In what was a thrilling super Saturday of representative matches, the Central Australian Football League (CAFL) representative side faced off against St Mary’s for the second re-instalment of CAFL representative footy, in what promised to be an intense sequel to the previous five-point thriller between CAFL and Waratah last year.
Proudly supported by Yeperenye Shopping Centre, it was clear from the outset that momentum heavily favoured the CAFL side as they surged ahead, although initially struggling to convert chances with five behinds before Kynan Barnes broke through with the first goal of the match after nine minutes, quickly followed by a second. The early dominance suggested one-way traffic, but St Mary's soon found their rhythm. Joshua Heath ignited their campaign with a crucial goal, swiftly followed by Jack Musgrove's contribution just moments later.
The second quarter witnessed a turning point as the floodgates opened in favour of the CAFL, who managed three goals to St Mary's one. The footy resided predominantly in the CAFL's forward half, driven by stellar performances from Kane Sevallos, Deacon Braun, and Orlando Turner. Their fast-paced, direct ball movement left St Mary's transition defence scrambling.
Halftime arrived with the CAFL holding a commanding 35-point lead, but it was the third quarter where they truly stamped their authority. Jackson Cole and Shaydan Close orchestrated play with precision, setting up Marcus McDonald who capitalized with five goals for the match. A dominant six-goal onslaught left St Mary's reeling and struggling to find answers.
Players like Daniel Gorry and Braydon Weily shone brightly for the CAFL, contributing to a comprehensive team effort that left head coach Matt Campbell understandably proud of his side's complete performance.
Despite a lopsided final score, St Mary's demonstrated resilience and determination throughout their clash against the CAFL representatives. Ethan Bush and Zac Robinson exemplified this spirit, tirelessly working on the field despite the challenges they faced.
For St Mary's captain, Jackson Calder, known as one of the NTFL's premier goal kickers, it proved to be a tough outing as he managed only two points on the day. Meanwhile, Parker Fawcett displayed his versatility by playing across various positions—from the forward line to the midfield and even in defence.
The final quarter saw the CAFL extend their lead further with an impressive eight-goal blitz, contrasting with St Mary's solitary behind. As the clock wound down, celebrations erupted among the CAFL players, reflecting their satisfaction with the performance.
In recognition of their standout performances, Kane Sevallos was rightfully awarded best on ground for the CAFL representatives, as decided by opposing coaches Matt Campbell and Anthony Vallejo. On the St Mary's side, Ethan Bush received honours for his commendable efforts throughout the match.
AFL Northern Territory would like to thank match sponsors Yeperenye Shopping Centre, PowerWater, Carbon Creative, and Belgravia Apparel for supporting the 2024 CAFL Representative match.
Earlier in the day, Alice Springs was treated to match up between the up-and-coming talent of the CAFL in the Under 23’s against the experienced Over 23’s in a fight for bragging rights.
The match began with fireworks as the under 23's, led by Brooke Wilson and co-captain Doreena Hansen, swiftly notched up the first two goals. However, the over 23's quickly responded with a goal from Hayley Baliva after an intense five-minute struggle. Under 23’s Brylee Kerrin was outstanding early in the piece, whilst not collecting as much of the footy as some of her teammates, her efficiency by hand allowed for her side to rapidly give themselves scoring opportunities.
From that pivotal moment, the momentum swung in favour of the over 23's, who scored the subsequent five goals of the match, leaving the under-23's in a precarious position at halftime. Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill and Ebony Abbott-McCormack exerted their influence, supported by strong midfield performances from Lara Harding and Ella Slape, dominating the contested possessions and leaving the under 23's struggling for answers.
The territorial advantage held by the over 23's wore down the under 23's defence, despite valiant efforts from players like Danika McDonald and Bella Foster. A late bouncing goal in the third quarter from Libby Taylor pushed the game further out of reach for the under 23's. The experience of the over 23’s was over-whelming as it seemed like they were one step ahead of the under 23’s, intercepting any opportunities that the under 23’s had of scoring.
In what turned into a celebration for the over 23's, Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill showcased her prowess with four goals, sealing a convincing 38-point victory.
The standout performances did not go unnoticed, with Brylee Kerrin from the under 23's and Lara Harding from the over 23's rightfully awarded best on ground for their exceptional contributions.
This match not only highlighted the depth of talent with women in the CAFL but also underlined the competitive spirit and skill that these representative clashes bring to the forefront.
