NEAFL representative wrap

After a promising start the NEAFL representative side was outmuscled and outclassed by the WAFL representative outfit at Blacktown International Sports Park last weekend.

Redland spearhead Cleve Hughes kicked the opening major of the match after two minutes, and when Queanbeyan young gun Kade Klemke goalled moments later, the home side was cock-a-hoop.

But from that point forward the WAFL side kicked into gear, led by former West Coast Eagle Ashton Hams, who won his second Simpson Medal as best afield, and South Fremantle skipper Ryan Cook, the westerners piled on 19 majors and ran out convincing 85-point winners.

NEAFL coach Daniel Archer was understandably disappointed with the result, especially considering the spate of scoring opportunities his side missed in the second term, which had they converted would have wrenched the home side back into the contest.

“I was really happy with the effort, right until the final siren, but I’m disappointed with the result,” Archer said.

“All the guys knew how big an honour and a privilege it was to represent the first combined NEAFL side, and we came into the game firmly believing we could win, but the WAFL guys were fantastic, and we weren’t as good as we could have been.”

The NEAFL side was let down by poor skills by foot at times, and they often over-possessed the football, conceding several goals as a direct result of turnovers.

The midfield is the major area the NEAFL side needs to improve before their June 21 clash with Tasmania at Blundstone Arena, with the likes of Matt Payne, Jasaon Burge, Kal Geary, and Luke Shreeve in the engine room struggling to impact the contest.

Had the battle through the middle of the ground been a little less lopsided, the home side would have been significantly closer; their best football was good enough to match it with their highly-fancied opponents, but consistency was lacking.

Sydney University running defenders Matt O’Dwyer and Will Sierakowski were impressive in a losing side, along with Queanbeyan young gun Kade Klemke, and Aspley livewire Eddie Sansbury, though the former Kangaroo was inaccurate, kicking four behinds.

——————

In better news for football fans in New South Wales, GWS GIANTS’ NEAFL team thumped Gold Coast’s reserves by 191 points in the weekend’s standalone reguar season fixture.

The GIANTS, led by six goals from former Swan Jed Lamb, and five from ex-Geelong premiership star Josh Hunt, kept the home side goalless until midway through the third term, running out 32.18.210 to 2.7.19 winners and rocketing into third position.

Images courtesy of Ben Southall.