First bounce gets the Senior season up and running

The long wait is over with the AFL North Coast Senior Competition underway for 2018.

Coffs Harbour Breakers started their title defence in fine form, posting a 23 goal win over the Grafton Tigers to show that they’ll be the team to beat in 2018.

Breakers started strongly in the opening quarter with a five goal term, but Tigers were able to maintain contact by posting two goals of their own. It was the second term where Breakers really kicked into gear, booting an impressive eight majors, then followed this up with a further seven majors in both the third and fourth terms. The Tigers were unable to go with the slick Breakers and were restricted to a further four goals of their own for the remainder of the match.

Former captain Mckinlay Pearce changed his mind on a move to Tasmania and the Breakers were glad he did, as he lead the scoring with seven goals. It was a day of returning stars for the Breakers with Jay Guthrie marking his comeback from a year away with four goals, whilst Shaydan Close got back on the field after a bad leg break last season and celebrated with three goals. In all, the Breakers had 11 individual goal kickers with six of those players kicking multiple majors.

Grafton’s start will give new coach Chris Curthoys heart. The Tigers had a number of last season’s Under 18 premiership winning team featuring prominently in the likes of Ronan Leslie, Kade Bagnall, Evan Whitty, and Lachlan Glover and these players will only improve as they become more accustomed to the pace and physicality of Senior footy. Luke Butler proved to be a good target in the forward line, posting three majors, whilst Curthoys kicked two and Pat Curtain added one.

Coffs Harbour Breakers 27.19-181 defeated Grafton Tigers 6.4-40

At Richardson Park, Sawtell Toormina Saints proved that you write them off at your peril by recording a tough win over the Port Macquarie Magpies.

Despite a massive turnover in players following last year’s Grand Final loss the Saints know how to play their home ground, especially when the wind blows as it did on Saturday. Kicking into a four goal breeze in the first quarter the Saints managed to restrict the Magpies to just two majors and, having posted three goals of their own, went to the break with a narrow and unexpected 5 point lead.

Saints extended the lead to 17 points at the main break. Port were piling on the pressure in the third quarter without being able to take full scoring toll when the key moment in the match occurred. Late in the quarter following a Magpies goal, Sawtell broke upfield quickly and kicked to a one on one contest near the top of the goal square. Full forward  Malcolm Trotter effected an offensive spoil which fell to the unmarked Mitch Napier who gathered the ball, drew the full back and popped a hand pass over the top to allow Trotter to kick a goal from the goal line.

This ensured that the Saints went to the last break with a handy 12 point lead, which they were able to extend to 28 points by full time with the wind at their backs.

Mitch Napier kicked seven of the Saints goals, with Trotter adding three, and Kane Radford two. Trotter and Danniel Johnson were two who had stated they weren’t going to play on after losing last year’s Grand Final so it was a surprise to see both lining up for the first game of the season.

Blake Nelson’s raking left foot proved to be the Magpies key avenue to goal, with the midfielder contributing four goals. Jesse Schmidt and Tom Marmo each added two but there weren’t enough scoreline contributors for Port.

Sawtell Toormina Saints 14.13-97 defeated Port Macquarie Magpies 10.9-69

 Earlier in the day, history was made at Richardson Park with the staging of the first ever competitive Women’s fixture. After a long build-up of development, recruitment, and training the Saints and Magpies Women’s teams, together with the big assembled crowd, were chomping at the bit for the first bounce and it was entirely appropriate that the first goal was kicked by the region’s key instigator of the Women’s competition, Alana Hanson.

Hanson booted both of Sawtell’s opening term goals as they headed to the break with a narrow seven point lead. The Saints Women blew the game wide open in the second quarter, when they recorded 6 goals and held Port scoreless.

The Magpies Women fought back bravely in the second half to limit the scoring damage that the Saints were able to inflict, keeping them to just one goal in each of the last two quarters. They were well led by Chanteille Mobbs who was outstanding in her debut match and will improve greatly over the coming weeks as they get more opportunities to play together.

Hanson finished the match with four goals, Keira Basset kicked three, Fiona Lane got two, and Kacee Uikelotu completed a terrific all round performance with one goal.

Sawtell Toormina Saints Women 10.7-67 defeated Port Macquarie Women 1.3-9

Next week sees the first local derby of the year between Coffs Harbour Breakers and Sawtell Toormina Saints, whilst Grafton Tigers make the long road trip to face the Port Macquarie Magpies.

Breakers and Saints Seniors will play under lights on Friday night at Fitzroy Oval/The Old Camp in an ANZAC themed round, whilst the other grades between the two clubs will be at Richardson Park on Saturday.