The Cats started well with Lachy Hawkins in the ruck, providing onballers Benji Neal and Ethan Reeves plenty of supply.
Early goals to Dhaun Kable and Reeves had the home side up and about.
Neal’s ferocious attack at the contest saw the Cats enter the forward 50m frequently.
Veteran forward Paul Massingham was creative, and his pass to Lenny Detoli late in the quarter enabled the young forward a successful shot on goal from 50m.
The home side led at the first break by eight points - their best opening quarter for the season.
The second term saw the visitors respond strongly posting seven goals for the stanza.
Brodie Ross and Hawkins continued their entertaining battle in the ruck.
The home side defence stood strong against the onslaught with Nick Robertson, Charlie Ford and Matthew Whelan combining to limit the scoring.
A quality snap around his body to Massingham had the home crowd in raptures late in the quarter. At half time, the margin was 13 points to Nathalia.
Tim McKenzie started the third quarter with a brilliant goal on the run, but that was to be their only major for the term.
The more experienced Purps steadied and and posted four of their own to extend the lead to 31 points at the last break.
Encouragingly the young Cats stuck to the task and clawed back the margin late in the game.
The performance of Detoli, Whelan and Harry Boyd as Sub gave the supporters a glimpse of the future.
Final Score: Finley 74 def by Nathalia 96.
The thirds got a taste of finals like football as Finley (4th on the Murray League ladder) took on Nathalia (3rd) - and the game didn’t disappoint.
Cruz Nash was happy to get down and dirty in the muddy conditions along with Jacob Armer as those two controlled the game from the outset.
Lenny Datolli kicked the Cats’ only goal for the quarter to see the scores 1.2 apiece at the first break.
The second quarter saw both sides defend strongly as Nathan Brown was moved forward to kick the only goal for the quarter.
Isaac Lunn and Jordan Sykes played beyond their years to provide rebound run out of the backline as Roree Wallis provided a target across the wing.
The third quarter didn’t see a goal kicked as Harrison King marshalled his troops in the backline to stop any opportunities Nathalia created and at the final change the scores were Finley 2.2 (14) to Nathalia 1.3 (9) and the game was up for grabs.
An five minute arm wrestle was broken when Jonty King kicked his first, and after Dattoli found his second Finley had some breathing room.
Nathalia hit back with a goal before Jonty kicked his second to seal the game.
Harry Boyd enjoyed the conditions to be amongst Finley’s best as Kohan Joseph’s speed and class was on show from the outset in his return game, in what was a really determined team effort that all cats fans enjoyed.
Best players: J Armer, C Nash, H King, H Boyd, K Joseph & J Sykes.
Goals: L Dattoli 2, J King 2, NBrown 1.
Final score: Finley 5.2 (32) Nathalia 2.3 (15).
12°C