Blues keep Eagles at bay
Catani kept Ellinbank at bay in the first half before being forced to come from behind to win the Reserves, 10-12 (72) to 8-8 (56).
The Blues held a narrow lead throughout the first half, before the Eagles were able to edge ahead.
Controversy surrounded the end to the second quarter, where Blues officials believe the clock had already hit the 20 minute mark before the Eagles scored a goal to pull the margin back to just three points at the long break.
The Eagles got a roll on in the third, taking a seven point lead into the final change, but the Blues finished stronger to run over the top of their opponents.
Luke McFarlane, Cody Banbury, Jay Bosanquet, Nicholas Cullen, Liam Keily and Justin Evans kept working until the end for the Blues.
Ash Wallace, Daniel Burke, Neale Parke, James Scammell, Brad Glover and Kris Stephens gave the Eagles every chance of victory.
Inaccuracy costly
Inaccurate kicking proved costly for Ellinbank as they went down to Catani in the under 18s, 7-11 (53) to 4-15 (39).
The Eagles were left to rue missed opportunities as they registered eight behinds to half time and 1-15 to threequarter-time, all the while the Blues established a handy buffer.
The Eagles continued with their high workrate and willed their way back into the contest with three goals to make the Blues nervous.
A late steadying goal to the Blues sealed the Eagles’ fate.
Jackson Caddy booted four goals for the Blues, while Lachlan Seppings, Lauchlan Gregson, Nicholas Willemsen, Thomas Cairns and Riley McDonald helped the visitor keep their heads under pressure.
Mathew Notman, Dale Amrstrong, Jarred Carrol, Lachlan Hedrick and Elliot Kennedy helped the Eagles mount a challenge.