Double Blues eye a fourth consecutive CAFL flag after come from behind win over Pioneer

Rovers eye a CAFL fourpeat for the first time since Wests’ triumphant march from 2004-07

Rovers' Shaun Edwards flies for a big mark against Pioneer. Picture: Charlie Lowson

ANOTHER Central Australian Football League major semi-final beckons for Rovers after a tough 19-point win over traditional rivals Pioneer.

The double blue jumpers trailed at quarter and three quarter time to a ferocious Pioneer who were also hunting the double chance.

Rovers won the game in the last quarter when they booted five goals to Pioneers’ two.

Key forwards Nigel Lockyer Jr and Tosh Kunoth kicked nine goals between them in a 13.9 (87) to 10.8 (68) win.

Coach Damien Hall was left contemplating what might have been despite the win.

“We probably won more contested ball than them but we didn’t quite capitalise as much as we would have liked,’’ Hall told the NT News.

“The smaller ground at Albrecht didn’t help us as we tried to give our forwards more space to move in.

Rovers were best served by Cameron Glover running off half back and Gareth Remfrey through the middle.

The win lifts Rovers a game plus percentage ahead of Federal and two games clear of the in-form Pioneer.

They have a bye in this weekend’s final round before the finals series kicks off in the first week of September.

The finals were scheduled to be played from August 29, but the AFL clash between Melbourne and St Kilda in Alice has changed all that.

Federal are likely to be Rovers’ second semi-final opponents after the Demons beat a brave Wests by 33 points.

Kimberley product Waylon Manson made a surprise appearance for Federal, booting five goals and creating havoc with the Wests defence.

Wests did give Federal a fright in the third quarter when they kicked five goals to three to close to within 14 points

Coach Dave Thomas was pleased with what he saw after consecutive losses to Rovers and Pioneer despite the third quarter lapse.

“It’s become a bit of a theme where we’re switching off for a quarter every game,’’ he said.

“But it was good to be challenged and the boys responded pretty well to a Westies side playing some good footy.’’

Thomas said his players had got some form and self belief back from the solid win.

Abe Ankers through the middle was again the best of a young Federal side.

Thomas also praised Manson and Copelan Ford for their match contributions.