Swans, Poochettes qualify for Grand Finals

The Tamworth Swans won a hard fought Mens 2nd Semi Final over Inverell.

THE Tamworth Swans have earned the right to host the 2022 AFL North West Grand Finals.

It was a big day for the Swans’ men and Gunnedah’s women who both won their 2nd Semi Finals to be the first teams into the Grand Final.

In the Men’s match the Tamworth Swans took advantage of a numerical advantage and piled on nine goals to two to build a 34 point lead at the main break.

Still down a man, Inverell fought back in the third quarter to reduce the margin to 15 points.

The Swans steadied though and drew away thanks to an incredibly accurate scoreline of 21.2. The win means the Grand Finals will now be played at Tamworth No.1 Oval on September 10.

In the Women’s 2nd Semi it was Gunnedah who jumped out of the blocks and built a 27 point lead by half time over Inverell.

The margin was on the back of not only strong work through the midfield but an unrelenting defensive unit that didn’t allow the Saints to kick a goal in the first half.

Inverell dug deep after the interval and slammed on three goals in the third term but the Poochettes never looked threatened.

As a 1st Semi Final has the consequences of curtains for the vanquished there’s always plenty on the line.

That’s how the women’s match turned out as local rivals the Tamworth Kangaroos and Tamworth Swans played out a dour affair.

Only the one goal was kicked to half time and at the last break the Kangaroos led by a narrow 3 point margin.

The Swans managed to find an extra gear in the last term and kicked three goals to one to advance to the preliminary Final where they will play Inverell at Varley Oval.

The New England Nomads men’s team will also be facing Inverell in the Preliminary Final but it took a strong second half effort to get them there.

The Kangaroos overcame a slow start to lead by a couple of goals at the long break with focal point Elliot Bowen proving more than a handful for the Nomads defence to handle.

The New England team produced a stirring third term with Tom Moscou proving a constant threat in front of goals. The six goals to two third quarter saw the Nomads go from 12 points down to 15 points up at the last change before going on with the job in the final term.

MEN’S RESULTS

2nd SEMI FINAL

TAMWORTH SWANS 4.1  13.2  15.2 21.2 (128)

INVERELL SAINTS  5.2  7.4  12.5  15.6 (96)

Goals – Swans: A.Cruickshank 3, J.Richards 3, J.Taylor 3, N.Keam 2, J.Patterson 2, L.Allan, L.Bennets-Inkster, J.Cosgrove, K.Crowhurst, J.Jones, L.McIntosh, M.Small, J.Verdouw. Inv: R.Thom 5, A.Croft 3, H.Moffitt 3, N.O’Neill 3, J.Tasker.

1st SEMI FINAL

NEW ENGLAND NOMADS  3.6  5.11  11.15  14.19 (103)

TAMWORTH KANGAROOS  2.3  8.5  10.6  11.12 (78)

Goals – N.Eng: T.Moscou 6, D.Richards 3, C.Barker, N.Connick, H.Greene, C.Paine, T.Quaife. Kang: E.Bowen 6, C.Holton 2, K.Hagon, M.Hall, B.Shepherdson.

WOMEN’S RESULTS

2nd SEMI FINAL

GUNNEDAH 2.5  4.6  6.7  8.11 (59)

INVERELL 0.2  0.3  3.3  3.5 (23)

Goals – Gunn: M.Leaton 2, B.Ward 2, K.Devine, M.Foster, Z.Palmer, K.Rekunow. Inv: T.Mair, G.Mooney, C.Taveira.

1ST SEMI FINAL

TAMWORTH SWANS  0.2  0.3  1.5  4.5 (29)

TAMWORTH KANGAROOS 0.0 1.1 2.2 3.2 (20)

GOALS – Swans: O.Fanning, S.Layton, T.Pettit, M.Sharp. Kang: H.Bronger, E.Skewes, R.Spark.

PRELIMINARY FINALS

Saturday, September 3 at Varley Oval, Inverell

12.00pm – Women: Inverell vs. Tamworth Swans

2.00pm – Men: Inverell vs. New England Nomads