The Nomads' Paddy Tobias can't stop the Roos Mitch Penberthy from getting this kick away, but will get another chance at the big defender when the two sides clash in today’s grand final. The Roos are planning to break the Nomads’ stranglehold on the competition.
Their opponents, the New England Nomads, on the other hand have had a strangle hold on the title ever since, and are at short odds to make it four straight, after a 48 point win over the Roos in the major semi-final a fortnight ago on the same ground, Bellevue Oval.
Roos coach Tony Bishop knows his team have a tough job ahead of them, but believes they are hungry enough to cause an upset and bring the silverware home.
The Roos were demolished in the first half of the semi-final, and despite a third quarter turnaround were already too far behind.
The Roos have been focusing on that third quarter for the last fortnight, and will try and play four quarters with the same intensity this week.
“We have to compete and stick with them for the entire game,” Bishop said.
“We had the right plan but just didn’t execute it well.”
The Roos have taken plenty out of the past two weeks, the semi-final loss followed by a preliminary final win over the Inverell Saints, who missed a spot in the big one for the first time in nine years when the Roos beat them 17.11 113 to 12.4 76.
“We have had it pretty easy this year apart form the Nomads games so it was good to string some tough games together,” Bishop said.
“We have had four really good training sessions as well and now just need to put it all together.”
“I can’t imagine this playing group letting them get in front in the first half like that again.”
“We are too hungry for that.”
In that semi the Roos kept a lid on Nomads skipper and this season’s golden boot Zac Economou and fellow dead-eye full forward Dave Richards, although the extra attention up front allowed the Armidale sides midfield to run a muck and kick late goals to pull away.
“Their midfield cut us to pieces,” Bishop said.
Source: Northern Daily Leader Saturday 19th September 2015