Pioneer and Federal win in CAFL Round 11
Federal held on to their CAFL unbeaten record despite head count confusion almost wiping out their Round 11 lead. Catch up on the latest CAFL action.
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On a day when a head count almost cost ladder leaders Federal their unbeaten record and Pioneer had to call on all of its courage and culture in a come-from-behind win over Souths, the two best performed teams in the 2025 CAFL season continued on their winning ways.
Last year’s CAFL grand finalists went through a wave of emotions before emerging with thrilling wins in Round 11 action.
Ladder leader Federal had their third quarter scores wiped after one of their players returned to the field too early from a yellow card dismissal, but hung on against a desperate Rovers to win by eight points, 10.11 (71) to 9.9 (63).
The Demons had raced to a 25-point lead at half-time, but that was reduced to 13 points at three quarter time due to two yellow card dismissals on half-time and into the third term.
A four-goal to three last quarter thrust by Rovers was not enough to give them the lead in what turned into one of the games of the season.
Federal coach John Glasson said confusion had reigned when two of his players were yellow carded and one ran back on before the allotted time he was supposed to be off the ground.
“It nearly cost us the game, but we were good enough to hang on against a Rovers side that played some very good footy,” he said.
Glasson again praised midfielder Jack Nugent after another four-quarter performance and Daniel Gorry for his work around the ground.
Defender Caylan LaPorta was another good player for Federal, who have now won their first eight games in Glasson’s first season in charge.
Cody Flanagan, Connor Dunne and two-goal forward Tosh Kunoth were the best for Rovers, who are close to returning to their best form under coach Fred Campbell.
Pioneer coach Steven Hayes praised his side’s positive attitude when turning a two-point three quarter time deficit into a seven-point win over a desperate Souths side.
“We trailed them all day but found a way to win in the last quarter, that took a lot of hard work and the right attitude when it really counted,” Hayes said.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for Souths who really pushed us this week and they will only get better.”
Shawn Foster in his newly adopted role in defence was superb all day for the Eagles, while Shane Inkamala around the ground and Tyrell Woodbury in defence were good players.
In women’s football, last season’s grand finalists Wests returned to the winners’ list with a hard fought 12-point win over Alkamilya.
The Lady Bloods led all day despite both sides failing to register a goal in the second half.
The 3.8 (26) to 2.2 (14) win was Wests’ third in their last five outings as finals football begins to loom large in the women’s competition.
“We needed that win against a good side like Alkamilya,” Wests coach Hope McSkehan said.
“We didn’t finish particularly well in front of goals but it’s something we can work on.”
Florence Bourke, Rachael Lendrum and Gigi Dadds were standouts for the red and blacks, while Hayley Maher and Lily Childs were the best for Cyril Rioli Sr’s Panthers.
Ladder leaders Federal won its eighth game from 10 starts when the Lady Demons booted three goals to one in the last quarter to beat reigning premier Rovers at Albrecht Oval.
Sandy Leonard and Olivia Smith worked hard in defence for Federal, while Sian Furniss found plenty of the football in a midfield role.
Federal captain Krydence Schwalger said the women’s side had worked its way into a competitive unit after a 2023 debut season when several players got their first taste of Australian football.
“We’ve built a great culture and are really starting to play some good football with a terrific bunch of ladies,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pioneer beat a courageous Souths by five points at Traeger Park when the game was called off midway through the third quarter due to an injury to a Souths player.
An ambulance was required to transport Billie-Jo Liddle to hospital after a collision with an opposition player left her with suspected whiplash.
That left no time to complete the 2pm game before the commencement of the Senior Men’s game at 3.30pm.
Souths midseason bounce back continues with impressive CAFL win
Federal midfielder Jack Nugent continued his stellar 2015 CAFL season with another best on ground performance in his side’s 75-point Round 10 win over Wests.
Nugent and two-goal wingman Ariki Lowe were big factors in Federal’s seventh consecutive win following a Round 9 bye.
The red and whites are chasing a second Senior Men’s flag in three seasons and a third straight grand final appearance.
The Demons had 33 scoring shots in a 16.17 (113) to 5.8 (38) win that shot them two games clear in the premiership race.
Jesiah Minor kicked four goals and four behinds in his first game for five weeks and five other players two each in another show of class from coach John Glasson’s side.
That was after Glasson and his selectors made another 12 forced changes in a season where unavailability due to work and family reasons has become the norm.
“What those 25 changes in two weeks mean is we’ve got great depth at the club and players who want to do their best when they’re wearing Federal colours,” Glasson said.
“Trying to name a side with that many changes is like throwing a pack of card up and hoping for a good hand when they land.”
Minor began in the ruck before moving forward where he became a target for his teammates and Lowe, Abe Ankers and Braydon Weily found plenty of the football.
South Alice Springs won their second game in as many weeks after pipping Wests by a single point to snap a five game drought.
Coach Reggie Smith Jr is confined to the boundary line after copping a four-match ban for telling an umpire what he thought of a high tackle on one of his players that was not penalised earlier in the season.
But he liked what he saw from his players, who led all day in the game at Albrecht Oval, eventually winning by 15 points, 12.13 (85) to 10.10 (70).
“Everyone contributed in what was a solid team performance, especially Orlando Turner through the midfield and Dylan Barry against his old side,” Smith said.
In women’s football Federal hammered home their dominance with a big 52-point win over second-placed Wests in the second meeting of last season’s grand finalists.
The Lady Demons kept their opponents scoreless while kicking eight goals themselves in a performance that shortened their premiership odds even further.
Rebecca Ellis, Kirsty Driver and Alana Chalmers stood out for Federal, who booted seven goals to nothing in the first half before easing off in the last two quarters.
Wests coach Hope McSkehan was forced to pull on the boots for the Lady Bloods with several absentees for the noon clash at Traeger Park.
“We were missing players, but all credit to Federal, they were fitter than us and used the ball a lot better to get the result they did,” she said.
Dalyce Jenner across half back was the best for Wests, while Emily Duncombe and Rachel Davine never gave up.
Ebony Abbott-McCormack was at her lethal best in reigning premier Rovers’ 70-point win over Souths at Albrecht Oval.
The Double Blues won their sixth game of the season with a 13.8 (86) to 2.4 (16) win over an improved Souths side, with Betty Maeke and Carly Wilson other standouts.
Souths clinch first win of the season in CAFL nailbiter
The CAFL’s senior men’s Round 9 Traeger Park doubleheader was one to remember with two heart stopping results that finished within a score at the iconic ground.
South Alice Springs broke through for their first win of the season under new coach Reggie Smith Jr by beating Wests by a single point.
Reigning premier Pioneer’s fifth win of the season went right down to the wire when Rovers threw everything at them before the Eagles prevailed, 9.9 (63) to 9.7 (61).
Kane Sevallos-Seden continued his stellar season with another best on performance and Shane Inkamala’s first game of the season got plenty of plaudits from his coaching staff.
Pioneer led at every break against a Rovers side desperate for their third win of the season following some close losses.
Tosh Kunoth and Darren Abbott were the best for the Double Blues, who stay a game ahead of fifth-place Souths in the race for the finals.
Pioneer coach Steven Hayes said fitness and the right attitude had been big factors in the win despite a number of key players missing the 6pm game.
“We had players who were good enough to step up to senior level when required and that’s what we need at this footy club,” Hayes added.
“Kane was very good for us again, he’s the type of player Pioneer always seems to produce when they are needed.”
Hayes expects Kimberley goalkicker Waylon Manson to return to the side in the coming weeks when his playing commitments in South Australia’s APY Lands are completed.
“Waylon will add another string to a forward line already containing Wes Steele and that should mean a bag of goals between them,” he added.
South Alice Springs finally discovered a winning formula when they broke their 2025 duck at the expense of an unlucky Wests in the early game at Trager Park.
The Kangaroos beat the third-placed Bloods by a single point to register their first win of the campaign and renew hopes of another finals berth.
The 9.10 (64) to 8.15 (63) scoreline showed the closeness of the two sides and West’s inaccuracy in the last quarter when they blazed away to kick 2.7 to Souths’ 1.2.
Jackson Renzi and Roy Tilmouth were Wests best, but their teammates will be kicking themselves after throwing away four premiership points with their poor finishing in front of goal.
Souths skipper Michael Tilmouth-Turner said his young side found a way to win in the all-important second half after Wests had played the better football in the first two quarters.
“Orlando Turner through the midfield and Simeon Williams down back where he kept close tabs on their full forward Colin Thiele played a big part in our second half and enabled us to finally play four quarters,” Tilmouth-Turner said.
“Having big Staff back for the rest of the season was a big bonus, he will be good for us because he provides a target up forward and certainly straightens us up.”
In women’s football Alkamilya’s season got better when they upset ladder leaders Federal in the morning match at Traeger Park.
The Panthers kept the Demons at bay in the last three quarters, not allowing any goals while kicking three of their own in a convincing 4.1 (25) to 1.4 (10) win.
Regan Maher-Moldrich took her season’s goalkicking to 20 after booting three against the Federal defence and Hayley Maher, Christen Lingen and Tamika Rumpff found plenty of the football on Traeger Park’s wide open spaces.
West Alice Springs maintained top spot when they beat Souths by almost 13 goals, keeping the Roos scoreless in the process.
The Lady Bloods bookended the 11.11 (77) to nil win with a four goal first quarter and classy five goal finish, Camilla Liebson, the consistent Gigi Dadds and Emily Duncombe impressing in the traditional black and red jumper.
Rovers secured their sixth win of the season with a workmanlike 16-point win over Pioneer.
Ebony Abbott-McCormack, captain Keialah Satour and Monique George marshalled their side from defence and across the midfield with classy individual performances.
Coach Anthony McGuire said the trio had driven the standard for the Double Blues, with Satour outstanding in quelling the influence of Pioneer’s Danika McDonald.
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