The Tigers led from the outset and maintained their advantage throughout the game, with Jerilderie mounting a spirited challenge in the second half.
Katamatite established an early lead with a strong first quarter, leading 5.1 (31) to Jerilderie's 0.2 (2). The Tigers extended their advantage in the second quarter.
Jerilderie responded in the third quarter, narrowing the margin to 56-42, but Katamatite held firm in the final term to secure the win.
Final score: Katamatite 10.5 (65) def Jerilderie 7.6 (48).
Kane Hawkins was a constant threat in the forward line, finishing with three goals and leading the team's offensive efforts.
David Gregory’s leadership and defensive prowess were instrumental in keeping Jerilderie within striking distance.
Mitch O'Donnell contributed both offensively and defensively, providing valuable support throughout the match. The Demons now look forward to Katandra this week.
Reserves
The reserves had a hard match as they were short on numbers. The backline was under the pump for the entire game, with Cam Arnold and Dave Hercus leading the way.
Juz Lawton was also great throughout the midfield. Unfortunately, Katamatite opened up the margin every quarter by a few goals and the Demons were unable to get any scores on the board, despite battling for the entire game.
The club appreciated the support of Katamatite players who put on Demon jumpers to help out with numbers.
Final score: Jerilderie 0.0 (0) def by Katamatite 13.16 (94)
Thirds
The thirds had a big challenge against Katamatite with only five players running out, with the team made up mainly of the under 14s and some Katty players.
The Dees started with confidence, but Katty had plenty of the ball in the first quarter and kept it up their forward end.
Jerilderie had a better second quarter, the intensity in the midfield was up, and the tackling was hard and strong, outscoring Katty two goals to one.
In the second half, the backline stood up and handled plenty of Katty's forward pressure. Clean possession was hard to come by, and the opposition seemed to have boys by themselves in the right places.
Final score: Jerilderie 3.2 (20) def by Katamatite 13.4 (92).
Fourths
The fourths made the early journey to Katamatite and were greeted with a thick blanket of fog that didn't lift for most of the game, making visibility and communication a real challenge.
The first quarter was evenly contested in terms of play, with both teams creating opportunities. Unfortunately, Jerilderie struggled to convert forward entries into goals, while Katty took their chances and kicked two majors to take the early lead.
The second quarter saw a strong start from the Dees, with the ball in the forward line for the first five minutes, which was finally rewarded with a goal.
However, Katamatite responded well, using their pace and sharp ball movement to register two goals, stretching their advantage. In the third term, Jerilderie fought hard across the ground.
Defenders were under constant pressure but stood tall, repelling many attacks. Despite the effort, Katamatite were able to break through on several occasions, linking up well from their backline to their forwards, adding three unanswered goals.
True to form, the Dees didn't drop their heads and came out with plenty of spirit in the final quarter, kicking another goal and bringing some of our best pressure and intensity for the day.
While Katamatite added two more majors, the Demons were able to limit their scoring and continue pushing until the final siren.
It was another tough outing, but the players continued the effort, attitude and willingness to compete until the very end. The team continues to show signs of improvement.
Final score: Jerilderie 2.5 (17) def by Katamatite 8.7 (55).