Above: Catani full forward Brent Mounsey is spoiled by highflying Longwarry defender Ken Towt with support from Crow Travis Proctor in Saturday’s preliminary final.By Ken Moore
LONGWARRY’S fairytale dream of making the grand final is over after a gallant 16point loss at the hands of Catani. The game was a ripper, infused with tension, the lead seesawed and the match was up for grabs at threequarter time. Catani controlled play for long periods and thoroughly deserved victory but had to wait until late in the last quarter before it wrested control.
In perfect conditions neither side shunned the physical contests early and Catani drew first blood when Josh Tymensen intercepted a defensive clearance to notch a long goal, but the Crows’ Paul Williams quickly replied and successive majors by Glen Browney opened a minibreak. Catani responded with two goals by Brent Mounsey and others by Owen Fitzpatrick and Josh Tymensen, which were interspersed with another two by Browney and the Blues took a threepoint lead into the first break. Aside from Browney both teams had a good spread of contributors rather than any outstanding players in the first quarter.
Catani wasted little time getting on the board in the second quarter after Mounsey hauled in a big mark and kicked truly, but moments later Longwarry goal sneak Luke Serong, courtesy of a 50metre penalty, kept the Crows in touch. Midway through the term a strong mark and goal by Owen Fitzpatrick put Catani nine points in front but in the later part of the quarter Longwarry gained a foothold in the contest when Blair Weller kicked an inspirational goal on the run. This was followed by another two by Browney, the first a miraculous boomerang and the other a great second effort after brushing off his opponent to pounce on the ball and drill it home.
Longwarry at the main break had the ascendancy and with the last three goals of the quarter Blues supporters must have recalled its fade out in the second quarter against Nyora the previous week. Longwarry led by seven points due to the wonderful finishing skills of the mercurial Browney, who was putting on an exhibition to score six goals from all angles. Brett Norton, Tye Holland and Matt Campbell performed solidly through the midfield and Brent McQualter and Damien Wigfield were solid down back. The better players for Catani in the first half included rover Paul Wiffin and wingman Josh Tymensen while Owen Fitzpatrick grabbed everything that came his way and was lent good support from Brad McDonald, who read play well across the halfforward line.
Catani levelled the scores early in the third quarter after Mounsey was awarded a free kick, but Longwarry replied instantly when Weller threaded home a goal from a nearimpossible angle. Thereafter Catani lifted its intensity and was rewarded with successive goals by Mounsey, but its dominance for well over 20 minutes counted little after youngster Brodie Rundell goaled late in the quarter to put Longwarry only four points in arrears at the last change.
Catani’s Chris MacLean scored the vital first goal of the last quarter when he roved a loose ball that fell into his path and less than 60 seconds had transpired when Hayden Smart used his body well to pull in a good mark and convert to give the Blues a 16point lead in a lowscoring game. For the next 15 minutes Longwarry struggled to manufacture decisive forward thrusts but at the 18minute mark Serong goaled. After repelling the best Longwarry could offer Smart goaled early in timeon to give Catani breathing space and in the closing minutes it held on achieve a welldeserved victory.
The only blight in an absorbing contest was the poor kicking by both sides, which often streamed into attack metres clear only to cough up the ball to the opposition.
Catani owed its victory to its hardworking midfield of Wiffin, Michael Stockx, Luke McFarlane and Paul Alger, who gave 100 per cent over all four quarters and failed to give the Longwarry midfielders a lookin during the vital third quarter. Josh Tymensen was a standout early and his ability to find the ball and deliver it under pressure was a joy to watch. Key forwards Mounsey and Owen Fitzpatrick proved a handful all game and Smart chimed in with two crucial goals in the last quarter when the game was on the line. Athletic tall MacLean was superb through the midfield and if not for some ordinary disposals would have put him right in contention for the best on ground honours. Veteran Brad McDonald offered plenty and defenders Vince Meehl, Nathan McMillan and Shane Fitzpatrick never let up. Aaron Alger did well to stymie the influence of Campbell in the first half and Browney in the second half, however his job was made easier because the ball did not come into the Crows’ forward line as regularly in the last half.
“It was a good hard hit out and it puts us in good stead for next week,” said Catani coach Paul Alger to his players after the game.
Longwarry was left to reflect on what could have been. The Crows tried valiantly and were competitive all game but did not dominate outside a 10minute period at the end of the second quarter. Longwarry lost because it could not make any headway forward in the second half as Catani cluttered up the midfield and denied its fleetfooted runners room to move. Catani sprayed a few opportunities and gave the ball up to Longwarry in the last line, but too often the Crows struggled to move the ball out of defence quickly and this led to their midfield and forwards being manned up too easily. Browney was outstanding in the first half and Holland picked up kicks at will, but too often was mopping up in the back half, where he could not hurt Catani. Campbell, Norton, Serong and, in defence, Glen Pask and Daniel Brown had a crack all game. The 17yearold Rundell, in only his second game, showed pace and composure and is a likely prospect.
“It was a 10goal turnaround since last time but that doesn’t make the loss any easier to take,” said a disconsolate Longwarry coach Scott McQualter. Longwarry got off the canvas a few times this season and its supporters can be proud of its honest work ethic. Catani showed more hunger for the ball and chasing, tackling and harassing, so much a part of Longwarry’s game in recent weeks, was a feature of its victory.
