It was so close, but so far for a second straight Western Football League division 2 grand final for Albion.
After almost pinching last year’s decider as the underdog. the Cats were the favourites heading into this year’s decider.
They were undefeated and knocked off their opponent, Sunshine, three times during the season, including most recently in the second week of finals.
But finals can do funny things with the Kangaroos winning, 8.8 (56)-6.13 (49)
In all sorts of conditions including wind, hail and sun it was a game that went down to the wire.
The Kangaroos had the scoring end and led by 15 points at quarter time but should have been further ahead having kicked 2.5.
The margin was reduced nine points at half time, but having kicked 1.6 the Cats could have easily taken the front.
Early in the third quarter it was all the Kangaroos.
The margin blew out to 34 points and it looked like they would run away with it.
This was the momentum in the semi final when the Cats turned the game in their favour.
It seemed it would be the case as well here when they kicked three goals to the non-scoring end to bring the margin back to 15 points at the last break.
When the Cats kicked the first goal of the final quarter within the first minute, it was back to nine points.
A goal against the tide for Sunshine to Mathew Medcraft steadied the Kangaroos.
The Cats did all the attacking from there on in.
There were some missed chances and a couple of dropped marks in the forward line.
A goal in the 20th minute made the margin just seven points.
The ball was in the Cats forward line when the siren went, shocking most of the crowd that thought there was still time on the clock.
Speaking to the crowd after the game, Cats coach Blake Richards said they were beaten by a better team on the day.
“Sunshine first, a fantastic game,” he said. “You picked up your intensity throughout the year everytime you played us.
“You probably deserved the win in the end to tell you the truth. It was a scrap all day and you didn’t leave anything out there, so congratulations.”
Richards said they believed this was just the beginning of what they can do as a club.
“It’s been a fantastic couple of years,” he said. “Sometimes you get all that way and there was a lot of pressure on us.
“Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way, sometimes things go against you a little bit. I’m proud of everyone of you, proud of the crowd and the committee, Albion footy club the way it is travelling.
“I think our perception has changed in the WRFL [WFL], I think we’re starting to get back to where we should be and I think we’ll continue to grow in years to come.”
The Cats reserves side also lost its grand final to Sunshine.
