AS the football season moves into finals, the New Norfolk District Football Club takes the opportunity to congratulate the Southern Football League (SFL) and its member clubs for their persistence and effort in working through all the issues COVID-19 presented and pushing for a successful return to grassroots football.
“The league and all clubs should be proud of this significant achievement and the number of supporters attending games clearly demonstrates how highly-valued grassroots football is in local communities,” NNDFC Vice President Chris Lovell said. “AFL Tasmania should also be thanked for their support and assistance to the SFL and all member clubs in these difficult times.
“While spectators are no longer able to access the playing surface to listen to coach instructions or to have a kick during the breaks and other restrictions including social distancing and limits on numbers in wet areas has impacted many spectators, we have still managed good attendances at all games. We thank all our supporters for their continued support and patience as our volunteers worked through the significant and strict requirements placed on us to enable the season to evolve.“
The club also thanks all its volunteers for their work over the season and on game days to ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions and to make the home games a success. “There are way too many to name individually, but you know we greatly appreciate you all. We also sincerely thank our sponsors listed below who have stuck with us during these difficult times,” Mr Lovell said.
SPONSORS: Derwent Real Estate, Dyson Painters, Andrew Clarke, Barwick’s Landscape Supplies, Norske Skog, Banjos Bakery Café, New Norfolk Hotel, The Midway Tavern, Junction Motel, Senator Claire Chandler, Guy Barnett MHA, Brian Mitchell MHR, Derwent Valley Council, Graham Family Funerals, Brendan Wigg Joinery, Craig Farrell MLC, Co-Op Toyota, Colonial Motors, Auslec, Barry Triffitt, Bennett’s Petroleum, Derwent Valley Glass, New Norfolk Taxis, NNDFC Old Players Association, NDFC Sheep Manure Group, Squincher, Ulrich Aluminium and the Tasmanian Government.
This Saturday the New Norfolk senior side will play Cygnet in the qualifying final at Cygnet at 2pm. The reserves play Claremont in the elimination final at Cygnet at 11.45am. On Sunday, the colts have their final game of the home and away season, meeting Huonville at Huonville at 3pm.
MATCH REPORTS
SENIORS: New Norfolk eagles got home by seven points in a tight finish over a determined Sorell in the final roster game of the season at a windy by sunny Pembroke Park last Saturday. The win came at something of a cost as the Eagles needed to record a percentage-boosting win to stay second on the ladder to maintain a home final. Instead they have to go south to play Cygnet on its home ground after Port’s big win over Hobart.
New Norfolk jumped out of the blocks early with the assistance of a 3-4 goal breeze to the bottom end of the ground, with full forward Marcus Parker taking some strong marks and bagging three goals in the first term. Jye Bearman looked sharp early, along with Jamie Sokolski and Tyson Eiszele at the centre bounces, while Sorell was well served by Tim Castle and Jack Johnson. New Norfolk opened with Josh Farrow at centre half back and giving the visitors some great rebound from defence, along with Brayden Chaplin who was in everything across half forward. New norfolk had the game on its terms at quarter time, booting 6.8 (44) to Sorell’s 1.2 (8).
The second term belonged to the home side as it made good use of the breeze and slammed on seven goals and kept New Norfolk scoreless for the quarter. Jason Klok was on fire across half forward for Sorell, creating many opportunities as he kicked a goal along with Billy Pace who bagged two. Tim Castle, Dylan Peart and Braydon Mayne were gathering numerous possessions and winning the ball from the centre bounces and around the ground. Young New Norfolk on-baller Tyson Eiszele suffered a bad shoulder injury and had to leave the ground, which left his side with three players on the bench for the rest of the game. Sorell was gaining confidence and took over at the stoppages around the ground, with many forward entries, and was handling the ball a lot cleaner than New Norfolk in the windy conditions. Sorell went into the half-time break with a 10 point lead. Sorell 8.6 (54) to New Norfolk 6.8 (44).
Eagles coach Josh Clifford was disappointed with his charges and stressed how important a win was for their finals prospects. He needed every player to lift for the second half. Sorell started well in the third term as the dangerous Jason Klok goaled for the home side as they went out to a 16 point lead early in the third term and it looked like a possible upset was looming. Many New Norfolk players were down on form and it took a much needed goal 40m out from the experienced Bryan Chaplin to kickstart the visitors’ second half.
Jye Bearman sharked the footy from a boundary throw in and snapped a great goal followed by another goal from onballer Jamie Dokolski right on the three-quarter-time siren which New Norfolk a 13-point lead at the final break. New norfolk 10.14 (74) to Sorell 9.7 (61).
New Norfolk faced a big challenge in the final term as it was kicking against the breeze, with Sorell kicking to the main scoring end for the afternoon and it looked like it could result in a possible upset for the visitors. New Norfolk opened the quarter with goals to Marcus Parker and Josh Clifford but the home side replied with two quick goals.
New Norfolk onballer and captain Jacob Wigg was instrumental in clearing the ball from the centre bounce area along with Jamie Sokolski who was the team’s best four-quarter player. Jye Bearman had another outstanding game and vice captain Jordan Banks-Smith was also a great contributor.
New Norfolk had a number of shots at goal but registered only minor scores, which gave them a handy 13-point buffer at the 20-minute mark, but Sorell continued to attack and had the ball in its forward line a number of occasions until they snapped a goal to draw within seven points. The New Norfolk back six had everything thrown at them in the final term and held up well under extreme pressure as they bottled up the play a number of times and continued to clear the ball at crucial stages.
To New Norfolk’s credit it managed to hang on in an afternoon it would prefer to forget and move into the first week of the finals. They just got home 12.18 (90) to Sorell’s 12.11 (83). Now New Norfolk heads south to take on Cygnet at its home ground in what should be a bumper clash. When they they last met the scores were almost even at three-quarter time before the Port drew away in the final term. So all you Eagles footy fans out there, make sure you get along to the qualifying final and support the New Norfolk District Football Club. Go Eagles.
WAYNE WALKER
RESERVES: In what seemed to be perfect conditions at Pembroke Park on Saturday, New Norfolk took on last-placed Sorell in a game that would consolidate fourth position on the ladder. With a breeze favouring the bottom end of the ground New Norfolk managed to keep Sorell in check and went into quarter-time with a slender one-point lead. After quarter-time it was a very inaccurate New Norfolk outfit which blew Sorell out of the water with another 14.18 to run out convincing winners by 82 points. A good all-round performance by New Norfolk has consolidated fourth position on the ladder and given them a great lead into finals.
GREG CHAPLIN
COLTS: After a strong win against equal-bottom-placed Claremont the previous week, the boys lined up against equal-bottom-placed Sorell at Pembroke Park last Saturday. It was a very disappointing day for the young Eagles in what was possibly their worst performance for the season with very few positives. With the exception of Riley Blackaby, the boys were well beaten all over the ground by a Sorell outfit that had more
desire to win the football. Sorell finally ran out convincing winners by 58 points. With one roster game left for the season, the boys will need to regroup before entering finals.
GREG CHAPLIN
