IF IT wasn't for the Pontiff, Aboriginal community football team Ltyentye Apurte may have claimed top spot on the AFL Central Australia ladder on Saturday but must now settle for third spot.
The Saints had six key players travel to Sydney for World Youth Day at the weekend and their coach, Phil Alice, while supportive of his lads' pilgrimage, said their absence was telling.
Ltyentye Apurte faced league leaders Wests and set themselves up for a big game. But their chance to be top dog for a day went begging after falling short by 28 points in Alice Springs, 13.8 (86) to 8.10 (58).
The result will also have a huge bearing on the finals hopes of at least three of the five other Aboriginal community teams in the AFLCA, just five weeks out from the finals series.
Before Saturday, Ltyentye Apurte shared a 9-2 win-loss record with defending premiers Wests and second-placed Pioneers.
Coach Phil Alice said a failure to man up had cost his side dearly.
"Westies are a good side; we know they're a strong side, discplined, too," he said. "We just didn't man up and we kicked too high, we didn't play smart. We had six blokes in Sydney to meet the Pope so we had to find back-ups. The six that went to Sydney were important players."
The Saints, Yuendumu (8-4), Hermannsburg (7-5) and Anmetjere (6-6) occupy spots three through to six in the 10-team league, which has a top four.
Papunya is holding up the ladder with just the one win this season.
Alice believes his side is a definite top-two team and fired a warning to the town teams.
"Yep, we're really a top two side," he said. "We want to show the 'townies' that community teams can achieve these things.
"We're nearly there. We're still third. Next week we can cement ourselves (in the top four) if we beat (ninth-placed) Rovers."
Alice said Graham Hayes and ruckman Darren Young were the standouts on Saturday.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Monday, July 21, 2008
Last Modified on 30/07/2008 23:00