Winning double for Gunnedah AFC, Edwards adds extra dimension

Gunnedah and District AFC recorded two wins in their penultimate, round 11, respective AFL North West competition matches at the weekend.

Played at Tamworth’s Riverside complex, due to torrential rain during that week, both matches were shifted to Tamworth’s back-up Riverside ground, due to excess water laying over the city’s regular AFL base Bicentennial Park, Number One oval.

Unperturbed by the shift of venue, The Poochettes continued their utter dominance on the Women’s competition, thumping the Kangaroos women to the tune of 59 points, 64 to 3.

Proceeding that, the Bulldogs men chalked their fourth, and most impressive win of the season.

Contributed by an even spread of ever growing youth, experience in front of goal through the Bulldogs club’s legendary leading goal kicker Mark Ewington, and a star x-factor player with the return of midfielder Hayden Edwards – a joker in the Bulldogs pack heading into the clutch stages of the season – had the major influences on their 65-point, 132-67 win over the Kangaroos men.

For the Bulldogs men, it ensures they are assured of finals action in season 2024, a first for the Bulldogs since their undefeated premiership season of 2020 four years ago.

After jumping out to a 26-point, 37-11 lead after the first quarter, the Bulldogs kept their foot on the throat for the second term, extending the margin to 50 points, ahead 79-29 by the main half time break.

Although the Kangaroos hit back in the third term – contributed by six minor scores from running and set shots at goal by the Bulldogs – to kick four to the Bulldogs solitary major, the first half assertion of the Bulldogs had them well in control of the match, ahead 92-57 by three quarter time.

From there, it was a formality, and in an impressive all round performance, the Bulldogs pulled away comprehensively when slamming home six majors for the last term, in the process running out convincing 65-point winners, 132-67.

Ewington was the main threat in attack with five majors, but contributions from across the side were evident as Edwards, Eamon Martin and Jakob Vearing all kicked truly for three majors apiece, while Liam Naismith booted a brace, combining with Adam Curgenven, Darcy Hill and Alisdair Hewitt, also chiming in for the Bulldogs to hit the scoreboard with majors.

Coach Jakob Vearing was impressed with the win, singling out one contributing factor for the side’s win leading into the finals series.

“Hayden (Edwards) returning from injury added an extra dimension into our attack,” Vearing said.

“He’s only played 10 minutes all year but could be a big asset coming into finals.”

A Victorian native, Edwards impressed on the weekend – a natural attacking spark in the midfield with the ability to hit the scoreboard but importantly, creates a nice blend for fellow midfielders and wingers such as Adam Curgenven, Darcy Hill, Mason Louis and Tom Carlyon, affording them time and space to operate at optimum capacity in their selective roles.

A factor Vearing reiterated as crucial to the influence the Bulldogs had on the scoreboard at the weekend.

“We really controlled the pace of the game and started to change the way we attacked with Hayden’s influence,” he said.

“In turn, that created a wide spread of goal scorers.”

He was also full of praise for the teenage youngsters in his side.

“The youth stood up once again, learning to use the width of the field and further developed their understanding of the game,” he said.

“Mason (Louis) continues to develop rapidly, and Eamon (Martin) is picking it up quickly.

“Played his (Martin’s) best game today.”

With finals approaching, the Bulldogs are looking to having one of their strongest sides of the year – something that is exciting for both the club and Vearing.

“Anything can happen and we are looking to challenge the number two side in the prelim (preliminary final),” Vearing said.

That is certain to be the Tamworth Swans, who the Bulldogs will play this weekend, in what is essentially a dead rubber fixture.

But not for Vearing, who is eager for his side to continue its progression, hoping to time the peak of their season to perfection in the coming weeks.

“Anything can happen in finals, but it starts this week and we need to back up last weekend again this weekend,” he said.

“It will be another learning curve for the boys and I’m excited for them to get a taste of finals footy as the footy goes up another level.”

For the Poochettes, it was almost as case of groundhog day in relation to how their season has transpired, obliterating their Kangaroos opposition from start to finish.

They kept their opposition scoreless, barring four minor scores for the Kangaroos across the four quarters, for the entirety of the match, in the process piling on eight majors of their own in the process.

In a thus far undefeated season, coach John Woolaston continues to move the magnets for his side, exemplified with Macey Carlyon and Beccy Wilson bobbing up in the forward line at the weekend, playing different roles for the side this week in attack, kicking two goals apiece as the multiple major kickers for the side.

Poochettes stalwarts Katrina Rekenow, Zoe Palmer and young gun Breanna Ward also booted majors in their 59-point thrashing of the Kangaroos.

Representative midfielder and half back flanker, Casey O’Connell, continued her impressive return to footy this season, following a break through maternity last season and was named as best on ground for the Poochettes.

Round 12, and the last of the regular season competition, will see the Poochettes and Bulldogs tackle the other Tamworth side in the league, Tamworth Swans at Wolseley Oval, Gunnedah, this Saturday.

Beccy Wilson was strong on ground again for the Poochettes women’s side.