By Ken Moore
CATANI finished a forgettable season in disappointing fashion with an 82-point loss to Nar Nar Goon.
The Blues have the bye in the final round on Saturday and have missed the finals action for the first time in a decade. Goon captain Ben Keane and fellow midfielder Ben Hughes worked their butts off, Josh Grant set up many forward thrusts and Ben Scanlon and Daniel Zajac kept the defence tight.
Luke McConnell (six goals) displayed his exquisite skills and wingman Dean Kelly drifted forward and menaced the Blues’ defence, kicking four goals.
Catani trailed by 42 points at half-time and gained traction in the contest with the first three goals of the second half, but couldn’t maintain the momentum.
Tom Keily, best and fairest in the thirds last season, chopped off many attacks in defence, Jake Delphine, Nat Rodda and Antonio Benvenuto orchestrated the best of the home team’s attacks and Dean Johnson was competitive in the ruck. He shapes as a good prospect for next season.
WITH Garfield’s form slump over the past two weeks, many punters are now hailing Neerim Neerim South as premiership favourites.
On Saturday, Neerim showed off its awesome strength when it thrashed Kooweerup by 143 points. After an even first quarter, the Cats powered away from the Demons with 10 second-quarter goals – and, for good measure, finished with another 10-goal haul in the last term.
Tyssen Morrow helped himself to seven goals, half-back Brenton Cowell swept the ball out of defence and won the Bill Cumming memorial medal for best on ground, ruck-rover Chris Urie had a picnic and was well backed up by Leigh Sheehan and Robbie Gillespie, back to the club from Mackay, and provided a good target across the half forward line.
Aside from four first-quarter goals and three last-quarter majors, Kooweerup seldom gave a whimper in between.
Ben Miller (three goals) was the most profitable forward for the Demons. Matt Cameron used his powerful frame well in the ruck, Craig Dyker offered his usual defensive resistance and Jack Carson never let up in the face of adversity.
ELLINBANK inflicted a 54-point defeat on Nilma Darnum.
The Bombers trailed by only 19 points at the main break, but could not match the Bankers, who shot clear with a nine-goal second half, which was a good return in boggy conditions at Darnum.
BankerS forward Pat Bloye (four goals) gave his teammates a good target, Terry Mildren, Nathan Paredes and Mal Dow were a driving force in and around the middle, wingman Nick Pratt enjoyed a prosperous game and ruckman Brenton Lockhart covered good territory and hustled about well in his role in the ruck
For Nilma, New Guinean ruck-rover Stanis Susuve hit the packs hard and fellow Papuan and Nilma teammate, ruckman Johnny Ipuku, set up several forward moves. Harley Lacunes got plenty of the ball a kick behind play, while Chris Pallot and Justin Dessent put in honest efforts.
LONGWARRY made it two wins in a row when it fell in by four points against Nyora. The Crows led by 30 points in the third quarter, but had to withstand a strong last-term fightback by the Saints.
Centre-half-back Scott Hamilton propped up the Crows’ back sector and Dylan and Tye Holland provided the midfield run and carry. Tim Milner, initially across the forward line and later in defence, was prominent, Luke Serong (four goals) lurked with intent in the Crows, attacking the 50m zone, and Jake Serong did well to curb stocky Nyora forward Glen Tempany, who bothered the Crows defence early and kicked four majors.
For the Saints Corrie Wilson and Aiden Cumberland ran hard, Matt Hutchinson, Clinton Yapp and Billy Hessells provided good resistance in the back half and promising ruckman Nick Carrigy gave his team good drive.
WARRAGUL Industrials whipped Buln Buln by 128 points.
The Lyrebirds were on the rack when the Dusties produced nine opening-term goals and set up a 44-point lead at quarter-time. From then on, the Industrials never relinquished their grip on the contest and cruised to victory.
Dusties coach Shane Brewster (eight goals) and pacy forward Daniel Johnson (six) bamboozled the Lyrebird defence and Chris Larosa, Jason Kennedy and Rhett O’Hara powered the midfield.
Ben Hobgen, in his 100th game, dominated the ruck duels, Russell Ware and Sean Lewis were hard to pass across the half-back line and Ariki Matwijkiw (three goals) returned from a long-term knee injury and displayed his footy smarts across the forward line.
Buln Buln youngsters Trent Baker, James Davidson and Doug Black found plenty of the ball, as did wingman Matt Pearson. Dean Burnell garnered disposals all over the field and Brendan Santurnini was lively around the big sticks.
