Finley hosted traditional rivals Tocumwal on the weekend at the Community and Sporting Ground.
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The banter between supporters was back and competitiveness across all grades was there for all to see in front of a huge crowd.
It’s been great to have the Bloods back in the Murray League.
At the toss stalwarts from both clubs were in attendance.
Tocumwal’s Jim Cullen and Finley’s Brian Gale and Warwick Douglas were all honoured along with the captains of both sides.
The first quarter was played in a competitive spirit.
Finley scored four goals and Tocumwal hit the scoreboard twice.
The Bloods’ coach, Kade Rowe, was giving his side plenty of the ball from the clearance along with his run and carry, which kept them in the contest at the first break.
The Cats were being led again by Bailey Reeves and key forwards Robert Kirby and Tom Lang were looking dangerous.
The Cats led by nine points.
The second term saw Finley kick into gear.
They kicked seven goals for the quarter and held Tocumwal scoreless.
The Cats defence did not allow their opponents any breathing space.
Running defender Jack Lang broke through the middle of the ground, ran through the 50m line to slot the goal half post high bringing the crowd to its feet.
The Cats’ young brigade were led by Zye Treadway and Bailey Burke in the middle of the ground.
Forwards Archie Mason and Levi Webster assured a 52-point lead at the end of the term.
During the break coach Reeves impressed on his players not to take the foot off the throttle and Finley responded, kicking eight goals to Toc’s two.
Tom Lang was providing plenty of headaches for the Bloods defence.
He, along with defender Angus Robertson and young Bailey Coombes, were having a significant impact.
Tocumwal’s Mitch Collins Bye, Drew Haebich and veteran Jeremy Cardillo were competing hard for the Bloods.
The Cats led by 91 points.
In the last stanza, Tocumwal rallied and kick three goals for the quarter.
Brock McCabe and Thomas Barker were lively up forward.
The Cats finished with seven goals and when Tom Lang kicked his 11th, the Cats had done enough.
Finley recorded a 105 point victory.
Final score: Finley 26.9 (165) def Tocumwal 7.8 (50).
Finley goals: Tom Lang 11, Robert Kirby 4, Bailey Reeves 3, Levi Webster 2, Archie Mason 1, Bailey Coombs, Lenny Dattoli, Charlie Lang, Jack Lang, Charlie Ford.
Finley’s best: Tom Lang, Bailey Reeves, Zye Treadway, Bailey Burke, Charlie Lang, Jack Lang.
Finley Awards: Kelly Grains - Zye Treadway; Garnaut Private Wealth - Bailey Burke; Finley Country Club - Rob Kirby; Eagle i Machinery - Levi Webster; Finley RSC - Bailey Coombs.
Toc’s best: Kade Rowe, Mitch Collins Bye, Drew Haebich, Jeremy Cardillo, Dane Maxwell, Charles McKenna.
Toc goals: Dane Maxwell 3, Brock McCabe 1, Mitch Collins Bye, Tom Barker, Cory Parish.
Finley’s seniors move their thoughts to the elimination final against Numurkah on the Blues’ home ground this coming Saturday.
Finley go into the game as underdogs following two defeats to Numurkah during the home-and-away season.
But rest assured, they are hungry for a win and begin the week with fiery enthusiasm and determination.
The reserves game was highlighted by the clash of the Suttons - Roger and sons from Finley versus Roger’s brother Dennis and his sons from Toc.
It was a hard fought close opening quarter, with Finley coming in with a narrow lead at quarter time.
The boys opened up after that.
Elli Sutton - who was clearly motivated by playing his first game with his dad - had the ball on a string.
James Kennedy was outstanding, as he has been all year, finishing with four goals.
Liam Osborne and Jimmy McCaw continued their strong seasons, and Callum Robertson put his hand up for goal of the year, snapping truly over his head from the goal square.
Sam Price found himself in unfamiliar territory up forward and was rewarded with his first goal for the season.
All in all it was a good clean hard game between two arch rivals and was definitely played in great spirit.
Final score: Finley 7.11 (53) def Tocumwal 3.3 (21).
Finley’s goals: James Kennedy 4, Ayden Youd 1, Callum Robertson, Sam Price.
Finley’s best: Eli Sutton, Liam Osborne, James Kennedy, Sam Price, Nathan Denny, Chris Wright.
Finley Awards: Marshall Ag - Eli Sutton; Travla Beer - Liam Osborne; Peter Scott Electrical - James Kennedy; Kalangadoo Nursery - Sam Price; Ryan Donkin Painting - Shane Chellew.
In the thirds, Finley were looking for a strong performance leading into finals.
A goal to Isaac Lunn was the highlight of the first quarter as we struggled to kick straight.
The second quarter saw Sam Hurlston show his toughness, putting himself in vulnerable positions to set up two goals.
One goal to Jake Armer and the next to Lenny Dattoli, before Harvey Sneddon stuck to team rules to find Nick Taylor in the right spot as he kicked truly.
Nathan Brown was strong in defence.
Will Doolan showed he is a workhorse laying many tackles through the midfield to slow Tocumwal.
His follow up work allowed Jake Armer and Angus Hay to control the clearances.
Finley weren’t playing the best brand of footy but we held a strong lead.
Toc kicked their only goal in the third quarter as Armer kicked his second before Harry Boyd kicked a nice goal.
At the final change it was 6.11 (47) to 1.2 (8).
There was a task set; to play more team footy and to really hit the scoreboard.
To the whole teams credit this was met.
Jake Orro kicked the first before Dattoli kicked his second then third.
Taylor kicked his second before Dattoli had a fourth then a fifth to ensure a strong finish to the game.
Final score: Finley 12.13 (85) def Tocumwal 1.2 (8).
Finley’s goals: Lenny Dattoli 5, Jacob Armer 2, Nick Taylor, Jake Orro 1, Isaac Lunn, Harry Boyd.
Finley’s best: Isaac Lunn, Will Doolan, Nathan Brown, Elijah Everingham, Lenny Dattoli, Angus Hay.
Finley Awards: Finley RSC - Samuel Hurlston; Ross & Sarah - Isaac Lunn; Finley Bakery - Will Doolan; Three Rivers Excavations - Nathan Brown; Kalangadoo Nursery - Elijah Everingham; Thompson Service Centre - Lenny Dattoli.
Toc’s best: Hunter Groutsch, Pacye Haebich, Joe Barker, Charles Locke, Liam Sutton, Nate Grieves.
Toc’ goals: Rory Shepherd 1.
The Finley fourths were finally back on the home deck and for the last game of the year, playing off against Tocumwal.
Toc jumped the boys in the midfield and some quick changes were made before any harm was done.
The backline was solid again allowing the team to adjust to the changes.
Once the boys adjusted it was game on. No one was willing to give an inch and it was a battle to the end.
Campbell ‘Nip Jnr’ Reynolds was up for the challenge, doing what he does week-in and week-out, providing opportunity from nothing. His created pressure was text book.
Blake ‘The Interceptor’ Vidler was at his best ducking and weaving through chaos making multiple rebounds look like a walk in the park.
This allowed Ryder ‘Looms-day’ Loomes to make a run forward and snap a goal in congested play.
Toc responded and managed to find a spare man free, and slotted an uncontested goal to regain the lead and this is where it was for remainder of game.
The young Cats had many opportunities to convert scores and regain the lead.
They had great ball control/zoning and Toc were saved by the bell at half-time and three quarter time when the Cats were advancing and looking dangerous.
In the last quarter. Finley were hungry to pounce and finish the year with a win.
They had multiple inside 50s and, to Toc’s credit, they held out.
The Finley boys combined together and started making another advance from the backline, where they gained control of a turn over and commenced the attack.
The first link up was met by some desperate Toc opponents when the ball hit the ground.
The tackling was fierce and with 2.5 minutes on the clock, the game stopped when a young Toc lad broke his arm.
It was a really good match for the boys.
The game had many highlights with Corey ‘Dundo’ Dundon starting to find his spot in the side and develop, playing a role which saw him in the thick of it.
Hamish ‘Hash’ Lucas contested hard and kept the ball held in the forward line allowing the midfield to zone up.
The Hudson ‘Hudson Hawk’ Daniel was again unleashed and played his roll really well, taking some telling marks under pressure.
Angus Urquhart was brilliant down back, selling candy to the opposition forward line as he danced the ball back into attack.
Patty ‘Danger’ Billings was the master in setting up plays and zones slipping and sliding by opponents driving the ball forward.
Finley welcomed back Noah ‘Bullet’ Brindley after being unavailable for some weeks. His speed, along with Flynn ‘Flea’ Rourke, has been next level giving both time to make plays.
Lachy ‘Lionheart’ Urquhart proves to be the hardest player on the field with his fearless attack on the ball and ability to bring down his much bigger opponents.
Logan ‘Loges’ Peasley, captain Ben Rourke, Nick ‘Chessy’ Chesworth, Ryan ‘Big boy’ Bauer, Ash ‘Asho’ Hines and Darcy ‘Rumble in the jungle’ Sutton all played vital roles in the midfield and backline.
They have stepped up another level this year, while the Tom ‘Tom Cat’ Marshall goes about his business quietly, his silky clean hands do not go unnoticed.
Final score: Finley 1.1(7) lost to Tocumwal 1.4 (10).
Finley’s goal: Ryder Loomes.
Finley’s best: Campbell Reynolds, Angus Urquhart, Pat Billings, Blake Vidler, Corey Dundon, Lachlan Urquhart.
Finley Awards: Finley RSC - Campbell Reynolds; Finley Bakery - Angus Urquhart; Kalangadoo Nursery - Pat Billings; Bauer Family - Blake Vidler; Sportspower Coaches Award - Corey Dundon; Lucas McCaw - Lachlan Urquhart.
Toc’s best: Kade Campbell, Heath Mansell, Chace Brunskill, Jake Hicks, Josh Herezo, Harrison Wilson.
Toc’s goals: Jake Hicks.
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