CAFL 2024: Pioneer men and West Alice Springs women earn entry into decider
A last-gasp goal in the final seconds of play has sent Pioneer into the CAFL decider, while the Wests women held off a late charge from their rivals. Read the latest CAFL action.
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Pioneer will play Federal in this week’s Senior Men’s Central Australia Football League grand final after a last gasp comeback win over Souths in the preliminary final.
A Kaleel Ross toe poke goal with 15 seconds left on the time clock won the game for Pioneer after they had trailed by 23 points at three quarter-time.
The 11.10 (76) to 11.9 (75) win sets up the fourth matchup between Pioneer and Federal in 2024, with Pioneer holding a 2-1 win-loss advantage after three classic encounters this season.
Pioneer won the Round 3 and 10 games by just five and three points, while Federal beat them by three goals in Round 15.
Saturday’s clash will be the first time the two clubs have met on the last day of the season since Federal won the 2016 premiership decider by 94 points.
All looked lost for Pioneer at the start of the last quarter after Souths played one of their best football of the season in the third term.
But the effort took its toll against the never-say-die Eagles, who rallied to kick four goals without reply to edge Souths out of a grand final berth.
Former North Melbourne star Adrian McAdam and Pioneer legend Steven Hayes have formed a joint coaching role this season in a move that could win the club’s 33rd Senior Men’s flag.
“We showed a bit of character in that last quarter combined with a lot of belief in one another after I told them we needed to get the first goal in that last quarter,” an elated McAdam said post match.
“Souths missed a couple of shots for goal in the last quarter and we were able to make the most of our opportunities at the other end, including Kaleel’s toe poke.
“Everyone did their bit in a real team effort and that’s what got us over the line.
“We can’t wait to play Feds next week, the rivalry with Souths is out of the road for now, so we can focus fully on Feds.”
Souths coach Chris Forbes was a devastated man post match after his side bowed out of the finals race.
Forbes had taken the Kangaroos to three previous grand finals without a win and was desperate to make it No. 4 at the expense of his club’s great rivals.
“As always Souths-Pioneer games can go either way regardless of how far you’re in front or behind and the footy gods didn’t smile on us this time,” he said.
“Footy’s a funny game and a cruel game where we started that last quarter one man down after a mix up on the bench and probably lost our discipline and focus on the ball after that.”
This year’s preliminary final was Forbes’ last in charge of the Kangaroos after guiding the blue and whites to three grand finals and regular finals football.
“I’ve got a masters degree to finish and something has got to give after I gave everything to footy for the last 12 years,” he said.
“I’ve coached all my kids, had a stint at Federal and now I need a break to enjoy life a bit and take a bit of stress off me.”
A committed West Alice Springs advanced to their third Senior Women’s grand final in as many years with a workmanlike nine-point win over a brave Pioneer.
The Lady Bloods stamped their authority in the first quarter when they kicked four goals to one to open up an 18-point lead.
But any thoughts of a one-horse race were quashed by the Eagles, who closed to within 13 points at the last change in what had become a hard fought finals match.
Pioneer kicked two goals to one in the last term but were unable to run down Wests, who want to make it third time lucky in pursuit of their first Senior Women’s flag.
Coach David James said his side’s 6.9 (45) to 5.6 (36) win was the result of a combined effort from every player in a black and red jumper.
“We knew Pioneer would come at us after our good start, they’re a proud club with a rich winning history and showed a lot of fight,’’ James added.
“For us, making another grand final comes down to the consistent leadership we’ve had at the club and consistent players coming through.
“Hopefully this is the year, we gave Rovers a good shot last time we played them, so it will be a really strong contest where we look forward to seeing what both teams can produce.”
Wests had several good players around the ground, including Meg McGuiness, Caitlin Couch and Harriet Scandol.
Federal make mark in blistering CAFL semi-final win
Reigning CAFL premier Federal turned on the power when they thrashed South Alice Springs by 80 points in the Senior Men’s major semi-final.
The Demons booted eight goals to two in the first half and another 11 to three in the last two quarters to turn the grand final qualifier into a one-horse race.
Dan Fenton kicked six goals across half forward and Laurence Schubert down back was impassable in Federal’s 19.9 (123) to 5.13 (43) win.
Assistant coach Izaac Ankers also praised wingman Jason Wilmot for his four-quarter performance as Federal aim for back-to-back flags.
“That was a good four quarter effort and now we focus on the grand final and another flag, it’s what you play this game for,” Ankers said.
Pioneer needed extra time to beat Rovers in a high quality first semi-final, a win that earned them a matchup with Souths in next week’s preliminary final.
The Eagles trailed at halftime but rallied in the last two quarters of the night game to tie the scores against a desperate Rovers at the full-time siren.
Pioneer’s experienced players then took charge, guiding the side to a 10.16 (76) to 9.10 (64) win in the two five-minute periods of extra time.
The win means the Adrian McAdam-Steven Hayes coached Pioneer are one game away from another grand final for Alice Springs’ most successful club.
McAdam said both sides had played genuine finals football in a contest where the winner advanced another week and the loser’s season was over.
“It was an awesome game, they led at halftime and made us earn every kick and we’re just happy to have another crack,” he added.
“We played well in extra time, particularly the second five minutes when we kicked a few goals to get in front.”
Jackson Cole through the middle was a valuable player for Pioneer, skipper Cheyne Miles was a colossus in the ruck and Kane Sevallos and James Bruce found plenty of the football.
Rovers took the short route to the Senior Women’s grand final when they beat a desperate West Alice Springs by one point in thrilling second semi-final.
Unbeaten coming in to the lunchtime game at Traeger Park, the Double Blues had to call on all of their courage and experience to hold off the fast finishing Lady Bloods.
Ella Slape in a ruck-utility role was superb for Rovers, who had kept Wests goalless for three quarters before the last quarter surge.
Forward Ebony Abbott-McCormack said the midday clash meant the Centralian heat and a desperate opposition made the semi-final a difficult assignment.
“They had a lot of ball in their forward line in that last quarter, held us goalless after halftime and could have won it with a shot after the siren,” she said.
“Fortunately for us the kick fell short and now we get a week’s rest before the grand final where we’ll play Wests or Pioneer.”
Experienced pair Caitlin Couch and Rachel Davine stood out for a Wests side who must beat the Eagles in the preliminary final to get another shot at Rovers in what would be the black and reds’ third successive grand final.
Harriet Scandol, Bree Baker and Med McGuinness were other big contributors.
Pioneer kicked away from defending premier Alkamilya in the first quarter of their elimination first semi-final and never looked back, despite a second quarter comeback by the Panthers.
The 12.7 (79) to 6.5 (41) win means Pioneer qualified for its first Senior Women’s decider since 2019.
The Eagles had lost narrowly to Alkamilya in the final home and away game with a reduced bench, but a full bench and plenty of determination among the players produced a different result in the semi-final.
“The players were very good from the first bounce and with a preliminary final our aim we were able to do the job,” Pioneer coach Hamish McDonald said.
“Obviously Samantha Hoogenween-Hill was a key player up forward and Esther Arabie as a forward-midfielder were good contributors with three goals each.”
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