Semi Final 2020
The competition between the bottom 3 teams has been an arm wrestle with the Cougars appearing to have the upper edge on the scoreboard – Cougars by 68 points in Round 3, Cougars by 1 point in round 6 but Blues by 11 in round 9. Having come from behind last week to upset the second place Cougars the Blues who were sitting in fourth bounced the Bulldogs out of the finals to play in the semi. So on Saturday the Cougars and the Blues played a repeat game of last week but this time it’s for a spot in the Grand Final.
The Blues have finished the season strong, picking up some talented recruits late in the season, none more so than the young athletic ruckman Taylor Cahill whose leap above his opposite and big fists can drill the ball to the half forward line. It should be to the Blues advantage but more often than not the opposition have read it better and Bangers (Cougars) picked up a lot of cannonballs running in from half back to kick to the half forward line. With a brisk nor’wester favouring the city end the Cougars controlled the ball well in the first period but failed to direct the ball through the big sticks with the gusty breeze.
When Cougars had it forward they could trap it in their 50 and the Blues found it hard to clear their half but as the game progressed the Blues found open play through switching direction and were able to penetrate their forward line. The Cougars forward line of Dan and Kris were fed well by Edy, Connor and Bangers. The accuracy into the Blues forward line was not as low or accurate and full forward Will and crumber Sammy had to fight their way for the ball where Josh and Monster were making life hard for them under the high bombs.
Quarter Time Cougars 1 4 10 Blues 0 2 2
What started as a muggy summery day threatening to hit 25 is now changing into a cool blustery Nor wester which the Blues have at their backs. However the Blues are finding it hard to get it over the Cougar half back line of Connor, Monster and Richie (who announced this week he’d be retiring to raise a family- thanks for all your hard work Richie). A lot of the ball was played between the 50’s and along the wing and aimless kicking didn’t find their team mates for an all out attack.
Some smart play from Bangers crumbing at the feet of the ruckman saw his snap from 40 out on the angle go very close till a desperate out stretched finger touched on its way through. The switch of play works well for Jay from a huge tackle he immediately plays on finds Bennie who finds Te who kicks their first goal.
The swirling wind is playing havoc with kicking and marking and both teams have a case of the fumbles whilst the scoreboard operator is kept busy notching up the points.
Going to be tough fight in the third quarter
Half Time Cougars 2 6 18 Blues 1 6 12
The Blues strike first in the Premiership quarter with the switch of play being effective across the half forward line. From a Cougars lazy clearance kick finds Jay floating at half forward and drills a low rocket 40m to find Te by himself within range but heading into the breeze. Te kicks a wobbler but fights it way through the breeze dipping and diving like a spitfire but it confuses everyone and sneaks through. Blues are level.
Moments later it’s a repeat but this time Jay goes cross court to Court whose booming kick sees Keegan launch himself over Jinx for a spectacular mark. His kick off the mark is convincing and on target till the breeze takes the punch out if and it dips to be touched on the line.
I may have mentioned the weather already but like a Crowded House song we all know, the healthy crowd of spectators are now being showered with strong gusts. The mystery drone pilot who has been filming the first half decides he’s had enough which allows the sweet melodies of Tammi Neilson to drift across the paddock from the nearby Wine and Food Festival. The crashing crescendo of empty wine bottles being emptied into the skip is louder than the siren to mark 3 quarter time and the Blues have snuck ahead.
¾ time Cougars 2 7 19 Blues 2 10 22
The final quarter and these two teams 2020 future is on the line – who can prevail as the rain disappears and the gusts have blown themselves out.
Cougars strike first through Dan collecting the ball on the wing and switching play finds Bangers who collects the ball at half forward and drills to the hot spot searching for Jacob Edy. Jacob is crunched in a Blues sandwich but the umpire deems the body action illegal and rewards a free kick 50m out. His kick is true. The Cougars celebrate and are relieved to hit the lead again.
However the Blues are not to die wondering and their tackle intensity is building, applying pressure on every contest. Te swoops on the ball after it pops out of a tackle and his kick along the ground finds Jay, using the wind he kicks 60m on the diagonal to find Big Leyton who picks up on the run and hits a boomer that looks like it could be touched on the line and the Cougars are appealing but goal umpire Sweaty is undeterred and gives the two fingers. Blues by 3.
Crowned the longest CAFL kick for many years Jared Court decides to use the breeze from halfway and with no clear option puts it into the hot spot but the ball just goes and goes and keeps going for 80 m but then fades to the left for a point.
Dan and Jinxy are combining well off half back and a series of 1-2 handballs sees Jinx find Edy in a great contested mark in the forward line and goals to put Cougars back in the running for a spot in the grannie. However the difference in these teams has been the athletic rucking of Taylor Cahill who redeemed himself of his early easier misses in front of goal to take down a high bouncing ball in an athletic leap and snap a goal on the run over the heads of the Cougars to put Blues 4 points up and a Grand Final berth – their first since 2014.
As with all things mysterious in 2020 – the CAFL ladder has spun itself upside down and last years finalists have been overtaken by the bottom 2. Bring on the decider next week where the Eagles will try to go undefeated for the first time ever and the pumped up Blues play for their first flag since 2014.
Semi Final 2020 Blues 4 11 35 defeat Cougars 4 7 31
By Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 06/12/2020 17:22