NSW season with a 115-point victory against Tamworth Swans on Saturday.
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Saints spearhead Michael Gould bagged 10 majors as his side scored an emphatic 23.11 (149) to 5.4 (34) win at Tamworth No.1 Oval.
Inverell president Jason Gobbett said the final scoreline was a pleasant surprise, with the Saints missing coach Hayden Chappel.
“We had a couple out, but still took over 21 players which included a few old boys like me who shouldn’t have been playing,” Gobbett said.
“We’ve been a bit slow out of the blocks in our first two games, although we started very well on Saturday and never looked back.
“It’s good to be 3-0, we’re a different side this year with a few blokes coming up from the juniors and making their mark in the seniors.
“But we haven’t run into Armidale (New England Nomads), Gunnedah or the (Tamworth) Roos yet, how we go against them will tell us how we’re going.”
Inverell controlled proceedings from the get-go and were dominant through the midfield as Bailey Gardner and Troy Hill knocked up winning kicks.
The Saints kept the home side goalless through the first-half on the way to a 48-point lead at the main break.
Despite the best efforts of James Dunston, William Priest and Nathan Bradburn in defence and the evergreen Dean Finlay, the Swans struggled to make in-roads.
Stuart Blair capped his first game in the red and white with a drought-breaking goal in the third quarter, but it was only temporary relief as Inverell extended their lead.
Eight different Saints hit the scoreboard, including the busy Anthony Pages, Darren Pithers and Gobbert, who slotted two majors.
Gobbert thought Pithers was his side’s best performer, just in front of Gardner, an emerging talent making his mark in a different code.
“Darren rucked all day and played a great game for us,” he said.
“Bailey has come to us from basketball and made a great impression in only his third game of footy.
“Troy Hill in the centre and Anthony Pages never stopped running.”
Inverell booted 15 goals to five in the second-half, including a late major to former NRL try-scoring ace turned Saints goal-sneak Nathan Blacklock.
The magnitude of the win certainly boosted Inverell’s percentage, which now stands at 263.85.
In other results, Moree Suns celebrated their first win of the season by 65 points against Narrabri Eagles and Gunnedah thumped Tamworth Kangaroos 23.21 (159) to 5.5 (35).