Cats end season with terrific victory
The Cooma Cats have thanked their supporters in the best way possible with an amazing come from behind win over the Gunghalin Jets in the final game of the 2011 AFL Canberra season.
In what has been described as the Cats’ best 20 minutes of football in recent years, the Cats piled on seven goals to two in the final quarter to erase a three goal deficit at three quarter time and record an amazing 11 point victory. And in so doing, they capped off the club’s best on season in recent history.
The final score read: Cooma Cats 16-11-107 defeated the Gungahlin Jets 14-12-96.
Cats’ president Dave Paterson described the win as a great tribute to the team, and to the club as a whole.
“It was a great effort by coach Damien Asanovski and the players to come out at the start of the final quarter two goals down and completely turn the game around with some great play, teamwork and desperation,” Dave said.
But there was also a tinge of sadness with the Cats seeing two of their team mates hanging up their boots for the last time – stalwart Rob Brown and late starter Mark Fitzgerald.
Coach Asanovski praised both players for their contributions to the team.
“Rob’s been a great player for the Cats for many years and won the club’s Best & Fairest Award in 2008. His on field leadership and determination has been a constant inspiration to everyone on the field and his presence will be missed,” Damien said.
“And Mark, who has only had two season’s with us, has also been a terrific influence on the team with his desire to learn the game at an age when most would be giving it away, and to provide terrific leadership to the younger players on the field,” he said.
The Cats were very keen to end the season with a win to confirm the year as one of the club’s most successful in recent times with seven wins and a draw.
“This win doubled the number of wins from last year and proves we are steadily improving on the field,” Damian said.
The win also capped off a year of change and challenges.
“We have been working hard in developing and experimenting with our playing list throughout the season in an effort to increase our competitiveness which has been challenging at times,” Damien said.
“Some things have worked, others have not been as successful as we might have liked, but overall we have continued to grow and the weekend’s win confirmed for us that we are on the right track in terms of how we as a club approach footy.
“And that approach firmly remains one of ‘playing footy for fun’ through a club which has a strong family and community based culture which welcomes everyone into its ranks,” Damien said.
As part of this family and community based club culture, the Cats hosted a special “supporters versus Supercats Juniors” game during the half time break in the seniors’ match on Saturday.
“We had our Supercats Under 14s side take on a team made up of parents and supporters during the half time break which was a terrific activity and won wide praise from everyone involved,” club president Dave Paterson said.
“To see all those mums, dads and supporters who week in, week out provide all the off-field and administrative support to our senior and junior teams get a chance to play against the Under 14s was a highlight of the day.
“And to have the Cats’ senior players in turn supporting the supporters and juniors on the field was a real and positive indication of the type of club we endeavour to be,” he said.
The Cooma Cats will be holding their presentation night on Saturday night, 10 September
Last Modified on 21/08/2011 10:08