West Alice Springs beats Pioneer in CAFL Round 4

West Alice Springs pulled off the upset of the season when they beat the ladder leaders, their first win in the CAFL in two seasons. Catch up on all the Round 4 action here.

West Alice Springs are in celebratory mode after snapping a two-year winning drought in the Central Australian Football League’s Senior Men’s competition.

The Bloods caused the upset of the season when they beat Pioneer by 22 points in their Round 4 clash at Albrecht Oval.

Their 15.3 (93) to 10.11 (71) win after leading at every change was the club’s first since the 2022 season.

Coach Ben Ellis had a smile as wide as Heavitree Gap at the final siren, saying the win was a credit to his players’ ability to win the contested ball and make the most of their opportunities in front of goal.

“It was a good day for the red and black after the Bombers won in the AFL and our reserves won by 100 points,’’ Ellis said.

“Everyone contributed, I even played today, and Travis Smith with six goals and Anthony Lew Fatt with four more were important for us up forward.

“Tanner Coulthard’s work out of the middle was very good as well as we start to focus on building the club’s culture and having fun doing it.’’

West Alice Springs have won their first game in two years with Anthony Lew-Fatt kicking four goals against Pioneer in Round 4 of the 2024 CAFL season. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

Pioneer came back to earth after three straight wins to start the season under joint coaches Adrian McAdam and Steven Hayes.

“There are no excuses from us, we put players out on the ground who should be performing if they want to stay in the side,’’ a disappointed McAdam said.

“Yet we probably played one quarter and that was in the last when we outscored them, so it wasn’t a good day for us.’’

Last season’s grand finalists Souths unveiled 16-year-old rising star Duron Davis in the Kangaroos’ 14.10 (94) to 7.11 (53) win over Rovers at Jim McConville Oval.

Davis showed all the skills of a veteran in his debut for the blue and whites to be the best player on the ground while playing a variety of roles in defence, across the wing, up forward and in the ruck.

Coach Chris Forbes was happy to get the Roos’ first win of the season against a Rovers side he rates highly with their playing depth and hardness at the ball.

“The scoreboard might say we’ve won by a fair bit, but we had to work hard for the four points which is a credit to Rovers and the system they’ve got under their new coach,’’ he said.

“We worked together as a unit to get the job done with seven outs from last week’s side.

“We gave two 16-year-olds in Duron and Leathan Rubuntja their A-grade debuts after their form in the under-18s and they both played very well.

“Duron was the best on ground in his debut game, showing a lot of the senior players how to play the game, Josh Wallace in the ruck and down back was very good and Henry Impu on a wing found a lot of the football.’’

In the Senior Women, a 10-goal haul by Rovers centre half-forward Ebony Abbott-McCormack steered the Double Blues to top position on the ladder.

Their 19.14 (128) to 1.0 (6) win against a young Souths side also maintained the club’s unbeaten 3-0 start to the season alongside Pioneer.

Jasmine Boyers of Alkamilya was a standout in her sides first win of the season. Picture: Sideline Photography - Dayna and Cyril Sports Photography

Senior coach Renee Smith said healthy numbers on the training track and a strong will to win had lifted the enjoyment factor among the players.

“That showed again this week when we averaged five goals a quarter with some very good forward play, Ebony leading the side with her 10 goals,’’ Smith said.

Midfield pair Armani Francois and Brylee Kerrin also impressed in the 122-point win.

Reigning premier Alkamilya won its first game in three starts when the Panthers beat Federal by 17 points.

Alkamilya lost key on-baller Maria Rioli to a knee injury in the third quarter, but did enough with the football to kick 7.2 (44) to the Demons’ 4.3 (27).

Jasmine Boyers was superb in a defensive role for the Panthers and Kalisha Rioli through the midfield was a big contributor.

Kaitlyn Armstrong returned to full forward where she kicked five goals to be high up in the best players for Alkamilya.

Jayde Imber and Alana Chalmers were the best for Federal, who finished full of running by outscoring their opponents in the last quarter.