South Alice Springs and Alkamilya remain top of the CAFL after a thrilling third round

South Alice Springs and Alkamilya have continued to tear up the CAFL comp with both sides pulling off dominant Round 3 wins. See all the action from the 2023 CAFL season here.

South Alice Springs has maintained its winning start to the 2023 Central Australian Football League season, while Alkamilya stayed on top of the women’s table after another big round.

Round 3 was also notable for Red Centre football’s return to Traeger Park with the Federal and Rovers clubs playing men’s and women’s matches at the sacred ground.

It ended a three-week standoff between the Town Council and the AFLNT on the use of the crown jewel of Alice Springs sport for Australian football.

The Kangaroos, who lost a thrilling grand final to Pioneer eight months ago, jumped out of the blocks early and continued their hard at the ball approach to win 19.17 (131) to 8.2 (50) over a brave Wests.

Souths had several good players, including Josh Wallace in the ruck who dominated at centre bounces and around the ground.

Issaha Forbes down back, fellow defender Taylem Stubbs, who is the son of Souths legend Darren Talbot, and Marcus Hamilton through the middle were other stand out players for the blue and whites.

South Alice Springs have won their opening three matches of the 2023 CAFL season. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

The forward line fired with a 19-goal return, Thomas Gorey booted his second haul of six goals, and Pioneer recruit Thomas Swan kicked five of his own from the wing to justify South’s determination to get him into their side.

Roos coach Chris Forbes is looking forward to next week’s grand final rematch against Pioneer.

“We’re definitely looking to atone for last year’s (five-point) loss in what is a season of redemption for us,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Wests had some good contributors with Sam Mader, Paddy Hannigan and Jayden Dick getting their hands on the football against a wave of blue and white jumpers.

Federal joined Souths at the top of the Senior Men’s ladder with a comprehensive 66-point win over Rovers in Saturday’s twilight game at Traeger Park.

First year coach Sam LaPorta watched his side play four quarters of football against a Rovers side coming off a big win over Wests seven days earlier.

Mitch Pemberton through the middle and forwards Shane Inkamala (six goals) and Eli Daymon (five) dominated for the red and whites, who recorded back-to-back wins with their 16.10 (106) to 5.10 (40) triumph.

“We had a good, even spread of players, no passengers and a four-quarter effort from the team,’’ LaPorta said post match.

Rovers coach Charlie McAdam saw some positives in the loss, pointing to the form of Royce and Shayden Close and Jayden Clayfield, down back, and later up forward, as good signs for the Double Blues.

In Senior Women’s football the Alkamilya Panthers won their third match in a row by beating Pioneer by 30 points.

The Alkamilya Panthers have enjoyed a dominant start to the 2023 CAFL season. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

Alkamilya’s 6.10 (46) to 2.4 (16) win in its night game at Albrecht Oval again highlighted the smart coaching of Cyril Rioli Jr and his staff as the Panthers went to three from three.

Federal’s first season in senior company continued with a gutsy come-from-behind win over reigning women’s champions Rovers.

The Demons won a close contest 4.4 (28) to 3.2 (20) after trailing at the main break, while Danika McDonald in defence, Vanessa Stokes in her customary ruck role and Charlotte Rudd through the middle were all prominent players for Federal.

Coach Anika Ferrari said the second half turnaround was due to a big change in attitude.

“We got a bit of mongrel about us after playing some good footy in the first half but not getting the results we wanted,” she said.

“We wanted that feeling we got last weekend when we beat Rovers and this win shows we can achieve that.’’

Last year’s grand finalists, Wests, beat Souths by 20 points to stay a game behind Alkamilya in second place on the ladder.

Souths pushed the Bloods hard in the last quarter, but it was vice-captain Rachel Davine’s hard running and intercept play on a wing, Georgia Calub’s hard work in the ruck and Hannah Murdoch’s good work in front of goals that steered Wests home.

CAFL’s newest coaches claimed first wins in Round 2

First year coaches Sam LaPorta and Charlie McAdam got their first wins in the Central Australia Football League when senior men’s sides Federal and Rovers won their Round 2 matches on Saturday.

On a day and night when scoreboard and light tower failures at Albrecht Oval added to the match worries of opposing coaches, last season’s preliminary finalists Federal gave LaPorta a successful start to his CAFL coaching career.

The Demons beat reigning premier Pioneer by 28 points to avenge their preliminary final loss to the Eagles seven months ago.

Shane Inkamala showed he will again be an asset for the red and whites with a six-goal haul as his side beat a lack of lighting in their 5pm clash and no score updates.

Abe Ankers around the ground, Ned Gaynor and Joey Smith also found plenty of the football in Federal’s 16.4 (100) to 11.6 (72) win.

LaPorta pointed to an even spread of good players and potency at both ends of the ground as catalysts in his side’s win.

“Our backline was fantastic and with Shane kicking goals it turned into a good game with everyone contributing,’’ he said.

Abe Ankers has committed to Federal for the 2023 CAFL season. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

Rovers gave first year coach Charlie McAdam something to smile about when the Double Blues beat a brave but undermanned West Alice Springs by 96 points in their 2pm game at Jim McConville Oval.

Rovers were beaten by an identical margin in the opening round against last season’s grand finalists Souths, but their second outing under McAdam produced a different result.

McAdam was left to ponder the ups and downs of Australian football after his side went from chewing on boiled lollies a week ago to devouring Swiss chocolate in the senior men’s competition.

“We got the sharp end last week, but footy’s like a rollercoaster in terms of emotion and what happens out on the field,’’ a happy McAdam said post match.

“One week you’re up and the next you’re down, and I can only thank the fellas for answering the call the way they did in a performance that certainly impressed the Rovers people off the field.

“We started really well and executed exactly the way I wanted, they’re all really coachable players that makes my job easy in terms of a footy club.”

The 20.9 (129) to 4.9 (33) win means Rovers’ percentage climbs back to 100 and lifts them into the top four.

Rovers have won their first match of the 2023 CAFL season. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

McAdam was full of praise for first gamer Tyreeq AhFat, who dominated the ruck position by giving his teammates first use of the ball and controlling the aerial contests.

“Tyreeq’s a basketballer who filled a role we struggled in last week by dominating around the ground, while recruit Shayden Close continued his good form from the first round by booting five goals,” he added.

In women’s football competition rookies Federal is celebrating its first win in the senior competition after beating the highly fancied Pioneer.

Coach Anika Ferrari said her players were “very proud’’ of their achievement in only their second appearance in a league game against an experienced opponent like Pioneer.

“Every player found something on a night when the club led by a couple of points for most of the game, it was a real nailbiter for both clubs,’’ she added.

Vanessa Stokes in the ruck and Olivia Taylor around the ball were again Federal’s best players.

West Alice Springs won the grand final rematch when they disposed of Rovers by 48 points.

The Bloods’ 7.12 (54) to 1.0 (6) win was due to Chelsey Nelson’s dominance through the middle, Jess Harnischfeger’s three goals up forward and Rach Davine’s big possession game in an on-ball role.

Alkamilya beat Souths in their lunchtime game at Albrecht Oval to be the only unbeaten side after two rounds.

Originally published as South Alice Springs and Alkamilya remain top of the CAFL after a thrilling third round