Northern Beaches Blues return to Centennial Oval after 16 years

Blues enjoy first senior men's home game in 16 years but home crowd advantage not enough to stop resurgent Breakers

Jaymus Troutman boots Sawtell/Toormina into attack during the Saints' big win over Nambucca Valley. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing. AFL North Coast.

The Northern Beaches Blues senior men returned to Centennial Oval for the first time in 16 years and they were welcomed back by a big crowd with open arms.

While Blues fans’ dreams of an upset went unrealised, the side will be buoyed by the fact they still booted eight goals against early frontrunners Coffs Coast Breakers, who seem to have put the disappointment of last season behind them to remain one of only two sides yet to lose a game.

Blues president Glen Golsby-Smith said there was excitement around the club now both a men’s and women’s side were in the AFL North Coast competition, something they had been working towards for a number of years.

Despite the loss, Golsby-Smith said the best was yet to come for the reformed side.

AFL North Coast. Tarryn Arnold's attempt to take possession is spoiled by a desperate Northern Beaches defence. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

“At the end of the day (Coffs Harbour Breakers) had better legs and ran over the top of us,” he said.

“But we have more players to come – we had a fair few out last week – and we are only going to improve.”

In the other Round 2 fixtures, the Lismore Swans maintained their position at the top of the ladder after an emphatic win over Port Macquarie who faced the longest road trip in the competition.

The huge 350 km round trip ultimately proved too much, with the Swans running out 85-point winners.

Nambucca Valley suffered under a weight of numbers in its clash against Sawtell/Toormina with the Lions unable to field anybody on its bench as a mounting early season injury list took its toll.

Grafton Tigers put a cricket score on the Casino Lions with a massive 34 goals contributing to their total of 230.

In the women’s competition, the Coffs Breakers proved too strong for the Northern Beaches in a repeat of last year’s grand final.

The Lismore Swans women played their first match in the AFL North Coast after an opening round bye and got their season off to a winning start with a hard fought 14-point win over Port Macquarie.

AFL NORTH COAST ROUND 2 RESULTS

Senior Men

Sawtell/Toormina 18.20 (128) def Nambucca Valley 0.1 (1)

Coffs Breakers 15.11 (101) def Northern Beaches 8.11 (59)

Lismore Swans 18.29 (137) def Port Macquarie 8.4 (52)

Grafton 34.26 (230) def Casina Lions 1.3 (9)

Senior women

Coffs Breaker 10.3 (63) def Northern Beaches 1.1 (7)

Lismore Swans 2.9 (21) def Port Macquarie 1.1 (7)