Hey true Blues!

By Brad Kingsbury
CATANI triumphed over hot premiership favourite Nyora in a thrilling Ellinbank and District Football League grand final in front of a record crowd at Kooweerup on Saturday.
The Blues overcame a 25point lead established by the Saints halfway through the third term to power away to a 21point win, inspired by ailing captain Michael Stockx and ageless coach Paul Alger.
Stockx ignored doctors’ advice and forewent a chemotherapy session in his battle with Hodgkin’s disease, to play in the club’s historic second consecutive premiership.
The solid midfielder was among the side’s better players and heroic efforts came from Alger, dynamic rover Luke McFarlane and lanky playmaker Josh Tymensen, lifting the Blues to glory after they appeared destined for defeat.
Victorian Country Football League area manager Shaun O’Connell presented Tymensen with the VCFL medal for best afield after the game.
Despite the threat of rain and hail, the ground was packed, with cars parked outside the reserve lining Denhams Road. League officials were celebrating a record $27,000plus gate afterwards and there were record bar takings.
League president Roger Gwynne said the day had been a triumph for country football and praised the venue, which the EDFL had been criticised for selecting, as an excellent choice.
In earlier matches on the day Buln Buln took out the reserves flag, Nar Nar Goon won the under 17s and under 15s pennants and Catani was also successful in the under 13s, winning the premiership with a behind kicked after the siren.
In the league’s associated netball competition Kooweerup was defeated in its bid for a fourth consecutive premiership by EDNA newcomer Cora Lynn in Agrade.
Scores were level at threequarter time and in the desperate last quarter the Cobras grabbed a slender lead and held it to win 3532 in front of a big crowd that screamed themselves hoarse.
It was Cora Lynn’s first EDNA pennant and the club made it three out of the past four pennants after winning flags in 2002 and 2003 in the now defunct West Gippsland Netball Association.