Blues surge home to prove EDFL threat
A second half fade out proved costly for Ellinbank as Catani stormed home to move to second on the Ellinbank District football ladder at the half way point.
While the Eagles were able to kick away in the first half in Kristian Bingham’s 300th match, the well-coached Blues maintained their structures and were able to run over the top to finish on the final siren ahead by the barest of margins.
An Owen Fitzpatrick mark and goal on the siren increased the final margin to seven points in what was a frenetic finish, 13-11 (89) to 11-16 (82) with missed chances also harmful to the Eagles fate.
Both teams traded behinds early in the first term and it was the Blues to score first, Brayden Kennedy taking advantage of a missed kick in to snap the first goal of the game.
But it was all Ellinbank for the remainder of the first term, scoring four straight to take a handy buffer into quarter time.
It was Ellinbank’s turn to pounce on an errant kick in to take the lead. The Eagles went forward again, with Matt Barrand missing a shot from out wide before coach Ben Wragg won an opportunity from a similar position and made no mistake.
Catani created an opportunity against the run of play, breaking quickly from defence to find Ryan Eaton in space, but his shot missed.
Two late goals punished the Blues, with the Eagles taking the ball the length of the field to score before converting again on the siren to extend the lead to 21points.
A long goal to Jackson Parker extended the lead before Catani made a challenge.
Nathaniel Rodda found space to set up a goal, Hayden Lownds then went long to Fitzpatrick who brushed his opponent aside with ease to set up Paul Pattison for the Blues’ third.
John Alexander went long in the Fitzpatrick direction again, with Eaton crumbing a nice goal as the Blues’ challenge continued. While Fitzpatrick was being well-held and not holding his marks, he was bringing the small forwards into the game.
Nicholas Visser went long in the Fitzpatrick direction again, and this time it was James Williams to take the crumbs and close the gap to just three points.
The Eagles were able to stave off the challenge to again put together a scoring chain. A snap was followed by a long goal to Jeremy Reid.
The Blues streamed through the middle from a centre clearance, but a good spoil denied Fitzpatrick’s attempt with the Eagles hurting the Blues, taking the ball the length of the field for another goal.
Matt Barrand, Mark Vassett and Michael Pandolfo all handled to set up Wragg for a strong mark and goal to increase the margin to 26points at half time.
Fitzpatrick marked on the lead to kick the first of the third term, but the Eagles responded again. A turnover at centre half back proved costly for the Blues, Keegan Bott converting the Eagles’ 10th before Reid quickly added another from a shot out wide.
The Eagles began to miss opportunities, which opened the door for another Catani charge.
The Blues worked the ball from the outer side to convert and followed that opportunity with a long goal.
James Alexander broke through for a goal after good work from James Williams and with the margin closed to 18-points at the final change, the Blues had a sniff.
The Blues continued their charge in the final term, snapping a goal to send nerves through the Ellinbank camp.
The Blues continued to press, converting a snap after missing an opportunity from advantage to close the gap to just four points.
Lownds broke through to send the ball forward, but the ball drifted out of bounds. The Blues kept the ball inside their forward 50m but could only manage two behinds as the match tightened.
Jackson Parker got the break for the Eagles, but his kick was affected by a tackle and his shot missed.
Catani’s experienced players were beginning to step up when it counted, Antonio Benvenuto finding Fitzpatrick on the lead to convert and out the Blues in front.
The Eagles scrapped forward for a Jackson Parker mark, but again he missed. A running shot from Shaun Phelan missed to close the gap to just one point in a tense finish.
The Blues went forward again with Fitzpatrick marking on the lead, but his shot sailed out on the full to keep the Eagles alive.
The Blues were able to go forward again through Pattison, finding Fitzpatrick for a strong mark on the siren to break the hearts of the Ellinbank faithful, Fitzpatrick converting the shot to extend the final margin to seven points.