The Coota Blues probably shouldn’t have stood a chance against Murrumbateman on Saturday in their Grand Final match. It wasn’t because they weren’t good enough, it was because they were held together by tape, plenty of tape, hamstring guards, more tape and a determination and grit to get the job done.
Blues players were literally the walking wounded with Ben Rose kicking three goals alongside three from Matt Knagge, proving the difference in a match that was as tight as they come.
The hard-fought 7-point win over the Murrumbateman Eagles at ECP Solar Park Canberra on Saturday saw the following scoreline, Cootamundra 8-5-53, Murrumbateman 6-10-46. If you include converted behinds and goals, Coota had 13 opportunities to Murrumbatemans’ 16, there were just able to get two more through the middle.
The Blues went into the game with a number of players carrying injury concerns, with hamstring issues affecting Joel Pearson, Ben Rose and Angus Cumming. All were affected to varying degrees, but all contributed and justified their selections. Stalwart and spiritual leader Joel Pearson was keeping his defender busy, with the Eagles understanding an injured lion can be a dangerous one. He kept the Blues motivated throughout. Rose stood tall kicking three goals and getting the Blues over the line. Like Pearson he and Cummings were the walking wounded but contributing to the win.
The Times caught up with club stalwart Joel Pearson after the win on Saturday. Joel has been around the club, started in 2008, and he’s still going in 2026. He’s got through a premiership game and won it, and carried a pretty nasty injury.
Joel commented, “It was a tough game. It was exactly what we expected to be. They are a really physical side, it was typically played, it was just hard. You just had to go in and win each contest.
They pressured us really early. I thought we adapted to it really well. We never felt comfortable even as the final seconds were ticking, it just felt like it was a battle the whole way, but the boys dug deep and that’s what it takes to win finals and great to get a reward for all that hard work over the last 4 or 5 years, not just this season.
The day started disastrously for the Blues with key on-baller Andy Merritt suffering his own hamstring misfortune in the third minute of the first quarter and being unable to take any further part in the game.
Joel acknowledged the injury toll on the team, “We were definitely a bit of a walking wounded, not just from last week, but the last month, but that’s this time of the year. If you’re not hurt, you’re not trying hard enough sort of thing.
The first quarter was ferocious, with both teams desperate for an advantage. There were plenty of turnovers from both sides, numerous ball-ups and just one goal, courtesy of big Ben Rose, giving the Blues a 3-point lead at quarter time.
The second term was again tough and tense, with the Eagles managing two majors to a lone goal from Tristan Beaumont-Gillett, giving Murrumbateman a 3-point advantage at the main break.
With the Blues unable to play their usual running game, it was only a massive effort from their back six that was keeping them in the game, with the Eagles looking slightly the better team.
Shaun Regan was a standout in the first half, as was Flynn Sierant at centre half-back. Doug Arthur was his usual busy self, while Jacob Tiernan and Jay Pennay battled hard against what could only be described as questionable tactics from the Eagles.
The Blues started the third quarter with a Matt Knagge goal early in the term following some Doug Arthur brilliance, giving the Blues the lead. The Eagles kicked the next two and the Blues again looked to be in trouble.
Once again, it was Matt Knagge who swung the balance back in the Blues’ favour, with two goals from set shots to give the Blues a 10-point buffer at the final change.
A 50-metre penalty, gifted James Warwick a goal from the square, giving Coota a 16-point lead.
From then on, it was goal for goal, with the Eagles kicking a goal in the 7th minute, only for a courageous goal from Ben Rose to restore the ascendancy in the Blues’ favour.
Joel plays in numerous positions across the field, he commented on the effort put in by Ben Rose who kicked three for the day carrying an injury also. “He has been an absolute monster all year, but I think it showed last week that I couldn’t get through half a game without the amount of work that he does for me. You can’t kick the ball yourself and he does so much work up the ground and has been so selfless all year with giving goals off and i’m really, really happy to see him get the reward today and he really banged it home. It was really good to see. I’m really happy for him.
A goal to the Eagles with five minutes remaining piled more pressure on the Blues camp, who were forced to play desperate defensive football for the remainder of the match to claim a remarkable victory.
Overall, the match could not have been a more highly contested affair, with the Eagles throwing everything they had at the Blues all day, really testing the resolve and discipline of the Coota side.
To their absolute credit, the Blues wore the lot and kept their focus on the objective at hand for the full four quarters to record a win, the equal of any in the Club’s history.
In what was a fine four-quarter effort, the Blues did not have a single passenger, with every player contributing and playing their role in the win.
On-baller Shaun Regan was awarded the medal for Player of the Match for an outstanding
four-quarter effort and was closely followed by Doug Arthur, Flynn Sierant, Jay Pennay and Jacob Tiernan.
Ben Rose, despite lacking mobility, was a great target up forward, finishing with three invaluable goals, while Matt Knagge was also pivotal in the win with three goals of his own and some strong work around the ground.
The Blues also received great service from Darion O’Toole, who was very clean and gave great service to his forwards. Angus Malmo, as always, worked tirelessly, as did Tristan Beaumont-Gillett and James Warwick.
Down back, Kye Baumhammer was a rock at fullback, while Ethan Birks did a fine job keeping his very dangerous opponent totally out of the game.
Blues ruckmen Jake Rodwell and Luke Baumhammer gave away plenty of inches but battled hard all day in what was a crucial contest.
Amazing individual efforts from Captain Jacob Tiernan and Angus Cummings who both put their bodies on the line risking personal injury typified the attitude of the Blues players on the day.
The Blues were unbelievably well supported on the day, with a host of Cootamundra and Canberra supporters at the game, giving plenty of vocal support all day. Joel confirmed what it means to have that support from the community at their matches, “It’s awesome. It’s so good to see all the Coota codes really supporting each other. I think every sporting group in town, a lot of the boys grew up together and are all similar ages. Everyone’s really invested in seeing the town and seeing the town’s teams do really well.
“We love seeing the Coota teams win and it’s just great to have that support and get behind one another and really hope the soccer boys and the league go really well this week. And well done to the Tri colours in their season.
The Blues will formally celebrate their success at the Club’s annual Presentation Night, to be held at the Clarke Oval Clubrooms on Saturday the 5th of September, with details to be posted on the Club’s Facebook site.
Goals: Ben Rose 3, Matt Knagge 3, James Warwick 1, Tristan Beaumont-Gillett 1.
Best Players: Shaun Regan, Doug Arthur, Flynn Sierant, Jay Pennay, Ben Rose and Matt Knagge.
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