In the first night game of AFL in Inverell, both the Saints and the Nomads were fired up and ready to play.
After a minute's silence for Seton Tollis, our young junior who tragically died late last year, the Saints again let their opposition score the opening goal of the game. However this time we didn't let them get away to a big lead as we scored the next goal.
The return of our ruckman Jason Gobbert for his first game of the year was a welcome sight for the Saints fans who have seen an extraordinary amount of injuries this year. Jason's return was well monitored by coach Dick Gleeson letting him ruck for the first ten minutes of the first quarter before giving him a spell on the bench and moving star centre half forward Ash Braun into the ruck for the last fifteen minutes of the quarter.
1st Quarter Score: Saints 2-5-17 Nomads 4-3-27
The second quarter saw the Saints again start with Gobbert in the ruck and we played with our regular endeavour and outscored the Nomads for the quarter, all be it only by one point.
Half time score: Saints 4-8-32 Nomads 6-5-41
They say the third quarter is the premiership quarter. Well the Saints came out and played like it and again out scored the Nomads. With Gobbert spending the whole quarter in the ruck, Braun running riot and Mick Viney being given the honour of having two back men put on him, the Saints used Garry Hadland, who was resting in the forward pocket, to snap a quick goal. At the end of the quarter confidence in the Saints camp was high and we went into the huddle to eagerly hear Coach Gleeson's plan for the last quarter.
3rd quarter score: Saints 7-12-54 Nomads 8-9-57
The last quarter was a cracker with the Nomads getting the first two goals before the Saints hit back with the next two. The Nomads then got another goal and with only two minutes to go on the clock, Viney kicked another goal and the Saints hit the lead for the first time in the game. However, with a free kick to Nomads in the dying seconds of the game and a fifty-metre penalty to boot, the Nomads kicked the last goal of game to win by two points. The game was marred by injuries to Joel Fleming (knee), playing his first game of the year and reliable back flanker Johno Kennedy (back).
The over riding fact in the Saints three losses this year is that if we kick straight we win. It's that simple. 10-16-76 does not win a game however 16-10-106 does. I think coach Gleeson had better get the team kicking at goals on the training track with severe penalties for missing.
Final Score: Saints 10-16-76 Nomads 11-12-78
Goals: Mick Viney - 4, Dave Kent - 2, Garry Hadland - 2, Brendan Anderson - 1, Jason Gobbert - 1
Best: The Inverell Jewellers Pewter Dave Kent, Wade Street Meat Voucher Chris Whitton, Wilko's Junction Service Station Voucher Matt Harrison. Other players of note Mick Viney, Ash Braun and Jason Gobbert.
Injury update:
Peter Dunlop, Shoulder, 5 weeks
Luke Selig, Ankle, Test
Nathan Munro, Back, Test
Johno Kennedy, Back, Test
Joel Fleming, Knee, ?
Dick Gleeson, Hamstring, 3 weeks
Last Modified on 14/05/2006 22:03