The Crows are the 2020 Narrabri Eagles AFL Nines mixed competition champions following a remarkable undefeated campaign.

The Crows finished first on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season then, after winning their semi final, took on second-placed Devon Sangas in last Friday’s grand final at Leitch Oval.

They made it a minor/major premiership double with a 4.4 (28) to 1.1 (7) victory to secure the inaugural premiership.

Narrabri Eagles Club president Tom Carberry lined up for Bri Hards on the night so was able to speak first hand about the quality of the decider.

“The tier one final between The Crows and the Sangas was really good,” Carberry said.

“Sangas only had two on the bench so The Crows outran us, but we were also just outclassed really.

“The Crows were a really strong team and they were for the whole comp.”

The Crows’ Jacob Nichols played a starring role in the game on the back of a standout regular season, and at the presentation after the game was named male player of the competition. That award was voted on by the competition’s umpires.

Carberry commended Nichols’ performance on grand final night after a strong season.

“He played out of his skin again in the grand final,” Carberry said.

“He’s got a lot of talent and hopefully we can get him playing a few Eagles’ games when we get going again next year.”

Nichols said that he enjoyed the season and added that he was surprised he was named male player of the competition.

“It was great fun, it’s a credit to everyone involved for how they ran it,” Nichols said.

“We played very well [on grand final night]. We definitely clicked at the end of the season which was good.

“I’d definitely have a go again if they run it next year, it was very enjoyable. I loved the way it was run and I enjoyed how everyone was competitive enough but everyone just had fun and the sportsmanship was great for the whole thing.

“I was a bit shocked [to be awarded player of the season]. I thought there were a few others up there that had a good season but I was very happy with it.”

The male player of the season competed in Friday’s AFL Nines grand final less than a week after contesting the Namoi Soccer League grand final with local side Narrabri Elevens FC.

Nichols, who is a Narrabri Rugby Club Blue Boar, went in search of a new challenge in 2020 when the Central North Rugby Union season was cancelled. He said he enjoyed his unexpected sporting year in 2020.

“It’s been a different year for me playing the two different sports but I really enjoyed both of them,” Nichols said.

The AFL Nines female player of the year, also voted on by the umpires, went to Bri Hards’ Sophie Jarrold who Carberry said was a consistent performer every week.

The tier two grand final for sides ranked fifth to seventh on the regular season ladder was contested by Goal Diggers and Bald Eagles on grand final night at Hogan Oval. That game was won 30-27 by Goal Diggers.

Friday’s grand final night completed a memorable inaugural AFL Nines comp as far as the Eagles were concerned.

“It was an unreal couple of weeks, I wasn’t expecting such a big turnout,” Carberry said.

“We had seven teams which made it a great first ever mixed AFL Nines competition.

“A huge thank you goes out to the players themselves, we couldn’t have done it without them.

“I’d also like to thank all of our sponsors for their support and everyone on the committee who did such a good job making everything run smoothly.”

Carberry said the club’s goals for the near future was to get an Eagles team on the park in the AFLNW competition in 2021, and to run another mixed AFL Nines comp next year.

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