Above: Nyora high flier Matt Hutchinson soars over Catani’s Michael Stockx in a marking attempt during Saturday’s grand final replay. The Saints had their revenge, winning the opening game of 2006 by 31 points.By Ken Moore
IN A replay of last season’s grand final Nyora comfortably accounted for the 2005 premiers Catani by 31 points. The result doesn’t exact revenge for last season’s grand final loss, but it indicates the Saints are focused and well equipped to go all the way this season.
In the first quarter Nyora kicked with a strong wind that favoured the northern end of the Catani Recreation Reserve by five to six goals. Catani had the better of the opening minutes before Nyora wrested control with a goal by rover Luke Watson and two successive majors by Dean Alger, who proved a handful for the Blues’ defence. After late goals by Nathan Osler and Brad Langley the Saints went into the first change 31 points to the good.
Nyora’s first term lead was due to Steve Svaganovic, Brendan Hislop and Tim Smith, who swept the ball out of defence, ruckman Matt Hendry and wingman Matt Hutchinson, who all won plenty of possessions midfield.
Despite a swirling wind and light rain the opening term was a scrappy affair and both sides were guilty of too many turnovers.
Nyora began brightly in the second quarter with a goal by Brenton Hackett from a clever snap, followed by another by Chris Langley, who streamed into an open goal after good assistance by Hutchinson. Just when Catani looked out of its depth, the Blues hit back hard with five unanswered goals from midway through the term to go into the main break only 10 points in arrears. Former 2004 premiership player John Entwistle started the Blues’ comeback by taking a mark and converting from an acute angle. His effort was followed by a goal on the run by Luke McFarlane and two consecutive majors from the classy leftfooter Josh Tymensen, both inspirational goals from well outside the 50metre arc. Owen Fitzpatrick opened his account just before the halftime siren. Blues captaincoach Paul Alger led the revival and received good support from Tymensen, Shane Davidson and Paul Wiffin.
Nyora took a vicelike grip on the game in the third quarter with clever snap goals by Brad Langley and Tim Smith and a long bomb by Dean Hislop. The Saints, despite the aid of the wind, played with far more cohesion and, with successive goals by Hutchinson, Smith and Osler, the visitors took a commanding 51point lead at threequarter time. Hendry, Dean and Brendan Hislop, Watson, Ben Hallas and Steve Svaganovic pumped the ball forward all quarter and overshadowed the Catani midfield.
At threequarter time Paul Alger pleaded with his team to kick early goals, take risks and attack, but it took until 10 minutes into the quarter, when Fitzpatrick converted his second goal, before the Blues started to peg back the deficit. Thereafter the Blues tried hard but never looked like winning as Nyora proceeded to play tight accountable defensive football to thwart the best Catani attacks. McFarlane provided the highlight of the last quarter with a long goal, however it was all too late for the Blues. Nyora could not muster a goal in the last term, but held on to record a deserved 31point victory.
The game was largely played at ground level due to the wind, which did the highflyers no favours. Nyora regularly outnumbered Catani around the packs and used the ball far more effectively. It was a good team effort by the Saints and, while it is only round one, the result confirms that Nyora is likely to be the team to beat in 2006.
The most impressive aspect of the Saints’ performance was that of its newcomers Brad and Christopher Langley, Tim Smith, Brendan Hislop and youngster Brenton Hackett who has returned from a year on the sidelines recovering from a knee injury. Hutchinson, Dean Hislop, Hendry, Hallas and Svaganovic all put in four fine quarters.
With well over six players missing, including John Allsop, Ty Lucas, Brad Francis and Ash Olin, the Saints have plenty room for improvement and, given drier conditions, are likely to be more formidable.
“It was a hard day, very windy and hard to read but a good team effort to win. To win early games is very important,” said Nyora coach Dean Alger after the game.
Catani had a crack but was simply not good enough on the day. Last season’s premiers had too many players who made little impact. Paul Alger led from the front and was among everything midfield, Tymensen did well from limited opportunities, McFarlane and Davidson tried hard. The Catani defence, weakened without Nathan Ruskin and Peter Atkinson, did well as it was continually under pressure. Chris Maclean, Aaron Alger on Osler, Andrew Stockx on Dean Alger and Brad McDonald all played disciplined games. Blues recruit and former Nyora big man Glen Hall presented well on the forward line and in defence and showed enough to suggest he will be a valuable acquisition.
“They were better than us on the day, judged the ball better and will be hard to beat. You’re only as good as the opposition lets you and they were too good,” Paul Alger said.
