2004 Season - Cougars v Victoria Mid July

Cougars win the battle of the big Cats

Set to be the feature of the Richmond festival, it was with some disappointment that the Cougars showed up to magnificent Minoru Oval in Richmond centre on a beautiful summers day to find a bunch of curry munchers wearing white and playing cricket all over our ground. After an hour or so of uncertainty, the boys headed off to a nearby school where the Handyman was quick to do his thing and in no time, some goalposts were erected and a ground marked out.

Leading up to game time, the Lions were looking slick and determined as they went about their pre-game warmup. Due to a lack of numbers, the Lions were lucky enough to garner the services of some of the Cougars finest - as Campo, Handyman, Morgs, and Punter volunteered to make up their numbers. Whilst initially not being to keen to play for the Lions, Cashie quickly put his hand up after discovering the Lions had nice new lightweight jumpers that would make his muscles look big and shiney in the sunlight.

With that sorted, it was onto the game.

From the start of the contest, the Victoria boys were certainly taking it to the Cougars and giving as good as they got. Neither team could break away to too much of an advantage. The GlamourBoy drifted down into the forward line to snag the opener and this was quickly followed up by a goal from Stew “Overdue” Green who was looking dangerous up forward in tandem with the Pretty Boy. By the end of the first quarter, it was still close.

1st Quarter - Cougar 2.1.13 to Victoria Lions 0.2.2

The Lions continued to give it to the Cougars in the second quarter, but the skill edge of the Cougars began to take over. Bobby, Ash and Happy began to control the centre and send the ball constantly into the forward line while Overdue, Randy Dick and Matty W were taking marks at will across the Centre Half Forwardline. The backline players as per usual were working hard and refused to give up even a point without a fight. Coops and Pete Taylor as always formed the initial wall across the CHB line, while Johnny Klump, Ted Bundy and Special K wore their opponents like gloves.

Half Time - Cougar 5.4.34 to Victoria Lions 1.3.9

As the heat began to take it’s toll, the Cougars raised their game a notch. At the 10 minute mark, the Glamour Boy went down with a massive corky. However, the injury proved to be a blessing in disguise as Matty W was thrust into the ruck. Over the next 10 minutes, he instigated a Cougar’s goalfest from the centre as he constantly outleapt the Lions ruckman and gave the ball on a platter to the likes of Ash, Bobby and Happy who bombed the ball deep into the forwardline. Despite almost a year out of the game, Nelson was a welcome return to the Cougars side and controlled his wing as per usual. Despite “walking on one leg”, the Pretty Boy overcame his injury to score a couple of late goals as to did Overdue who by his own account had gathered “around 10-15 grabs” for the game. Bobby, continued the goalfest to kick two of his 3 goals for the game.

3rd Quarter -Cougar 11.2.68 to Victoria Lions 3.4.22

The last quarter was dominated by the Cougars as everyone seemed determined to get on the scoreboard. Matty W continued to be superb in the centre and was ably assisted by his lieutenants – Bobby and Ash who were ruling the centreline. Happy spent most of the last quarter lurking on the forward flank and managed to snag a few points from almost directly in front before finally snagging his first goal. Coops, not doubt under the “guise” of chasing his opponent spent some time in the forwardline but unfortunately just could not add to his career tally of 1 goal after posting a couple of near misses.

Shep, who was playing off a half backline and playing inspired football, at one stage broke a couple of tackles to run down and score a highlight reel goal. However, the boys were overshadowed though as the Glamour kicked possibly the goal of the season with a freakish snap from the boundary. As the ball split the goalposts from a seemingly impossible angle, the Pretty Boy was noted to be shaking his bowed head, seemingly realizing that he still has a lot to learn before he can lay claim to the goalkicking title.

The highlight of the last quarter though, had to be the magnificent smoother laid by Cashie for Victoria. Another nice tapout from Matty W saw the ball land squarely into the hands of Ash. He quickly wound up to send the ball long. Unfortunately he didn’t count on the quick thinking of Cashie who decided that the best way to stop yet another Cougars goal was to thrust his big melon in front of the ball. After 3 and a half quarters of constant yapping, Cashie was remarkable quiet for a few moments as he hit the desk like a sack of spuds and tried to remove the T.W.Sherrin mark imprinted in the side of his face. Play was temporarily stopped so all and sundry could basically have a good laugh.

In the end, the Cougars by a blowout.

Final Score – Cougar 14.10.94 to Victoria Lions 4.4.28

Thanks to the Cougar players who pulled on the boots for the Lions – Campo (yes we saw your goal), Morgs, Punter Mitchell, Handyman Hilton, and Cashie and the players who umpired – Arnie P, Happy and Shep, and the self-retired player who kept time and the scoring – Guru Edmonds.

Bests (from) – Matty W, Ash, Shep, Pete T, Coops, Bobby, Overdue.
Goal Kickers - Bobby –3, Glamour – 3, Pretty 3, Overdue –3, Shep – 1, Happy – 1, Campo – 1 (for Victoria)