Catani delivers fairytale premiership
Master coach Paul Alger has guided Catani to its first Senior premiership since 2005 and the fourth in the club’s history, scoring victory by the barest of margins over Warragul Industrials in tough conditions at Western Park on Saturday.
Following a successful stint at Buln Buln where he guided the Lyrebirds to an east division premiership, it didn’t take long for Alger to turn fortunes around at the Blues and secure a fairytale premiership, the first for the club since Alger guided the Blues to back-to-back premierships in 2005.
The Blues ground out a war of attrition, winning a low scoring affair 5-7 (37) to 5-6 (36) with the match played in tough conditions due to recent heavy rain and three matches of football played on the ground previous.
Warragul Industrials had the early momentum, with Tyson Bale and Dylan Holland combining to send the ball forward but the Catani defence were able to clear.
John Ikupu combined with Corey Nickells to find Shane Brewster on the lead, but his shot drifted across the face out on the full.
Catani broke away to move forward but the ball drifted out of bounds.
The Blues ran the ball from the wing and looked for Ryan Eaton leading back towards goal, but the kick had too much on it as it drifted out of bounds.
Catani’s Hayden Lownds took a strong mark, but the shot fell short and the Industrials were able to clear.
Antonio Benvenuto sent the Blues forward from the middle, but the snap from Nathaniel Rodda fell short with Matthew Willis taking a safe mark on the last line of defence for the Industrials to set up a long kick from Josh Peterson to clear the area.
Some hard running from Ben Northover set up the first goal for the Industrials, with the defender giving a get and go twice to set up Ikupu for a long goal.
Dylan Williams made a clever soccer kick forward for the Blues, but the ball drifted out of bounds on the wing.
Cody Banbury gathered on the wing for the Blues and found James Alexander for a soccer kick forward to set up Mitchell Davey for the Blues’ first to level the scores.
A rushed behind was followed by a strong mark from Owen Fitzpatrick, but his shot missed.
Lownds and Rodda sent the Blues forward again, but the ball drifted out of bounds.
Cooper Minichiello and Northover combined to sent the Industrials forward, but they were caught holding the ball to be denied the attack.
Both sides continued to attack to make the most of the better conditions early in the match.
Tye Holland sent the Industrials long, but the mark couldn’t be held as the Blues were able to clear.
Fitzpatrick was looking ominous early, and worked to the front spot to take a strong mark and goal to establish an early buffer.
Eaton marked on the lead but his shot missed.
Tye Holland sent the Industrials forward with some rare run and carry given the conditions, but the attack was chopped off by Luke McFarlane at half back.
Fitzpatrick took a strong mark on the siren, but his shot missed as the Blues took a 10-point lead into the first change.
It was the Industrials’ turn to kick to the scoring end and they dominated forward 50 entry for the quarter.
Will Gibson won a free kick and found Brewster, but his shot drifted out of bounds.
Josh O’Brien won a free kick for holding the ball and kicked truly as the Industrials edged closer.
A long goal put the Industrials in front, before Tye Holland combined with brother Dylan to set up a running goal to extend the lead.
A shot was touched over line while Nickels missed another opportunity on the lead.
The Industrials defence held firm for the one Blues attack for the term, clearing with a strong mark.
Dylan Holland missed an opportunity from a free kick, before a trade of forward 50 entries that drifted out of bounds.
Nichols Visser pulled off another rare run and carry to find Fitzpatrick with a short kick. He kicked the goal to reduce the margin to just six-points at the long break.
The Blues scored first in the third term following an impressive piece of play.
Dylan Williams was the beneficiary of a downfield free kick on the wing, finding Paul Pattison who went long looking for Fitzpatrick. The marking attempt came off hands with Williams almost rewarded for his long run forward, his snap shot missing.
Pattison took a strong mark to goal and put the Blues in front. The league best and fairest was beginning to step up when it counted most, sending the Blues long but the shot was rushed.
Visser won a free kick for holding the ball to slot the Blues’ fifth and establish a buffer.
The Industrials went forward twice but the Blues were able to clear on both occasions.
Williams also began to come to the fore, instrumental in the next two attacks but the Blues failed to score.
The Blues created another opportunity through a strong tackle from Pattison, but the snap from the pack missed.
Spectators watched on, eager to see if the Blues could hold on with Blues fans there in numbers.
The Industrials attacked with Dylan Holland finding Bale with a handball, but the attack was cut off by Aiden Cuff.
The Industrials were awarded a free kick from some niggle at a boundary throw in, but again couldn’t capitalise as the Blues cleared through a free kick.
Tye Holland sent the ball long again, but Dale Johnson made front position to mark and deny the Industrials again.
A good smother from Visser denied another Industrials shot as the Blues showed desperation.
Bale took a running shot to send nerves through the Blues camp, but his shot crashed into the point post.
Dylan Holland received a handball and brushed off his opponent, but the shot sailed out on the full.
A long shot was touched over the line to reduce the margin to cut the margin to seven points, setting up a thrilling finish.
With quarters being short due to the low scoring nature of the contest, time was of the essence and Bale went long to set up a goal from the square.
With the quarter finishing at the 21:54 minute mark, the Industrials were to be denied, the Blues holding on to win a thriller.
Leaders stood up for the Blues, with Visser awarded the best on ground medal. He was supported by Pattison, Johnson, Cuff, Dylan Williams and Brett Williams, who held firm in defence.
Minichiello, Ikupu, Northover, Travis Ogden, Brewster and Bale helped the Industrials remain in the hunt right until the final siren.