CAFL 2024: Pioneer claim big win against West Alice Springs in Round 11

Pioneer shot to top spot after their dual forwards combined for 14 goals, while an Alkamilya spearhead rocketed her side to a win with 11 majors. Catch the latest CAFL action.

A powerful forward duo combined for 14 goals to give Pioneer a temporary grip of top spot on the CAFL ladder after the side beat West Alice Springs by 75 points at Traeger Park.

The Eagles gained the services of Papunya sharpshooter Marcus McDonald from Federal earlier in the week and watched him kick seven goals in a spectacular debut in the familiar green and gold jumper.

McDonald and Kimberley goalkicker Waylon Manson (also seven goals) kicked 14 of Pioneer’s 20 goals in their defeat of Wests, breaking the game open in a seven-goal to two first quarter.

Eagles’ joint coach Adrian McAdam said McDonald had contacted Pioneer with a request to don the green and gold jumper.

“We did the appropriate paperwork during the week and Marcus is our player now and we’re pleased to have him with his goal kicking abilities and great skills,” McAdam said.

It was Pioneer’s third win in a row since the competition took a break for two weeks due to the Melbourne-Fremantle AFL game and the Finke Desert Race.

Marcus McDonald scored seven goals on his debut for Pioneer in the 2024 CAFL season. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

Meanwhile, Rovers coach John Glasson was a happy chap after his players beat Souths by 37 points in Saturday’s late game at Traeger Park.

The Double Blues led from the first bounce and went to a five-goal lead at the main break before a match winning third quarter sealed the result.

Rovers slammed through seven goals to three in the “championship quarter” in a classy display that makes them a serious threat to win the 2024 flag.

They had 10 players contribute to the goal kicking tally in a big reminder the 18 men in blue jumpers are playing for each other.

“We’ve been building collectively as a group, but the win was certainly right up there with last week’s win in what was a continuation of that performance,” Glasson said.

Darren Abbott celebrated his 250th senior game with Rovers and Souths with a best on ground performance in the 17.11 (113) to 11.10 (76) win over the highly rated Souths.

Lucas Ross in defence and big marking Adam Cullen in a key forward role with occasional runs in defence were other good players in the Double Blues’ third win of the season.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Armstrong’s 11 goals stood out in a commanding performance for reigning premier Alkamilya against bottom-of-the-ladder Souths on Friday night.

The CAFL Panthers won by exactly 100 points on the back of Armstrong’s heroics in front of goals, a win that consolidated fourth spot on the ladder with seven rounds left in the home and away season.

Shaniya Cooper and Chrissie Davis were other major contributors in a win generated by a lightning seven-goal to nil first quarter where coach Raymond Walters’ insistence on quick movement of the football was carried out to the letter.

Kaitlyn Armstrong, pictured playing for St Mary’s, scored 11 goals for Alkamilya. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Rovers machine continues to operate at full capacity in women’s football following the Senior Women’s side’s 73-point win over a scoreless Federal.

The Double Blues built on a 42-point halftime lead to win 10.13 (73) to nil against the Demons in what was their seventh win from as many starts in the 2024 CAFL season.

Lara Harding, Carly Wilson and Maggie Johnson were foundation stones in a game where the blue jumpers dominated for three of the four quarters.

West Alice Springs cemented second position by winning their fourth win in as many starts with a hard fought 42-point win over Pioneer.

Rachel Davine, Jessica Harnischfeger and Kelsey Squire found plenty of the football against the tenacious Demons, who did not score over the journey.