Buln show fight over Cats
Entering the season as front runners in the EDFL premiership race, Neerim Neerim South were made to work hard to defeat an ever improving Buln Buln side.
Neerim-Neerim South scored 4-4 to 0-3 to race out to a 25-point quarter time lead, but the Lyrebirds were able to fight back keep the Cats honest, going down by just 15-points, 10-7 (67) to 7-10 (52).
Tyssen Morrow and Aiden Dibsdale scored seven goals between them to help Neerim-Neerim South hold on and deliver new coach Allan Chandler his first win with the Cats.
Kody Wilson, Jack Deen, Tyler Pratt, Dean Stringer and Chris Urie were other key players.
Trent Baker, Jake Herbel, James Davidson, Jimmy Taylor, Tim Davine and Charlie Park helped the Lyrebirds take it up to their more fancied opponents.
Buln hold edge
Buln Buln won a closely contested Reserves contest by 11-points, 7-6 (48) to 5-7 (37).
The Lyrebirds held the edge for the majority of the contest, despite the Cats holding a narrow advantage at three-quarter-time.
Darcy Brown, Jack Martyn, Jake Baker, Ashley Bridger, Josh Lambert and Nicholas Castle helped the Lyrebirds keep the Cats at bay.
Jack Fallon, Darren Ratten, Mathew Churchill, Jeremiah Jones, Tim Beaurain and Thomas Metselaar gave the Cats every chance.
Cats too strong
Neerim-Neerim South were too strong in the under 18s, winning 12-11 (83) to 6-3 (39).
The Cats set the win up in the first term, racing out to a 31-point lead.
The Lyrebirds were able to match their opponents from that point, scoring six goals to seven following a scoreless first term.
Justin Lockett and Rhys George each kicked three goals for the Cats.
Tom Hankin, Isaiah Abrahams, Cooper Clancy, James Maguire and Corey Peterson also helped the Cats to a fast start.
James Folwer, Kyan Willis, Sean Symes, Jediah Melbourne and Brandon Allen, who kicked four goals, helped Buln Buln work their way back into the contest.
Cats claw birds
Neerim-Neerim South held on to win by a point in an enthralling under 16 contest.
Buln Buln were left to rue missed opportunities in the final term, adding just five behinds to go down 4-11 (35) to 5-6 (36) in what had been a close contest throughout.
Josh Ferguson was a key to the Cats’ fortunes, kicking three goals.
He was assisted by Josh White, Isaac Fuller, Thomas Pollard, Lachlan Guy, Beau Ellis and Kyle Bright.
Better players for Buln Buln were Jarrod Thomas, who booted all four goals for the Lyrebirds, Charlie Wans, Jake Smith, Thomas Jessup, Max Chesterfield and Jaryd Kelly.