James Murphy
CASTERTON SANDFORD 12.12 (84) d SOUTH GAMBIER 7.7 (49)
IT has long been the case a road trip to Island Park to play Casterton Sandford should never be taken for granted, irrespective of the host’s ladder position.
The Cats have made a fortress out of their home ground and on Saturday South Gambier succumbed to the powers that be.
It equates to far from the ideal start to the season for the 2022 runners-up, with the Demons now 0-3.
The Cats on the other hand have now tasted success for the first time this year, which came from high midfield intensity and a good spread of contributors up forward.
Played as a twilight game under lights, the Demons made the drive with a couple of players absent.
A flawless opening term did not help their case and the Cats had a flawless start to kick a neat six goals to South’s 1.4 to be up by 26 at the first break.
“We got off to a great start,” Cats coach Kane Forbes said.
“I think we had three (goals) in about three minutes, we really did get the jump on them early.
“It was good to get the reward on the scoreboard, but it was more the pressure at ground level and our cleanliness around the ball and dominance from a stoppage sense that I was most pleased with.”
The spectacle continued in the second term and despite some wayward kicking, the hosts extended their lead to be up by 34 at half time.
Diarmid Cleary was showing his usual grit around the contest, while it was Hamish McCrae who stepped up on the night.
He finished up with four majors and the best-on-ground honours for the Cats in an impressive display.
“He had four goals in the first quarter, so he started like a house on fire,” Forbes said.
“It was actually his birthday too which worked well.
“He and Alistair (McCrae) rucked fantastically all day and did a fantastic job in terms of their presence around the ground and giving our mids first use.”
To the Demons’ credit they reeled in the margin somewhat in the third quarter with three goals, while pressure down back kept the Cats to a 1.6 return.
“We knew they were going to come at some stage and they did,” Forbes said.
“They really ramped their pressure up on the ground level balls.
“From there they were able to get the ball to the outside and get repeat entries.
“Our back six as a collective did a fantastic job of making sure we didn’t bleed too many goals.”
However, there remained plenty of work to be done for the Demons in the final stanza and it proved a stretch too far for last year’s minor premiers.
“They definitely could have come out in the last quarter and continued their momentum, but the fact we were able to stop that and get things back on our term was a big win for us,” Forbes said.
Casterton Sandford new-recruit Michael Krieger kept things consistent with another two-goal performance, while Alastair McCrae and young talent Adam McKinnon also had two.
They complemented Hamish McCrae’s endeavours up forward in a well-spread attack which pleased Forbes after the Cats adopted a more attacking brand of football over preseason.
Forbes was pleased with the output from his team in a result which promises good things moving forward.
“Adam McKinnon got a bit more reward in terms of more outside and running disposals, which is his bread and butter,” he said.
“He has been great in the first couple of weeks, but it has been a lot more contested.
“Diarmid Cleary was fantastic again, just doing what he does leading the defensive acts and those sorts of things and Jarrod O’Brien’s leadership from the back half was second to none.”
Dylan Ayton and Elwood Geary rounded out the Cats’ best.
It was unsurprising to see a backman at the head of South’s best players, with Taylor Saffin named best on ground for his tireless defensive efforts.
Young gun Nelson Forbes kept his consistency with another two goals added to his ledger, while coach Brayden Kain also found the big sticks on a couple of occasions.
After a strong run of form in the Reserves, Riley Sturges had a chance in the top grade and impressed to make the best, while Oliver Thomson found himself on the list again.
Bronson Saffin and Chris Fallas rounded out the top performers, but the Demons will be desperate to put a win on the board next week.
The Cats now sit third on the premiership table after three rounds, while the Demons are in fifth ahead of the Bulldogs by only percentage.
It will not be any easier for South this week as it faces an in-form West Gambier outfit, while the Cats also face a challenge when Millicent visits Island Park for Round 4.
