Gympie Cats snap 678 day losing streak with gutsy win

The celebrations were almost as big as the win for a Gympie club which finally broke a 678-day losing streak following a gutsy performance with the help of a former AFL star.

Former Brisbane Lions player Matthew Leuenberger (left) with sponsor Steve Wetton from Scuba's Car and Dog Wash, and Ben Collins.

It’s been a long time coming – 678 days to be precise – but the Gympie Cats are back on the winner’s list.

The Cats, whose ground went under three times during last year’s devastating floods, defeated Park Ridge 12.11.83 to 10.8.68 in QAFL Division 2 North to end the long drought.

The club’s reserve team, whose losing streak had lasted for about six years, also got a victory 12.10.82 to 5.15.45 over Park Ridge, with celebrations at Ray Warren Oval lasting well into the night.

Player/coach Matt Killian, a veteran of Australian rules football in Victoria and Queensland, was delighted to have broken the drought.

“I have played a lot of footy,” he said.

“But I have never gone that long without a win.

“There was some big celebrations afterwards, especially with our reserves winning too.

“I am one of the older ones, so I went home to bed.

“It was great for the players to get the win.”

The long-awaited victory was down in no small part to star guest player Matthew Leuenberger.

The former AFL star, who played 137 games for the Brisbane Lions and Essendon as a ruck/forward, came out of retirement to kick five goals.

Killian said Leuenberger, who played some games for Noosa Tigers last year, was happy to help out the struggling Cats to give back to grassroots football, while also helping out a mate, Steve Wetton, whose business, Scuba Car and Dog Wash, went under during last year’s floods.

“We spoke to the Noosa Tigers, our closest club, in the pre-season and they were going to try and help us out with some players that are not playing for them this year,” he said.

“We were lucky enough to get Matthew.

“He said that his biggest thrill was just seeing the smiles on the guys‘ faces at the end of the game.

“He’s technically retired. But he was happy to help us out in our division because obviously it was a lot less harder than what he’s used to playing.

“He played full forward, didn‘t move much and kicked five goals. He’s 202 centimetres, so he’s a giant.

“He knew where to put his body. He was still on their tallest player, but he obviously just hasn’t played the level or standard that Matthew had played.”

Killian said it wasn’t just Leuenberger’s goalkicking which helped the Cats end their winless streak.

“His advice, his talk and his leadership was just amazing,” he said.

Matthew Leuenberger celebrates kicking a goal for the Brisbane Lions.

“He was encouraging everyone all day. Just telling people where to run and what to do and where to kick it and helping players out.

“It just made them feel like they could play that bit better.”

While Killian said Leuenberger was the standout, he also gave praise to a couple of his regular players.

“We needed more than just one avenue than Matthew to kick for goals,” he said.

“Henry Hamilton went to the forward line and he was a game changer.

“Park Ridge were up a goal at halftime and after the big break he just completely changed it.

“We just kept staying two or three goals in front for the rest of the game.

“He went to centre half-forward because Leuenberger wasn‘t fit enough to go any further out.

“He was fantastic. I reckon he easily took 10 marks and he was one of the people getting the ball into Leuenberger, but he ended up kicking a couple of goals himself.

“He was definitely the pick of the crop.”

Killian also gave a rap to on-baller Tom Cross.

“We gave him a tagging role at halftime because they had a guy that was just dominating in the centre,” the player/coach said.

“I think after halftime he only got seven possessions. So he really cut him out of the game and stopped their drive from getting the ball out of the centre.

“So those two and Leuenberger were easily our best three players and just everyone else played their role to get us our first win.”

The Cats have a stretch of away matches for the next four rounds, starting with Alexandra Hills on Saturday, May 13.

Killian said the victory over Park Ridge should hopefully give his team plenty of confidence that they can continue the winning streak.

“Knowing that we’re a chance to win some games it’s definitely going to change the tide a little bit,” he said.

“It will just give them that confidence and belief that they can win again.”

Originally published as Gympie Cats snap 678 day losing streak with gutsy win