Cats show positive signs despite loss to ANU

Two-and-a-half good quarters of football were a positive indication that the Cooma Cats are a vastly improved side on recent years, despite going down 13-20-98 to 5-3-33 to a much younger and faster ANU side in Canberra on Saturday (08 May).
Despite their competitive start to the game, the Cats lost their way in the second half of the third quarter and were then held goal-less in the last as ANU asserted their authority on the field.
The Cats were right in the game after kicking two quick goals early in the third quarter after staying in touch with the ANU side in the first half of the game.
There was a real belief among the Cats that they were in with a chance after first season player Mal Green pulled off a great tackle in the Cats' forward line and converted the free kick into his first goal in AFL football.
With a spring in their step, the Cats were quickly on the attack again after a ball up saw the Cats' full-forward Rob Brown steal the ball and snap a cheeky goal.
But ANU lifted, and kept dominating for the remainder of the game with the ball rarely leaving their attacking zone.
From that point on, the Cats seemed unable to get the ball clear of their defensive line, falling down across the half-bank flank.
When they did manage to break through and get the ball into the midfield, the Cats' midfielders were missing in action and a sea of blue ANU defenders would push the ball easily back into their forward line with only inaccuracy in front of goal preventing the score from turning into a real blow-out.
The Cats' fade-out in the final quarter was a real disappointment after what was a strong and positive start to the game.
The Cats were good all across the field in the first two quarters, with Jake Burns and Stu Wood in the forward line combining to get the team's first goal. The goal was a real bit of individual magic from Stu as he outplayed a determined opponent to pounce on the pass from Jake and then successfully snap the goal on the run from wide in the forward pocket.
Meanwhile, Travis Duroux played his best game of football for the season dominating in the backline. He was well supported in defence Greg Abrahamfy and the ever present Jimmy Russell.
Tony Fleming, normally floating in the forward line played off the half-back flank and made a strong impression in this new role with some solid tackling and constructive teamwork. Lee Mason working in the mid-field and ruck also played a great game.
Cats' club president Dave Paterson said that while the result was disappointing, there were still many positives from the game.
"This was our third game in a row on the road, all against top quality opposition - and at the end of the day, our losses in each case have been less than they were against the same teams last year," Dave said.
"We also have been blooding a number of first year players over the past few weeks and they - including, Mark Fitzgerald, Jake Burns, Corey Tucker and Mal Green - have been improving each week.
"In fact Mal Green in just three games has gone ahead in leaps and bounds and it was great to see him get his first career goal after making a good tackle.
"So while we are experiencing some short-term pain, we are definitely getting some long-term gain from the new blokes as well as the older players who are continuing to give their all to the club again this year
The Cooma Cats, along with all the clubs in the competition, have a well deserved bye next Saturday and return to the field on Saturday 22 May for their first home game at Snowy Oval in Cooma for 2010.
"The break will give us a chance to reflect on the start of the season, build on the positives we have found and give some of our injured blokes a bit of a rest," Dave said.
The home game on Saturday 22 May will be the club's Ladies' Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Game.
Best players: Lee Mason, Greg Abrahamfy and Mal Green. Goal kickers: one each to Mal Green, Tony Fleming, Rob Brown, Stuart Wood and Lee Mason.
A match report can be seen on the Cats' YouTube Channel.