Cat’s overcome persistent Bankers
AN early surge from key forward Lachlan Bambridge proved the difference as Neerim-Neerim South overcame a persistent Ellinbank to earn outright favortism in the chase for the Ellinbank District football premiership.
Ellinbank showed resilience to bring the final margin back to 26-points, particularly after losing coach Ben Wragg to injury in the second quarter, the Cats doing enough to win 9-5 (59) to 5-3 (33) and maintain their unbeaten record.
The home side entered the contest boosted by the return of Nathaniel Paredes while much like the McKay brothers at AFL level, the Urie brothers missed an opportunity to play against each other with Chris a late omission for the Cats.
Michael Urie had plenty of the ball early and passed to Wragg in the pocket, who converted from the tight angle to give the first goal to the Eagles.
With a perceived three goal advantage to Ellinbank end, Alex Johnson stepped up with some good marking in defence as the Cats began to make their move.
Luke Kinder took a good mark under the high ball as Bambridge began to look ominous, kicking his first to put the Cats back in front.
Cooper Clancy won the hard ball to allow Kinder to set up Lachlan Guy, who ran into the open goal.
Repeat entries saw the Ellinbank defence under siege, Nathan Bayne finding Bambridge for another goal.
Bryce Joyce switched play as Anthony Battista and Tim Mashado linked up, only for the attack against the run of play to be cut off by Matthew Edwards.
Bambridge won a free kick late in the term as the Cats kicked 20-points clear.
Joyce and Kinder led an entertaining foot race to begin the second term as Ellinbank lifted. Despite their work, it was the Cats to convert the first major.
Following good lead up play from Nick Caddy, Johnson and Bambridge, Ben Fitzpatrick found Josh White to punish an Ellinbank turnover.
Liam Anderson was competing well with Bambridge, but the Eagles' cause wasn't helped as Wragg limped from the field and would take no further part.
The coach had led the hard ball gets and it forced a shift as Mark Vassett, who was coming off a club record 16 goals the week prior, was forced to relieve in the ruck.
Joyce and Ryan Atherton played a strong quarter in defence to help keep the home side in it. But the hard work was undone as Tyssen Morrow converted on the siren through the agency of a 50-metre penalty for umpire dissent.
The contest tightened in the third term with repeat stoppages and plenty of players around the ball the order of the day.
Vassett took an early mark inside 50, the US College punter for the Cardinals kicking truly for a much-needed goal to give the home side some hope.
The Cats responded to the challenge early in the final term. Isaac Fuller found Bambridge who marked on the second grab before playing on to make use of a vacant goal square.
Kinder backed himself in for the long shot, the breeze bringing it back nicely to effectively ice the result for the Cats.
Ellinbank would challenge again as Vassett converted from a free kick, only for the Cats to answer with play of the day. Fuller handballed to Kody Wilson, who took three running bounces through the middle and converted from long range.
The Eagles would finish strongly as Vassett added his third goal, but the challenge ultimately came too late.
Zach Holton finished with an impressive effort to keep his feet and find the open goal to close off a good passage from defence for a late consolation goal to the home side.