FOLLOWING Saturday’s one-sided qualifying final, Sunday’s Heathcote District league elimination final between Colbinabbin and Lockington-Bamawm United was a much more competitive contest.
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It was a game the Cats spent the bulk of in front, but it was the Grasshoppers who had the better of the last quarter to win 14.18 (102) to 13.11 (89) and keep their season alive in what was a scrappy contest played with a tricky breeze blowing at White Hills.
The Cats kicked the first three goals of the game and held the lead until the early minutes of the final quarter when Damien Carmody put the Grasshoppers in front for the first time.
Kicking to the scoring end, the Grasshoppers booted the first three goals of the last term through Carmody, Will Morrow and 14-year-old Hugh Hamilton and entering time-on led by 19 points and looked to have the game well in hand.
However, two goals in quick succession to LBU’s Lachlan Collins and Thomas Leech gave the Cats a sniff as they closed to within seven points with 4:00 left on the clock.
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An answering goal to Colbinabbin key forward Elliot Bowen gave the Grasshoppers back a 13-point lead, but the Cats refused to wilt and a snap on target from Zeik Johnston again brought LBU within striking distance.
However, that would be the last score for the Cats, while Colbinabbin coach Nick Knight finished the match with an after-the-siren goal from 45m.
As well as the strong last quarter in which they kicked 5.4 to 3.1, crucial to the Grasshoppers’ victory was their capacity to rally in the last 10 minutes of the third term when they were kicking against the breeze.
The Cats led by 15 points at the 25-minute mark of the third quarter, but the Grasshoppers were able to score two goals against the tide through Michael Battista and Sam Vale which brought them back within two points heading into the final term.
“We wanted to be within striking distance of them at three quarter-time and we were able to do that,” Knight said.
“Momentum in finals is huge and we were able to get a few goals in a row in that last quarter and that gave us some ascendancy.
“But full credit to Locky… they were able to the challenge all day and our boys responded well.”
The Grasshoppers have an injury concern out of the game with key on-baller, Mitch Bright, who was tagged by the Cats’ Fraser Monahan, leaving the field early in the last term with a shoulder problem.
“We’ll see how he pulls up during the week, but he is a tough operator and he showed that today around the footy with how hard he goes at it,” Knight said.
Bright was among the best for the Grasshoppers, along with forward Bowen (four goals), skipper David Price, who had the job on Cats’ playmaker Jarod Bacon, and the hard-working Patrick O’Brien.
Bowen was stiff not to finish with five goals after one of his set-shots in the third quarter hit the very top of the goalpost.
Sunday’s match marked the Cats’ first final since 2014 and while it didn’t go their way, the season is shaping as a strong launching pad in which to continue to build.
“It’s disappointing to lose, but I’m really proud of the way the boys fought it out to be still right in it up until the last couple of minutes and we really made them earn it,” Cats coach Kahl Oliver said.
“We’ve got a young group and for a lot of them to be playing in their first final today, it was a really good learning curve.”
The Cats named defender Jeremy Mundie their best, while young ruckman Tyler Phillips also impressed and Collins was their key avenue to goal with four majors.
• WEEK TWO FINALS:
Saturday, second semi-final – North Bendigo v Leitchville-Gunbower at Colbinabbin.
Sunday, first semi-final – Huntly v Colbinabbin at Elmore.
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