Round 11 of the 2024 SunCable Barkly Australian Football League (BAFL) saw a division-wide bye for the women’s teams, leaving the men’s matches at Purkiss Reserve to capture all the attention. The weekend’s games brought significant shifts in the standings as teams made their final pushes towards the finals.
Ali Curung continued their pursuit of third-placed Spitfires with a decisive win over the Eagles. Nicky Poulson, a standout performer of the season, was exceptional once again, contributing two goals and a high volume of playmaking. Teammate Leeroy Barnes also notched two goals, further boosting Curung’s offensive efforts. Asten Ross maintained his impressive form, and Jack Aldridge delivered his best performance of the season.
Despite the loss, Eagle’s Michael Driver was commendable, displaying relentless effort throughout the game.
Epenarra’s hopes of a strong finish to the season took a hit with a loss to the top-ranked Elliott Hawks. Kurt Raymond was a key player, kicking four goals, while Lazarus Jones added three goals of his own. The Hawks’ Gary Hogan was dominant in midfield, disrupting the Saints’ game plan and contributing to their struggle. Antonio Sandy was also effective, and Jye Bill added a goal to his impressive game statistics.
For the Saints, Zedeiak Edwards showed resilience, and Jude Beasley was a notable contributor with four goals.
YDU maintained their position and helped keep the Spitfires in third place with a commanding 44-point victory. Ishmael Nandy was the star of the match, kicking an extraordinary nine goals. Clayton Hayes also shone with his exceptional ball use. The Spitfires initially led by eight points at quarter-time but fell behind as YDU gained momentum, closing the gap to a nine-point deficit at halftime.
The third quarter proved pivotal as YDU kicked four goals to one, solidifying their lead and continuing their dominance into the final term. YDU’s Jeremiah Charlie was precise with his kicking, and Stanley Waistcoat delivered a powerful performance, showcasing his potential as he gears up for the 2024/25 TIO NTFL Season.
