Nomads defy underdog tag to take trophy
THE New England Nomads have won three straight finals to claim the 2022 AFL North West Senior Men’s premiership from fourth position.
The Nomads won a true arm wrestle of a grand final against the Tamworth Swans after they were just a single goal in front when the final siren blew.
When livewire forward Kaleb Crowhurst kicked three goals for the Tamworth Swans in the space of nine minutes in the third quarter, he had given the host club a 10 point lead.
But the Nomads dug deep kicking two goals through Drew Walsh and Tom Moscow prior to 3/4 time then kicked the first two goals of the final term via Sheridan Cooper then Ethan Karpany to give the Nomads a game high 14 point lead with 11 minutes to play.
The Swans refused to throw in the towel and a fourth goal from Crowhurst with five and a half minutes to play reduced the margin to just 8 points.
Both sides desperately threw themselves into the contest in the dying stages with the Swans attacking relentlessly.
When the siren rang it was the Nomads who had held on.
Their playing coach Clarrie Barker, who got his team started in the first term with two goals off his own boot, said being the underdog throughout the finals series was a bonus for his team as it gave them an all or nothing attitude.
“That was our thought at training during the week that we’d sort of copped it as the underdog these last two weeks down in Tamworth and at Inverell,” Barker said.
“So we really thrived off it, we are a resilient side and if we’re down at half time like we were today, we have the effort to bring it back and win the game.”
NEW ENGLAND NOMADS 2.2 4.6 9.8 11.10 (76)
TAMWORTH SWANS 2.2 6.5 9.5 10.10 (70)
Goals – N.Eng: Carrie Barker 3, Tom Moscou 2, Michael Tedmanson, Cotter Litchfield, David Richards, Drew Walsh, Sheridan Cooper, Ethan Karpany. Swans: Kaleb Crowhurst 4, Jack Richards, Harrison Hague, Jack Patterson, Latrell Allan, Morgan Dunn, Jake Cosgrove.
Graham Nuttal Award (Best on Ground): Jake Cosgrove (Tamworth Swans)
