The Swans were magnificent away to Waaia, successfully fending off the reigning Picola District Football League premier’s desperate clamber in the final quarter to hold on to a nervy, albeit deserved, 10.5 (65) to 7.19 (61) victory.
Inaccuracy in front of goals clearly cost the host.
Yet, despite possessing almost double Katunga’s scoring shots, the game fitted the initial billing and went right down to the wire, according to Flanagan.
“We probably had our opportunities in the last quarter as well and didn’t even hit the scoreboard,” he said.
“We were still attacking and moving the ball as efficiently as we could, given that they were going for broke.
“Both sides were pretty fatigued, the ball was still moving up and down the ground quite a bit and they had a couple of shots perhaps they’d be a little bit disappointed that they missed.
“It was tense — there’s no doubt about that — but we knew they’d keep coming; you don’t do what they’ve done by giving up at half-time when you’re four goals down.”
Waaia lost once throughout its entire premiership campaign, but heading into Saturday’s bout, it had already doubled its 2023 tally.
After the first quarter, there was little indication two losses would become three either.
The Bomber led by eight points at the first change, but by half-time, Katunga had role-reversed its way to a two-goal advantage as tall forwards Oliver Small and Sam Arho were brought into the game with pinpoint kicking.
Then Waaia sliced the margin to eight points with one term left to play.
The black and red surge was relentless.
It seemed like the inevitable was on its way.
But Katunga, galvanised by its recent hold-ons in the past two matches, stumped up enough gas to muzzle the mighty Waaia and walk off the park with four points in the bag in more than one sense.
“It was certainly our best effort for the year so far,” Flanagan said.
“We had a pretty tough start, (we) drew Waaia and Strathy first up which sort of knocked our confidence around a fair bit given that we’ve had a lot of new players come in.
“We’ve been building for the last four weeks and set ourselves for this one I suppose. Waaia’s the toughest road trip in the comp, there’s no doubt about that.
“I’ve got enormous respect for Waaia as a club and as a side, so it was good the way the boys applied themselves for the full 120 minutes.
“We were running out of petrol towards the end, but we’re a young side and we’re still building, so it was a really pleasing effort.”
Katunga’s Zac Laffy was named as best afield in the gripping Swans’ success, with Flanagan also recognising the efforts of Brad Crowther, Nick McCann, Cameron Bishop, Xavier Thorpe as well as Small (four goals) and Arho (two).
For Waaia, the ever-dangerous Charlie Burrows bagged three majors, while Ky Johnston was the Bombers’ best.
Around the grounds, Strathmerton continued its bulldozing run of form with a 70-point beating of Tungamah, while Katandra bested Jerilderie by six points.
Mathoura left Tocumwal with a 15.10 (100) to 5.5 (35) win, Berrigan trounced Blighty by 158 points, while Katamatite and Picola United walked away with similarly large triumphs over Yarroweyah and Rennie respectively.
On the netball courts, Waaia flipped the script on the football score with a five-goal victory against Katunga to edge within four points of the Swans on the ladder.
Katandra took a 31-goal win from its clash with Jerilderie, Rennie toppled Picola United 40-24 and Tocumwal pushed past Mathoura by nine goals.
Lastly, Berrigan ousted Blighty 40-34 and Katamatite’s 109-8 win over Yarroweyah exhibited the gulf between top and bottom.
