NTFL champions Waratah beat CAFL rep side on the buzzer in AFL curtain raiser at TIO Stadium
Waratah clinched victory on the siren against a CAFL rep side that showed plenty of resolve late in a historic Darwin vs Alice Springs AFL curtain raiser.
AFL
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A Dom Booth goal on the final siren gave reigning NTFL premiers Waratah a five-point win over a desperately unlucky CAFL representative side at TIO Stadium on Saturday.
Booth’s goal secured a 9.2 (56) to 6.15 (51) win over the Centralians in a rematch that took 56 years to reconvene.
The CAFL led by a point with the timekeeper’s finger beginning to depress the button to signal the end of the match when Booth received a free kick in the goalsquare.
Tahs coach Ryan Ayres liked what he saw from both sides in what was a representative clash for the ages.
“It was a good contest all day after they sprayed a few chances early when they could have put a bit more scoreboard pressure on,” he said.
“We spoke about our ball use being the off-season and our fitness not being quite there, so we knew we had to use a bit of game sense and trying to control the tempo against a CAFL team in the middle of their season.
“All in all it’s a good concept playing an Alice versus Darwin game, it certainly worked this time.”
Waratah took advantage of the wide open spaces of TIO Stadium with some clever possession football in the opening quarter.
Smart positioning and use of the ball as opposed to a Centralian side who could not find a path to goal despite getting their hands on the football meant Tahs were always in front on the scoreboard in the first half.
The Centralians showed plenty of enthusiasm, with Abe Ankers prominent around the ball, Jackson Cole, playing coach Matt Campbell, Cheyne Miles and Kurt Abbott working hard around the ground and speedsters Robby Bartee and Kane Sevallos prominent.
Campbell was full of praise for his players for taking the NTFL premiers to within a kick of an historic win.
“We only had three training sessions together and even though we’re in season it’s always hard to gel with a new side,” he said.
“I know they had a lot of new blokes coming in, but they’re a club and they proved that by being pretty good with their workrate and contested footy in the first half.
“We put out a good side that proved itself, so we’ll go back to Alice, regroup and finish our season before we get ready for another one against the NTFL.”
Early goals to Tahs skipper Brodie Carroll from a set shot and a trademark snap by Tiwi Island young gun Dwayne Kerinaiua were highlights from the home side, who wore a predominantly white indigenous jumper for the interleague clash.
Kerinaiua’s second goal on the stroke of half time when he swooped on a loose ball and converted from a metre out shot Tahs to a big 26-point lead at the main break.
But two goals from Ankers, one of them a brilliant snap from the right forward pocket at the PINT Club end, breathed new life into the contest.
Ankers’ goal ignited a big 10 minutes for the CAFL, Robby Bartee’s 55 metre goal from in front of the old scoreboard bringing the Centralians to within 10 points of Tahs.
The third quarter ended with the yellow jumpers on top but unable to kick the vital fifth goal that would have had them breathing down Tahs’ necks at the last change.
Quick goals to Ankers, his fourth, and a snap from Eli Dayman lifted the CAFL into the lead for the first time when the last quarter got under way.
Darwin vs Alice rivalry reignited
The much talked about Alice Springs-Darwin sporting rivalry will be ignited this week when a combined Central Australian Football League side meets reigning NTFL premiers Waratah.
The occasion is a curtain-raiser match to the much anticipated Gold Coast-Adelaide Round 12 AFL clash that has the potential to decide the finals hopes of both sides.
Waratah will be without several premiership players for Saturday’s 3pm game due to southern league commitments and the Alice Springs side is missing key personnel due to injury and unavailability.
But opposing coaches Matt Campbell (CAFL) and Ryan Ayres (Waratah) are confident the importance of an AFL curtain-raiser and the pride involved in wearing their region’s jumpers will bring out the best in their players.
Premiership captain Brodie Carroll will lead Waratah into action, with Edward Morris, Tom Cree, Joel Crocker and James Arratta making up the players who beat Southern Districts in the NTFL grand final.
Ayres said the afternoon clash was all about opportunity for players from last season’s under-18 premiership side and the reserves grand final team and pride in wearing the Tahs jumper.
“This being the first CAFL game for how many years will drive the players and you never play a game of footy to lose,” he said.
“Then there is the pride in wearing the jumper, probably a big factor for the CAFL players as well, who have a great opportunity to put their competition on the map.”
Ayres will keep a keen eye on U18 premiership players Timmy and Dwayne Kerinaiua, who both starred in the heart-stopping two-point win over St Mary’s in Tahs’ grand final win.
“There’s quite a few boys who have stayed in town since the Premier League grand final and remember our reserves played off in the grand final and our under-18s won the flag, so it gives us a good group of players to choose from,” Ayres said.
“Timmy Kerinaiua and Dwayne Kerinaiua were superstars in the 18s grand final win over St Mary’s and will definitely play for us.”
Campbell, the former North Melbourne goalkicker, said the return of a genuine CAFL representative side picked from the five Senior Men’s competition, made Saturday’s game an important milestone for the Centralians.
“Any time you play in a rep game is an opportunity to showcase your best talent and the best way to do that is to win,” he said.
The CAFL hasn’t faced off against a true NTFL rep side since 1984, in a match played at Traeger Park.
On that occasion the late Tom Lawler was judged best on ground after scoring five goals for the side which included David Ross, Kevin and Gus Wanganeen.
St Mary’s stars Noel Long, Ted Liddy, Damien Berto and Cadji Dunn also featured in the NTFL team.
“We’ve picked the side from blokes who want to play footy for the love of their town and the game itself, they’re the players we want to reward and I’m sure they’ll play their hearts out for the Alice,” Campbell said.
Eight-time CAFL leading goalkicker Thomas Gorey, high flying Pioneer star Shawn Foster, in-form Federal spearhead Shane Inkamala and other big names in Daniel Stafford and Dylan Barry will miss the game through injury and unavailability.
Reigning premier Pioneer has seven players in the squad and this season’s ladder leaders Federal eight in a show of strength and intent from CAFL selectors.
CAFL rep side to face NTFL premiers in historic AFL curtain raiser
For the first time in over a decade a CAFL representative side will be formed to take on NTFL premiers Waratah in what promises to be an epic AFL curtain raiser at TIO Stadium.
The match will be played on June 3 as a curtain raiser for the Gold Coast Suns second Darwin match against the Adelaide Crows.
It comes after a VFL match was confirmed as the curtain raiser for the Suns match against the Western Bulldogs for May 27 at TIO Stadium.
The CAFL, which is now back to normal operations after a three-month standoff with the Alice Springs Council, has a rich history of on-field champions.
Former North Melbourne player and AFLNT Academy coach Matt Campbell will coach the CAFL rep side in their first outing since 2008.
“It’s a massive opportunity for local players to showcase not only their talent, but also the talent across the CAFL,” Campbell said.
“Being able to pull on the CAFL guernsey for the first time in a long time will be a great recognition for players and will bring lots of excitement.”
They will take on Waratah, who finally broke their 23-year NTFL premiership drought in March after beating minor premiers Southern Districts.
The CAFL won by 60 points last time these sides met at Anzac Oval in 1967 with Lenny ‘The Bear’ O’Brien and Surfy Battista judged the best on ground on the day.
And while Waratah are off-season, with a lot of their players playing interstate, coach Ryan Ayres his squad would be taking the match seriously.
One of the big connections between the two squads is Abe Ankers who has long been a stalwart of both Waratah in the NTFL and Federal in the CAFL.
“We have strong connections through Alice Springs and know how proud they are of their competition,” Ayres said.
“Our players will enjoy being part of the AFL stage, and seeing the CAFL logo back in representative duties.”
Head of AFLNT Sam Gibson welcomed the CAFL rep side back for what promised to be an exciting match.
“Representative fixtures are a great way to showcase and celebrate the clubs, leagues and communities that are at the forefront of community football across the NT,” Gibson said.
“We saw it last year with a fantastic game between teams from Gove and the Tiwi Islands and we’re really excited to see it this year with the CAFL taking on Waratah.”
Further information around match times and ticket information will be released in the coming weeks.
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