Finley travelled the long road to Echuca United on Saturday, aiming to consolidate second position on the ladder.
Coming off a bye, they were able to easily accomplish this goal, scoring an emphatic victory by 132 points.
Echuca had beaten finals contender Cobram at home the previous fortnight, and the Cats weren’t going to take the Eagles lightly.
The conditions were perfect for footy, with the sun shining and a little breeze.
Finley opened their account through a mark to Zac Brain and a down-the-field free kick.
Soon after this, the Cats cleared the ball from the middle of the ground, and it was Mark Whiley who kicked the next.
The Cats applied pressure at the contest and a chain of handballs and tackling pressure from Nik Burns and Jake Maconachie saw Nick Bertino drift down from defence to score the Cats’ third.
The next goal came after a smother from Bailey Burke and Burns snapped truly. The ball cleared from the middle and Burns took a strong mark - kicking his second for the quarter.
Further goals by Burke, Tom Lang and Kyle Coates saw the Cats take a 51-point lead while keeping the opposition goalless at the first break.
The second quarter saw the Cats’ scoring dry up and the game became scrappy at times.
Echuca lifted their intensity around the ball, and it took until the 20-minute mark for Finley to score a goal through Brain.
Maconachie scored the only other goal for the term. Whiley was dominating in and around the ball, and the Cats continued to hold the Eagles scoreless.
The third term saw the Eagles get the first clearance and after three forward entries they scored their first goal through Nash Ramage.
This spurred Finley on to kick nine goals for the quarter. Finley’s Jesse White was working both ends of the ground, while defender Angus Roberston was controlling the aerial contests.
Three goals to Paul Massingham for the term and when Finley’s sub, Reece Simmons, came on he tapped the ball out of a contest and Brain snapped a goal. Echuca scored another goal; however, they were facing a 114-point deficit at the last change.
In the last quarter, Finley scored three goals and Echuca added another one to their tally. Echuca were competitive at times, but the Cats’ defence wasn’t allowing any easy scoring, and they had an even spread of goal kickers to record a 132 point victory.
The Cats now sit outright second on the ladder and with the next two games against final hopefuls Cobram and Nathalia, they should be enthralling encounters.
Final Scores: Finley 22.18 (150) def Echuca United 3.0 (18)
Best players: Mark Whiley, Jesse White, Angus Robertson, Sam Hatty, Paul Massingham, Nik Burns.
Goals: Tom Lang 5, Paul Massingham 3, Nik Burns 2, Zac Brain 2, Bailey Burke 2, Angus Robertson, Mark Whiley, Kyle Coates, Nick Bertino, Charlie Lang, Jake Maconachie, Reilly Rennick, Kayden Sharp.
Awards: Caledonian Hotel - Mark Whiley; Irwin Stockfeed - Sam Hatty; OMLS - Paul Massingham; Eagle i Machinery - Nik Burns; Marshall Ag - Kyle Coates; President’s Award (supplied by the Caledonian Hotel) - Jake Maconachie and Bailey Burke.
Reserves
The Cats started with the first centre clearance finding Lenny Dattoli, who kicked truly for the early lead, and they never looked back.
Jimmy McCaw kept his great season going in the ruck, giving on-ballers first use all day. Jack Lang and Bubba Kennedy had the ball on a string, with Bubba sneaking forward and kicking six goals.
Lenny Dattoli took every opportunity in front of goal, kicking five himself and setting up a few as well.
The back half was led by Robbie Hamann whose drive forward really set the team up. Dave Conrick had one of the plays of the day in the back half, scooping the ball up, dodging and weaving through traffic, then hitting a teammate with a beautiful kick.
Cam Isedale had one of his best games of the year, rarely getting beaten.
It was a hard job to pick the best, with every player playing well and getting the job done.
Final Scores: Finley 17.13 (115) def Echuca United 5.4 (34)
Best players: James McCaw, Jack Lang, James Kennedy, Robbie Hamann, Lenny Dattoli, David Conrick.
Goals: James Kennedy 6, Lenny Dattoli 5, Marcus Anderson 2, Liam Osborne 2, Tom Oliver, Harrison King.
Awards: Country Club Hotel - Jack Lang; O’Connors Case IH - Lenny Dattoli; Kelly Grains - James Kennedy; Finley RSC - Robbie Hamann; Kalangadoo Nursery - David Conrick; Caledonia Hotel - James McCaw.
Under-17s
The thirds took on the fourth - placed Echuca United team away in their third last game for the year.
Played in near perfect conditions, the young Cats really took the challenge up to their opposition for the whole game.
They were led in the midfield by an inspired game from Will Doolan who was a contested beast at the footy, brushing tackles and driving the ball forward.
The boys hit the front halfway through the third quarter, but United kicked a couple of late goals to get the momentum back.
At the last break the magnets got moved around in hope of running home with the win, although this wasn’t achieved, the team showed some great signs.
It was good to see the performances of younger players in Lach Whelan, Tom White, Elijah Everingham, Nick Chesworth and Jackson Tooke.
Final Scores: Finley 4.3 (27) def by Echuca United 8.8 (56)
Best players: Will Doolan, Isaac Lunn, Jordan Sykes, Harry Daniel, Nick Chesworth, Elijah Everingham.
Goals: Jordan Sykes, Lachlan Whelan, Will Doolan, Isaac Lunn.
Awards: Finley RSC - Will Doolan; Ross & Sarah - Isaac Lunn; Riverina Machining & Fabrication - Jordan Sykes; Local Dental - Harry Daniel; Kalangadoo Nursery - Nick Chesworth; Massingham Auto - Elijah Everingham.
Under-14s
No report was provided; however, the Cats were comprehensively defeated by Echuca United.
Final Scores: Finley 0.1 (1) def by Echuca United 8.15 (63)
Best players: Adam Chellew, Angus Urquhart, Noah Brindley, Joel Fitzell, Lachlan Urquhart, Lachlan Marshall.
Awards: Finley RSC - Adam Chellew, Iseco Swim School - Angus Urquhart, Kalangadoo Nursery - Noah Brindley, Bauer Family - Joel Fitzell, Sutto’s Mini Excavations Coaches Award - Lachlan Urquhart, Lucas McCaw - Lachlan Marshall.