THEY had to dig deep, but in the end the College Blues completed a stunning season in the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League’s under 14 ranks when they defeated Tigers by eight points on Sunday to claim the premiership.
The Blues lost just one game all year, going down to Tigers in the second semi final, but they made amends when it mattered.
It was a dour struggle, with goals few and far between, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of College’s under 14 side as it took out the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League premiership on Sunday.
The Blues were taking on the only team to have beaten them this year in Tigers, who got the job done in a dramatic second semi final that required extra time after the two sides finished dead level after four quarters.
This time around College did enough to get across the line by eight points, but nothing came easy in what turned out to be the lowest scoring match seen in the WDJFL this year.
There were just seven scoring shots registered between the two teams as the Blues pulled off a 3.2 (20) to 2.0 (12) victory to claim the flag.
Tigers were always going to need to think outside the square in order to upset the Blues a second time, and their defensive pressure had College rattled early on.
“The defensive side of their game was brilliant,” College coach Dan McCarthy said.
“They were incredibly well drilled the way they were getting back behind the ball.
“We kept pumping it in there and they just kept getting it back out.
“We tried a few different things, but nothing seemed to have much of an impact – they just stuck to their guns and put us under immense pressure. “We just had to grind it out.” The downfall in Tigers’ game plan was their attack.
While they took a fivepoint lead into quarter time they only managed two scoring shots for the day.
“They were definitely a lot more focused on their defence,” McCarthy said.
“Their scores came from slingshot attacks.
“We were dominating the ball off the deck and we had great numbers at the stoppages all day, so I felt like we were in control in that aspect of the game.”
McCarthy said the victory was incredibly satisfying.
“The first priority is that you want the kids to go out and have fun,” he said.
“But having played themselves into a position where they really deserved to win the premiership, it would have taken a lot of the fun out of the season if they had come away without the medals.
“So it’s a great reward for them.
“The match certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, but I’m very proud of the players – they didn’t let the style of the game affect their attack on the ball and the way that they played.
“It was a very defensive match, but they played some great footy and enjoyed themselves doing it.”
McCarthy paid credit to Cameron Nolan, Adam Enever and Jeffery Holmes, who all went outside their comfort zones to help the cause.
“Cameron Nolan went from the ruck to centre half back, Adam Enever went from centre half forward into the ruck and Jeffery Holmes played full back, and I thought all three of those boys were incredibly good,” he said.
“Our three main on-ballers – Ben Bray, Jack Gerrish and Pat Hourigan – are always very good, and they all stepped up again as well.”
McCarthy is hoping that success will breed success for College now.
“I don’t know quite how long, but that is the first premiership the club has won in a long time,” he said.
“Hopefully with the strength we’ve got coming through at the moment we can get one or two more in the next couple of years.”
By - Scott Anderson.
10th September, 2014.
www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Last Modified on 27/05/2015 09:55