In the final round of the Picola District Football League home and away season, the Tigers not only dismantled fellow top-four contender Katandra 16.11 (107) to 8.10 (58), but leapfrogged the Kats into second spot in the process.
It was their first victory over a top-four side in 2025 and it came with a bonus: proof they can match it with the competition’s elite heading into September.
The opening term at Katamatite Recreation Reserve was a tense sparring match.
Gun Tigers forwards Mitch Coleman and Will Gorman found early space to post a couple of majors, but Katandra, led by the ever-influential Bailey Bell, stayed in touch.
The scoreboard read 27-15 at the first break and, while Katamatite had edged ahead, the contest still felt on a knife’s edge.
Then the knife twisted.
James Hazelman’s men exploded in the second term, piling on 4.1 while holding the visitors to a solitary behind.
Big man Zach Del Grosso stamped his authority in the ruck, giving Gorman and Coleman silver-platter supply, and the pair duly cashed in.
Katamatite’s forward-half pressure was suffocating, its turnovers turning into scores almost instantly.
By half-time, the lead had ballooned to 55-16 and the home crowd could smell something brewing.
Katamatite slammed on another 6.4 to Katandra’s 2.2 in the third term to put the game beyond reasonable doubt and, though the Kats did find some late joy, kicking 4.4 in the final term to trim the final margin to 49 points, the damage was long done.
Bell was again Katandra’s heartbeat, running hard and using the ball cleanly and his form will keep Pearce Medal-like whispers going as the league vote count approaches.
On the Tigers’ front, Coleman and Gorman combined for 11 goals, while Del Grosso and Patrick Riordan earned rich plaudits from Hazelman.
And for Katamatite, the win meant more than ladder position.
“Before we played yesterday, we hadn’t beaten a top-four side all year,” Hazelman said.
“From the outside, a lot of people might’ve thought it was a dead rubber, but we made it a focus to play our best footy and bring that into two weeks’ time.”
That “two weeks’ time” will be a repeat fixture: Katandra and Katamatite, same combatants, this time in a cut-throat final.
And the Tigers will go into it with an extra weapon — former AFL defender Tom Clurey, back from injury and ready for finals action.
“Obviously Tom will be a huge in for his experience and his footballing ability speaks for itself,” Hazelman said.
“There’s no pressure on Tom to go out there and be the best player, he’s just got to fit into our system and play his role well, which I know he will.
“He’s been doing a power of work behind the scenes to help our boys improve off the field, so when he gets back out there, I know the boys will lift around him and it’ll be great to have him out there at the right time of year.”
In other games, Waaia rubber stamped its minor premiership with a 108-point victory over Katunga as Charlie Burrows struck pay dirt with a haul of 12 majors.
Tungamah ensured its spot in finals with a 21.15 (141) to 6.3 (39) victory against Rennie, while Strathmerton rounded out its season with an 11-goal triumph over Dookie United.
Tocumwal had the better of Jerilderie by 24 points, Picola United thumped Mathoura 17.11 (113) to 4.7 (31) and Deniliquin Rovers bested Blighty by a margin of 138.
On the netball courts, Strathmerton slid into finals on percentage alone despite losing its last home and away outing to Dookie United.
The Thunder secured a 52-33 result to book their own finals passage, but ninth-placed Rennie’s 14-goal loss to Tungamah saw Strathmerton cling on to eighth position.
Around the grounds, Deniliquin Rovers ended the year on top after beating Blighty by 77 goals, Katandra finished second following a 50-41 win over Katamatite and Katunga clinched third, ousting Waaia 56-19.
Lastly, Tocumwal was far too strong for Jerilderie in a 71-32 demo job, while Picola United saw off Mathoura by 31 goals.
