Saints perfect to the end

Inverell defeated the Tamworth Swans in the 2023 AFL North West Men's Grand Final played in Gunnedah.

INVERELL maintained its unbeaten record all the way through the season, climaxing in a 16 point win over the Tamworth Swans in the Grand Final.

But the Saints didn’t have it all their own way in the season decider played at Gunnedah’s Wolseley Park.

In fact the Tamworth Swans forced Inverell into its closest match of the season.

It didn’t look that way early when the Saints kicked three unanswered goals in the first term to open up a 19 point lead that the Swans never managed to overhaul.

Often when the Tamworth side got the ball forward it was intercepted by Inverell captain Hayden Chappel who was awarded post-match the Graham Nuttall Award for being the best player on the ground.

Early in the second term the Swans kicked into gear and closed the gap with a couple of goals and from that point on the match turned into a determined, dour contest that made winning contested possessions the order of the day.

The second half was almost level pegging – a situation that left the Swans rueing their slow start to the big game.

For Inverell, the Grand Final victory was the perfect end to a perfect, undefeated season.

When pushed, the Saints continued to find a way to win the important contest or kick the vital goal that continued to keep the Swans at arms length.

GRAND FINAL DETAILS

Inverell Saints 3.3  5.6  8.7  10.12 (72)

Tamworth Swans 0.2 3.4 6.5 8.8 (56)

Goals – Inv: Brodie Casburn 2, Jaidon Tasker 2, Liam Beattie, Ryan Lewis, Ben Myler, Ryan Newton, Rhyley Thom, Nash Tome. Swans: Lachlan Bennett-Inkster 3, Jake Cosgrove 2, Zach Collier, Lachlan McIntosh, Wyatt Roberts.

Graham Nuttall Award (Best on Ground): Hayden Chappel (Inverell)