Sport
29 April, 2026
Cats claim Anzac Day clash
IT’S AN honour and a privilege to be able to play a game of footy on ANZAC Day; you go to the dawn service early in the morning, attend the march mid-morning and then head off with the stories and memories of those that have served and sacrificed.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”
IT’S AN honour and a privilege to be able to play a game of footy on ANZAC Day; you go to the dawn service early in the morning, attend the march mid-morning and then head off with the stories and memories of those that have served and sacrificed.
This week our Cats went on the long trip to Millicent, a game that in recent years has brought little success, but our lads were up and about after a very good win against a North Gambier side that had defeated Millicent in the first round.
And after four impressive quarters, they came away with the win - the first time over the Saints, at Millicent, since 2019.
Cats Ed Pritchard won the toss and chose to kick to the town end, Casterton Sandford won the first centre clearance through Sean Willmott, the ball moving quickly forward and a behind was scored.
The Cats kept the ball in their half for the first five minutes, kicking another couple of behinds before an intercept mark by Tom Foster saw him pass to Harold Pritchard, who kicked the Cats’ first goal. Millicent was back on the attack from the next ball up, going forward quickly but the Cats’ defenders were ready and cleared away just as fast through Diarmid Cleary and the ball found its way to Ed Pritchard, who kicked the Cats’ second, on the run.
Casterton Sandford continued to win the majority of the ball, peppering the goals but only being rewarded with behinds, Colby Munro, Archie Lane and Sam Craig were all prominent in this period, whether tackling, shepherding or gaining possession and getting the ball on to team-mates.
Dylan Ayton was also standing out, a clear leader for the Johnny Humphries $2 early, tapping the ball to advantage, diving to keep the ball in play and with the assistance of Oliver Foster, he was able to get the ball to Cal Currie on the lead who kicked the Cats’ third goal.
Millicent couldn’t be held back forever though and once goal umpire Tim Rhook waved his flags for a goal once, he didn’t have much time to put them away before he had them out again for a second and then a third.
The Saints looked set for a fourth, but a strong tackle by Lane on the back flank held that up and the Cats got the ball moving towards their forward 50 where another tackle, this time by Jackson Gibbs, was rewarded a free and from 40 out on the boundary, Gibbs kicked the Cats fourth as the siren sounded to end the quarter, Casterton Sandford in front by 13 points.
Quarter-time Millicent 3.0 (18) to Casterton-Sandford 4.7 (31).
Millicent’s Harry Gibbs got the quarter rolling for the Saints, kicking their fourth goal within the first minute of the second quarter.
The Cats then moved the ball forward through Cleary and Harold and Cats’ Coach Currie soon answered the Saints goal with one for the visitors.
The quarter looked like it was going to be a shoot-out as Millicent streamed forward from the ball-up, but the Cats were able to repel through Sam Tooley, Gabe Parsons and Adam McKinnon.
The Saints soon had the ball back in their half, though and were able to get their fifth goal on the board.
Millicent continued to press hard forward and were proving to be deadly accurate with their kicking for goal, as they soon added a sixth goal to their tally.
The game became a bit more defensive, Sean Willmott was prominent, tackling and giving off quick handballs and short passes to advantage, ably assisted by Josh Jones, Sully Gibbs and big man, Alastair McCrae.
It took the Cats a little while, but they were able to get the ball to Currie who slotted home the Cats’ sixth.
Jacob Carger for the Saints was proving to be a headache for the Cats and he was able to kick Millicent’s seventh goal and a few minutes later, their eighth.
A ninth goal to Millicent rounded out the quarter and afforded the Saints an 11-point lead at half-time.
Half-time Millicent 9.1 (55) to Casterton Sandford 6.8 (44).
The Cats got the first centre clearance for the quarter through Diarmid Cleary, but it was soon repelled by versatile Saint Zac McGuinness, who had been a leading light for Millicent.
The ball was played primarily between the flanks for the next few minutes until Harold Pritchard was able to get the ball to Al McCrae, who booted the Sherrin long to brother Hamish on the lead, who marked and goaled.
Millicent got the next clearance, but Sam Tooley got the Cats back going forward and a Michael Krieger pass to Al McCrae saw him kick the Cats’ eighth.
This was soon followed by a goal to Munro, a lovely snap out of the pack. Millicent went forward again but Tooley was able to intercept and pass to Gabe Parsons, who was taken high by one Saint and then another jumped onto his back; good to see that the Millicent playbook hasn’t changed.
Gabe was rewarded the free kick and sent the Cats into attack where Krieger snapped the visitors’ 10th goal.
The Cats continued to push forward, this time through Jackson Gibbs who kicked long from the middle and the Cats swooped, Cleary ducked and weaved, coming out with the Sherrin and kicking the Cats 11th.
Munro added another goal to the tally after some good work by Lane and Ed Pritchard and then it was Krieger’s turn again after some good work down back by Matt Mutch, Tom Foster, Ayton and Connor Kelly.
The Cats were able to take a 29-point lead into the three-quarter-time break and had played the quarter with discipline, team-work and heart.
Three-quarter-time Millicent 9.5 (59) to Casterton Sandford 13.10 (88).
The last quarter saw Willmott again win the centre clearance; Casterton Sandford kept the ball in their half for a couple of minutes until Al McCrae was impeded in a boundary throw-in and was rewarded the free kick, which he promptly put through the big sticks.
The Cats soon had another goal on the board, when Ed Pritchard kicked to Colby Munro, who marked between his legs and snapped the goal.
The next ball-up saw Al McCrae tap forward, gather his own tap and then k i c k long to the lead of his coach; Currie marked and then kicked truly.
Casterton Sandford now had a 46-point lead, but the Saints weren’t about to lie down on their home turf as they fired through a goal of their own from long range.
Both teams worked hard for the ball and the contests were willing. Millicent kicked another goal, which was quickly answered by the Cats when Jones, on the wing, passed to Jackson Gibbs who quickly got the Sherrin onto McKinnon, who kicked the Cats’ 17th goal.
As the minutes ticked by, the barbecue area got quieter, only sparking back up when Ayton got near the ball; I am certain that Millicent supporters have nightmares about Dyl and must wake up absolutely soaking wet every morning.
Millicent did finish the quarter with a few goals late and the Cats can be forgiven for resting on their laurels a little towards the end but, they should all be congratulated for a firstclass, disciplined effort on this most auspicious day.
Final score Millicent 13.5 (83) lost to Casterton Sandford 17.13 (115). This week we are at home to West Gambier and the Roo Boys are up and about having accounted for Penola, so will be keen. Let’s give Fridge and his crew some curry and give our Cats plenty of support; let’s make Island Park the fortress it should be.
Carn Cats!
Read More: Casterton