Gunnedah hit with Force
Luke Valdes was named as the best player for the North Coast Force men's representative team in their big win over the AFL North West.
THE North Coast Force produced a strong showing during an action packed day of representative football at Gunnedah.
The men’s team played for the first time since 2018 and won back the Challenge Shield from the AFL North West with a resounding 66-point victory.
The women’s team came very close to winning the Regional Australia Bank Cup after first beating the North West Blue Heelers with a strong second half sealing a 24-point win before pushing the Central West Eagles in a great battle in what was essentially a final in the battle for the Regional Australia Bank Cup.
The men were engaged a tight tussle against the Blue Heelers but when Tyrone Jones ran down from defense to kick a goal only seconds before the half time siren sounded that gave the Force a 20-point lead, you could see the moment take the wind out of the Blue Heeler sails.
In the second half the men piled on the goals kicking 11 goals to three.
Riley Dagger took plenty of marks up forward on his way to a bag of five goals while anytime the North West team mounted an attack, Luke Valdes mopped up any mess repelling countless attacks throughout the day.
MATCH SCORES
MEN
NORTH COAST FORCE 3.2 7.5 13.8 18.9 (117)
NORTH WEST BLUE HEELERS 2.2 4.3 5.7 7.9 (51)
Goals – Force: Riley Dagger 5, Nicklaus Stanlan-Velt 4, Jai Langenberg 2, Quenten Close 2, Jaymus Troutman, Aidan Wallace, Tom Grace, Malcolm Trotter, Tyrone Zones. Blue Heelers: Lachlan Bennetts Inkster, Noah O’Neill, Matthew Hall, Liam Naismith, Hunter Greene, Darcy Hill, Andrew Osmond.
Best Player – Luke Valdes
WOMEN (REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK CUP)
NORTH COAST FORCE 1.3 4.7 (31)
NORTH WEST BLUE HEELERS 1.1 1.1 (7)
Goals – Force: Britt Hargreaves, Amber McRae-Mitchell, Lindell Bassett, Rose Chetwynd.
NORTH COAST FORCE 1.1 4.1 (25)
CENTRAL WEST EAGLES 3.4 5.6 (36)
Goals – Force: Lyndell Bassett 2, Jess Midivaine, Gabby Mooney.
Best Player – Gina Cardillo.
Gina Cardillo was named as the best player for the North Coast Force across the women’s teams two matches played in Gunnedah. Here Cardillo is pictured with Kim Burraston from Regional Australia Bank.
