South Alice Springs and Pioneer open 2023 CAFL winning accounts
South Alice Springs and Pioneer set down early statements with dominant wins in their CAFL season openers. Check out everything that happened in Round 1 here.
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South Alice Springs fired an early warning shot in the 2023 Central Australian Football League season when they beat fierce rivals Rovers by 95 points in the Senior Men’s season opener at Jim McConville Oval.
In a season dominated by standoffs between Alice Springs Town Council and AFL Northern Territory on the use of Centralian football’s crown jewel, Traeger Park Oval, the Kangaroos quickly turned the focus on to what was happening on the ground.
Pioneer recruit Thomas Swan showed why he was a prime target for the Chris Forbes coached Kangaroos when he produced a best on ground performance in his first appearance in blue and white colours.
Thomas Gorey and another new Kangaroo, former Rovers forward Troyston Corbett, booted nine goals between them in a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) win.
The ease of the win against a new-look Rovers side finding their feet under new coach Charlie McAdam only raised half a smile from coach Forbes.
“I wasn’t happy with the win, especially when we set out to win by 100 points to kick off the season with a big win and nearly got there,’’ he said.
“A win is a win, but when you get an opportunity to put your feet on the opposition’s throat and go hard, we fell short of the win I was looking for and that’s a bit disappointing.’’
Reigning premier Pioneer began the defence of their 2022 flag with a 55-point win over West Alice Springs in their Round 1 clash at a hastily arranged Albrecht Oval.
The Eagles began in a hurry when they kicked five goals to a handful of behinds in the opening quarter before proceeding to a 15.7 (97) to 6.6 (42) over the 2021 grand finalists.
Ruckman and new skipper Cheyne Miles was one of his side’s best in a game where the Eagles unveiled two first gamers and experienced ruckman David Bray from Souths.
Isaiah Miller and Jeremiah Daniels impressed on debut and Bray was impressive despite the Eagles staying out of reach of the enthusiastic Bloods who went from losing grand finalists two years ago to wooden spooners last season.
“Our young fellas really stepped up with the first gamers really setting the standard,’’ Miles said.
“It sets us up for a big game against Federal next week when we get Matty (Campbell) back with his skill around the ball and leadership ability that always lifts the side.’’
In women’s football, competition debutants Federal impressed despite going down to two-time premier Alkamilya by five points.
Vanessa Stokes as a ruck-forward and Olivia Taylor in an on-ball role starred for the red and white jumpers.
Coach Anika Ferrari said her players had shocked the Alice Springs football public with the close loss in their first season in the women’s competition.
“They did not think we would go so well and to us, a loss like that is as good as a win in terms of what we can achieve this year,’’ Ferrari said.
In other games reigning premier Rovers beat Souths by 35 points and Pioneer outlasted last season’s grand finalists Wests by three points in a doubleheader at Albrecht Oval.
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Originally published as South Alice Springs and Pioneer open 2023 CAFL winning accounts
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