The Picola District Football League grand decider is this Saturday; the question is: Can Katandra crash Waaia’s three-peat party?
Heading into the season, not many suspected Katandra to be a serious contender among the likes of Waaia and Strathmerton.
But after a run of nine consecutive wins to start the season, the Kats emerged as a genuine premiership threat.
This Saturday afternoon at Rennie Recreation Reserve, these Kats will be ready to hunt their opposition as Katandra seeks to break a 20-year senior football premiership drought.
For a small country town — 120 people according to a 2021 census — the Kats have shown they can fight like dogs in the street.
Coach Jason Whittaker said the town of Katandra has thrown their full support behind their beloved Kats ahead of Saturday’s senior football grand final.
“We drove into town last night for Tuesday night training, and into the ground, all the signposts have blue and white balloons and streamers and ‘Go Kats’ posters up all over the place,” Whittaker said.
“The kids at the primary school had been busy making some posters and a lot of the supporters around the club had put in a lot of work.
“The town was draped in blue and white, so it felt really special driving in.
“You can just see that it means a lot to the Katandra community, not just the footy and netball club.”
In the weeks leading into finals, Katandra’s form came to an abrupt halt, with Whittaker saying that a lack of on-field connectivity was to blame.
But those unconnected days seem like ancient history to the Kats, with Katandra bounding into the grand final against Waaia in fit and firing form.
On Saturday, the Kats are eager to bring home all four possible flags (seniors, reserves, thirds and c-res netball), with Whittaker saying the players can’t wait for grand final day.
“It’s pretty special,” he said.
“It’s not something I have heard of too often to have all three grades of football and some netball and just missing out on quite a few other netball sides making it as well.
“It is a fantastic achievement from all involved and it would be great to bring home four flags on the weekend.
“We are just rapt to have the opportunity to run around out there and give it our best and we are really excited by the challenge ahead.”
Led from the front by co-captains Mitch McGrath and Tom Jeffery, Katandra is ready to run the gauntlet and dare to dream big — they have been since their pre-season training sessions in January.
After some pundits wondered whether Jeffery would stir from his recent holiday slumber, the star Kats forward delivered a spine-tingling five-goal dagger to the hearts of Tungamah supporters in the preliminary final.
Along the wings, Katandra’s Bailey Whittaker and Cody Teitzel have given their side endless gut-busting and grass-burning sprints this season.
In defence, Jye Limosani — stiff not to be nominated for the league best-and-fairest — and Jarrad Newman have been an impenetrable force; their spoils, tackles and physicality have left opposition forward lines in tatters.
Onlookers have been left to admire utility Corey Hickford’s football nous and guile, while midfielder Henry Cook earlier this year stared down football influencer Prime Train and lived to tell the tale.
The ever-humble Luke Turcato has been happy to play the thankless half-forward role all season, while big, bad, bustling ruckman Joel Costa has delivered silver service to his midfield week-in-week-out.
The Black brothers, Mitch and Brady, have provided the Kats with lots of spills and thrills with dashing runs and slingshot goals, while Ryleigh Shannon and Talon Wilson have been a one-two punch that leaves their opposition dazed.
Throughout the year, the dynamic midfield-forward mix of Josh Kezerle, Henry Wedding and Zane Thorne has produced enough sizzle to cook a steak.
The Kats’ combination of crafty defenders Zach Wild and Corey Percy have left the opposition in a state of wonder, while Euan Morrissey, Luke Moroney and Harrison Willaton’s flash-and-dash nature often leaves jaws floored.
Jason Whittaker, a former player and assistant coach at Mooroopna and a disc jockey in his heyday, is the pilot behind this Katandra juggernaut.
Should the Kats secure the premiership on Saturday, you can be sure Whittaker will grab the USB stick and load Freed from Desire for the long night of celebrations that will undoubtedly follow.