New look Federal continue dominant start to 2023 CAFL season

Federal and Alkamilya remain undefeated in their respective Central Australian Football League competitions after another pair of dominant wins. Here’s how the weekend of Red Centre footy played out.

A new-look Federal has grabbed the headlines in the Central Australian Football League by winning its first four games in the 2023 Senior Men’s competition.

The Centralian Demons, preliminary finalists in 2022, beat last season’s grand finalists South Alice Springs by 51 points in their Round 5 game to retain their unbeaten start under new coach Sam Laporta.

Their 19.10 (124) to 11.7 (73) win at Albrecht Oval means Laporta is yet to coach a losing side in his first season in charge.

“We’re going along okay, I’ll take a win like that any day,” Laporta said post match.

“We had a good spread of goalkickers where Shane Inkamala kicked another five goals and Jesiah Minor and myself got three.

“Shane Dorizzi between the centre and half forward was fantastic with his pressure all game and Robby Bartee in the midfield, together with ruckman Chris Atkinson were very good as well.”

Robby Bartee had a strong game for Federal against South Alice Springs. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT

Souths coach Chris Forbes said some poor discipline and the loss of two players to the sin-bin under the yellow card rule had hurt his side at crucial stages.

“But having a makeshift forward line when we went in without an established full forward and having a few big outs on the day also worked against us,” he added.

Reigning premier Pioneer reminded the rest of the competition of its class with a comprehensive nine-goal win over Rovers in their clash at Traeger Park.

Pioneer proved the old football adage that a winning midfield produces a winning side with a 16.10 (106) to 7.10 (52) triumph over a Rovers side that pushed them right to the wire.

Ethan Liddle, Kane Sevallos and acting captain Jackson Cole picked up a mountain of possession that gave their side first use of the football while creating several scoring chances further up the ground.

Veteran Eagle Matt Campbell said the win had not been a comfortable assignment despite the big difference on the scoreboard.

“Rovers really came at us in the second and third quarters before we got our act together in the last term to come away with a pretty good win,” Campbell added.

“We got back to concentrating on the football and what we were there for, which made a big difference in a game where the scoreboard didn’t tell the real story.”

Alkamilya continued its good form in the Senior Women’s competition when it beat last season’s grand finalist Wests by 47 points in their night clash at Albrecht Oval.

Kaitlyn Armstrong booted five goals in a dominant performance for the Panthers in the forward line while captain Kalisha Rioli put in a clinical four quarter performance.

Alkamilya continued its good form in the Senior Women’s competition in Round 5. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

Regan Maher was creative across half forward and under-16 debutant Nia Kenny found a lot of the football on a wing as one of three debut players on the day.

Stand-in coach Raymond Walters was impressed with his side’s finishing skills in the last quarter as they raced to a 5-0 start to the season in a bid to add to premierships in 2017, ‘18 and ‘21.

“It was a good win in weather that was not too cold despite it being a 6pm game,” Walters said.

Rovers came from behind to beat Pioneer by a point in a real heart stopper at Traeger Park.

Pioneer looked like winners when they booted three last quarter goals without reply to hit the front in the last minute of play.

But the Double Blues replied with a late goal to Delsey Campbell that grabbed back the lead with 20 seconds left on the clock.

Rovers were best served by Shannan King on a wing, Lucy Nicolia around the ball and Brylee Kerrin in a key forward post at centre half-forward.

South Alice Springs fell agonisingly short of a breakthrough win in their game against the high-flying Federal at Albrecht Oval.

Federal won by one point to record its third win of the club’s debut season, but Roos coach Dudley Clarke was rapt with his players’ performances.

“There were plenty of good signs out there against a good side in Federal, we can only go forward from here,’’ Clarke said.