Hot run continues for Saints

Sawtell/Toormina's Angus Anderson gains possession ahead of Lismore Swans midfielder Tim Whalan during an AFL North Coast match at Richardson Park in 2021. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

Sawtell/Toormina has moved up to second position on the ladder after recording its sixth consecutive victory.

The Saints led from go to whoa against the Lismore Swans although they were challenged before drawing away in the last quarter.

The home team used the spaces available at Richardson Park very well with the pace of Sawtell’s younger brigade coming to the fore, particularly in the last term when they kicked four unanswered goals to turn what was just an eight-point lead at three-quarter time into a 34-point win.

Playing coach Brandt Lee said being able to run out games is vital for any team that has their eyes looking towards the finals. He said it was a key to the success against Lismore.

“Playing on a bigger field, the younger guys being fit and being able to run,” Lee said.

“That’s the sort of game plan that we set ourselves, to be able to create space that way because we know playing finals on the Stadium it’s a big ground so we’ve got to prepare for finals and playing on a ground that size.

“We’ve got an advantage having our home ground being pretty large as well.”

Moving into second position on the ladder, Lee reflected on a first half of the season that left many local pundits questioning their bona fides as a premiership contender.

“I guess everyone was sort of writing us off after the first half of the season and after we had those couple of suicide weeks down in Port and up in Lismore,” he said.

“We were just fighting for a finals spot after that but six in a row now puts us in second so anything is possible from here.”

The Swans will need three things to happen this Saturday if they’re to sneak into the double chance position. Firstly they need to take care of business at home against Nambucca Valley. But the Swans need two other results to go their way – Grafton to beat the Saints and Port Macquarie to beat Northern Beaches.

SAWTELL/TOORMINA 4.1  6.7  7.8  11.12 (78)
LISMORE SWANS 1.3  3.3  6.6  6.8 (44)
Goals – Saw: L.Matthews 2, J.Perks 2, B.Cox 2, W.Lloyd, S.Botma, L.Neal, D.Matthews, D.Pritchard. Lis: A.Baker 2, T.Whalan, M.Schafer, L.Foenander, B.Fox.
Under-17s: Sawtell/Toormina 17.7 (109) def Glen Innes 5.8 (38)

PORT Macquarie’s hopes of securing a finals berth are very much alive after an impressive win over the ladder leading Coffs Breakers.

The Magpies burst out of the blocks in their must-win match and built up a five goal lead by the first break which was stretched to 41-points at half time.

Braden Saggers and Royce Close were contant threats in the attacking 50-metre arc and Saggers finished the day with seven majors while Close looked silky smooth as usual booting four.

PORT MACQUARIE 6.2  9.7  14.8  17.10 (112)
COFFS BREAKERS 1.2  3.2  6.3 9.6 (60)
Goals – Port: B.Saggers 7, R.Close 4, T.Dickson 3, A.Pratt, J.Hall, W.Kelly. Coffs: A.Wallace 3, M.McMahon 2, N.Stanlan-Velt 2, A.Wood, J.Guthrie.
Reserves: Coffs Breakers 7.7 (49) def Port Macquarie 1.9 (15)
Under-17s (at Tamworth): Coffs Breakers 12.15 (87) def Tamworth Roosters 9.6 (60)

GRAFTON almost paid the price for a lacklustre second half against Nambucca Valley.

The Lions arrived at Ellem Oval with 15 players on the team sheet and Grafton made the sporting gesture of playing even numbers on the field to ensure a competitive contest.

After an inaccurate first quarter the Tigers played a strong second term with Sam Morrison being particularly dangerous to help Grafton build a 31-point lead.

The script flipped after the main break though with Nambucca Valley fighting back to reduce the lead to just two goals at the final break.

Experienced talls Jim Angel and Aaron Clarke were proving a thorn in Grafton’s side and the Lions almost pulled off a comeback victory but fell just three points short.

GRAFTON 1.6  5.8  6.9  8.10 (58)
NAMBUCCA VALLEY 0.0  1.1  5.3  8.7 (55)
Goals – Graf: S.Morrison 3, C.O’Neill 2, N.Swarski, M.Luxton, J.Boehme. N.V: J.Angel 3, A.Clarke 2, M.Townsend, R.McGrath, A.Baldwin.

HAVING lost three of their past four matches heading into Saturday, it was important for Northern Beaches to get back in the winning groove.

The Blues did so in emphatic fashion with a large win over an undermanned Casino Lions.

Danniel Johnson had a big day in front of goal kicking eight goals as did full forward Evan Duryea who has hit a purple patch of form with 15 goals in his last two matches.

The Blues may have had plenty of practice in front of goal but credit to Casino and their 15 players as they never threw in the towel.

While a 190-point victory isn’t the tough encounter coaches are looking for with finals on the horizon, Northern Beaches coach Rory Evans said there were good things that came from it.

“It was good for a couple of players to get back on the park, additionally it was good for a couple of others to have a week off,” Evans said.

“The game itself was a positive. We were able to execute really well, albeit under less pressure than normal but the players stayed positive throughout the match and we managed to get through unscathed.”

With that win under their belt, the Blues now face a virtual elimination final this Saturday against Port Macquarie. The match at Wayne Richards Park will see all of the chips on the table as the loser of the contest won’t be playing in the finals a week later.

NORTHERN BEACHES 8.4  16.11  21.17  29.22 (196)
CASINO LIONS 0.0  0.0  1.0  1.0 (6)
Goals – N.B: D.Johnson 8, E.Duryea 8, D.Pearce 4, C.Frangos 2, J.Berryman 2, C.McPherson, A.Woodbridge, J.Horrocks, S.Burow, F.Thompson. Cas: L.Fitzpatrick.
Reserves: Northern Beaches 10.5 (65) def Grafton 8.1 (49)

SENIOR LADDER

	P	W	D	L	PTS	FOR	AGST	%
Coffs Breakers	13	11	0	2	44	1373	741	185.29
Sawtell/Toormina	13	9	0	4	36	1076	880	122.27
Northern Beaches	13	8	1	4	34	1089	655	166.26
Lismore Swans	13	8	0	5	32	1321	785	168.28
Port Macquarie	13	8	0	5	32	1226	847	144.75
Grafton	13	5	1	7	22	1142	971	117.61
Nambucca Valley	13	2	0	11	8	590	1093	53.98
Casino Lions	13	0	0	13	0	298	2143	13.91

LEADING GOALKICKERS

52 Andrew Baker (Lismore Swans)
36 Evan Duryea (Northern Beaches)
36 Tim Churchin (Grafton)
28 Braden Saggers (Port Macquarie)
28 Fraser Duryea (Northern Beaches)
22 Jay Guthrie (Coffs Breakers)
21 Matt Schafer (Lismore Swans)
20 Michael McMahon (Coffs Breakers)
18 Aaron Clarke (Nambucca Valley)
18 Tom Dickson (Port Macquarie)
17 Nick Stanlan-Velt (Coffs Breakers)

ROUND 14 – Saturday, August 7

LISMORE SWANS vs NAMBUCCA VALLEY at Oakes Oval, Lismore
(1.00pm – Seniors)
PORT MACQUARIE vs NORTHERN BEACHES at Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie
(11.50am – Women; 1.20pm – Reserves; 2.50pm – Seniors)
GRAFTON vs SAWTELL/TOORMINA at Ellem Oval, Grafton
(10am – Under-17s; 11.50am – Women; 1.20pm – Reserves; 2.50pm – Seniors)
CASINO LIONS vs COFFS BREAKERS at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Casino
(2.50pm – Seniors)