For Picola District Football League premiership titles, two’s company at Tungamah.
It felt entirely apropos for Tungamah and Katandra to contest the Picola’s reserved grand final after the two clubs split the earlier youth deciders with the Bears victorious at under-14 level and the Kats taking the under-17 flag.
While we saw a handful of goals early, by far the first term’s most memorable moment was Bears’ big man Ashley Saunders soaring for what could have been a country football mark of the year contender if he’d only brought it down.
More importantly, it was 13 points Tungamah’s way at the first change of ends, but the second felt entirely different — and the scoreboard reflected as much.
Both goals in the second quarter belonged to Katandra, leaving things poised by under a kick at the half.
What followed in the third was much the opposite of the two games which preceded this one; where those junior finals embarked on a long feeling-out process before one team put the foot down, things almost ground to a halt here.
No ascendancy was capable of lasting long as the two teams took one another to task in the midfield without always punishing around the goals.
The defining moment of the term came off the boot of key forward Jake Henderson, whose sublime set shot from the pocket restored a meagre Bears advantage shortly before the final break.
Opening the last stanza, Saunders popped up with the right stuff — even if his mark wasn’t quite as spectacular as the first attempt — to put down a bit of room to breathe.
Damien Payne wasn’t far behind with a finish from the same pocket, and before long, it felt like the Bears were queuing up.
The Kats would have hardly blinked before staring down the barrel of a margin exceeding 30, and it looked safely wrapped up from there.
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Tungamah's Jye Holcombe clears defensive 50 with a long kick. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 7
Tungamah's Jye Holcombe and Katandra's Kel Beaton contest one another with the ball in dispute. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 7
Tungamah's Daniel Ellis fakes onto his left side. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 7
Tungamah's Ashley Saunders made sure the opposition knew where he was at all times. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 7
Tungamah's Jye Holcombe dusts himself off after a tackle. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 7
Katandra's Bailey Simpson gets low to claim the handpass. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 7
Katandra's Kel Beaton has long distance on his mind. Photo by Rechelle ZammitAs jubilation ensued at the final siren, Tungamah had gone two for two on the football front in taking the reserves flag courtesy of a 9.16 (70) to 7.9 (51) win.
With that, Katandra’s hopes of a grand final hat-trick ended before the seniors could take the park against Waaia.
Coach Matt Bourke hailed a wildly successful turnaround for his squad after knocking over the competition’s benchmark team.
“I’m super proud of how the boys fought it out,” Bourke said.
“I thought, with Katandra being the premier side all year, that they might run all over us but our midfield got on top at the start of the last quarter, which was very pleasing.
“We started the season with three 100-point losses and that had us down and out, so to get to where we were was pleasing.
“We knew early in the first, when we were dominant, that we were winning centre clearances and we had to get our midfield on top again.
“We were a bit loose around the ground so we needed to man up and after that, the momentum came on its own and everyone rose up to the occasion.”
Accompanying a second flag on the day was a second best-on-ground award as Brady Hayes scooped the honours, having led all comers on the ground with three goals.
“He played 80 per cent of the game in midfield and then kicked some extremely crafty goals,” Bourke said.
“He lifted us in that final term with work rate that was second to none and we’re lucky to have him.”
Saunders contributed two as Tungamah’s other multiple goalkicker, while Nathan White and Cayden Rogerson each picked up a pair for the defeated Kats.