AFL North Coast’s dominance against the Tamworth competition continued on Saturday as it recorded a 31-point win at Port Macquarie.
The margin didn’t do the game justice, though, as AFL North Coast had to fight doggedly to beat the visitors 18.7 (115) to 11.18 (84).
North Coast coach Peter Chadwick said it was a tough representative match in the early stages, but his team eventually regrouped to win.
“We were blown off the park in the early stages,” Chadwick said.
“They were just so quick and fit, and they took an early lead.
“We had to change the pace of the game and slowly pegged them back, but at the start of each quarter they kept coming out with their running game and we just had to slow things down to our style of play.”
Chadwick singled out Port Macquarie’s Jessie Schmidt as the North Coast’s best player.
He was well supported by the likes of Mackenlay Pearce, Daniel Johnson and Mark Couzens.
Tamworth coach Tom Granleese said poor kicking at goal cost the Power their chance.
“It all goes down to errant goal-kicking,” he said.
“That was disappointing.
“If we had kicked straight we would have rolled them.
“Unfortunately we didn’t make the most of our opportunities because we played well all over the ground.
“We just had a couple of lapses in the second and third quarters when they (North Coast) kicked most of their goals.
“Apart from that, the boys gave a real good account of themselves.
“No doubt the North Coast boys will know that was a game they got away with.”
