EDFL grand final review

By Ken Moore
CATANI claimed backtoback premierships flags after it staged a dramatic fight back to upset the hot favourite and minor premier Nyora by 21 points.
A fiercely contested game kept a boisterous record crowd absorbed until the closing stages.
The game wasn’t often pretty but the intensity, some splendid goals and Catani’s comeback will ensure it goes into the annals as one of the most memorable Ellinbank grand finals. Taking into account the dampish conditions, the game was as good as you could see.
Just before the opening bounce a brawl erupted on the Catani forward line, which brought the crowd alive and ensued there was plenty of needle on and off the field. Catani kicked with a threegoal wind towards the Pakenham end but the heavy rain greeted the start of the match and close checking meant 10 minutes elapsed before Catani’s Paul Wiffin snapped the first goal, swiftly followed by another by Hayden Smart. Midway through the term Nyora opened its account after tall forward John Allsop hauled in a strong pack mark but successive goals by Owen Fitzpatrick gave the reigning premier breathing space. A late goal by Nyora sharpshooter Nathan Osler pegged the margin back to 16 points at the first break. Rover Wiffin and wingman Josh Tymensen were outstanding for Catani in the first term and Corey Wilson, Matt Hutchinson and tall forward Ty Lucas all tormented the Blues’ defence.
Nyora stepped up a gear in the second quarter and with goals by Osler after a pack mark, Matt Hutchinson and Dean Alger from free kicks, Allsop from another mark and Ash Olin with a snap, the Saints opened up 16point lead and threatened to run away. Nyora’s halfback line and midfield of Wilson, Hutchinson, Dean and Glen Hislop and Matt Hendry started to make a mark on the game. In the later part of the quarter Catani dug deep and steadied with goals by Michael Stockx and Brent Mounsey, interspersed with majors by Allsop and Alger. A late goal by Shane Davidson put Catani only seven points behind at the main break.
Catani did not apply the same pressure as it did in the first quarter and allowed Nyora to whisk the ball forward far easier. The game appeared to have a similar trend to that of the second semifinal, in which Catani was valiant until halftime before falling badly off the pace.
Nyora came out with all guns blazing in the third quarter and with a goal by Osler, his third, and successive goals by Allsop, whose height was a real handful for the Catani defence, the Saints stretched their lead to 25 points and were set to take the stranglehold the form book suggested.
However another plot in the game was about to unfold and at the sevenminute mark veteran Brad McDonald bagged his first goal and this brought a dramatic transformation. A rejuvenated Catani rammed on four unanswered goals to snatch a threepoint lead at the last change. After McDonald’s goal, Smart pulled off a remarkable snap, Mounsey marked and converted from an acute angle and captaincoach Paul Alger kicked two inspirational goals, the first a well educated snap and the next a big torpedo from well outside 50 metres to bring the Catani crowd to its feet.
Hutchinson continued to provide good drive for Saints in the third quarter and Catani had no answer to Allsop with his height and mobility but too many Saints were bystanders in the later part of the quarter.
Entering the last break, Catani, buoyed by its resurgence, and Nyora, with its younger legs and the scoring end, both held high hopes.
Catani seized control of the midfield midway through the term with Paul Alger, McFarlane, Davidson, Shane Warren, Michael and Andy Stockx and Ben Maroney all playing a large role in the turnaround.
Catani got a flying start in the last quarter when Luke McFarlane conjured a stunning goal under pressure with his wrong foot. When Owen Fitzpatrick marked and goaled from 50 metres out the Blues had a 16point lead. Most spectators expected Nyora to hit back hard but enter Catani recruit Hayden Smart, who proved the game breaker with three goals in the space of five minutes, the first with crafty snap, the second on a lead and the third with good judgment at ground level. The game was as good as over.
To add to Nyora’s woes rain teemed down to dampen both the ground and the spirit. Catani was now playing on adrenalin and in contrast the Saints appeared dispirited but to their credit kept pressing and with goals to Brad Francis and Luke Watson it brought back the margin to 21 points. At the final siren, the Saints slumped to the ground while jubilant Catani players embraced, knowing they had pulled off an incredible turnaround after being so comprehensively beaten in the second semi.
Many insiders said it was Catani’s finest victory. The Blues deserved to win as they played with far more desperation at crucial times.
There was no better player on the field than Josh Tymensen, who dazzled with his searing runs, long kicking and ability to win kicks over four quarters. Paul Alger put his heart and soul into the match and along with McFarlane put in an inspirational second half. Michael Stockx, Wiffin and Shane Warren did well around the packs and in defence Aaron Alger did a solid job to keep Nathan Osler to three goals and Nathan Ruskin made many handy spoils in a superb team effort. Burly Owen Fitzpatrick was the cornerstone of the Blues’ attack and Smart with five goals and a stunning last quarter, in partnership with Mounsey, was a constant menace all match.
“It was a great team effort. When you get up when you are not supposed to it makes it all the more sweeter,” said an elated Paul Alger.
The wet weather nullified Nyora’s superiority in the air and most of the critical contests were decided at ground level. Catani clearly had the better of the inandunder contests outside the first 15 minutes of the second quarter. Wingman Hutchinson was its most influential player and Corey Wilson and Dean and Glen Hislop were regularly in the thick of the action. John Allsop notched five goals to join Fitzpatrick as the best forward on the ground and Dean Alger tried to lift his side all game. In defence Brad Francis made many vital interceptions and Billy Hessels and Andrew Collis put in honest efforts. Big man Lucas pulled in some big grabs and troubled the Catani defence early.
“I’ll give credit to them, they deserved to win. They had been there before and knew what was required to win,” said Dean Alger in a quiet Nyora room after the match. In boxing parlance Catani was on the canvas at stages of the second and third quarters but its biggame experience and a collection of fearless competitors managed to get the Blues across the line for their third EDFL premiership, following those in 1992 and 2004.