Finley flew home in the final quarter on Saturday to share the points with Mulwala in a thrilling Murray Football League contest.
The Cats were 26 points down at three-quarter-time, but found a way to drag themselves back into the match at Finley Recreation Reserve before the competing outfits could not be split as the final siren sounded.
And after a performance to forget last week from the Cats, coach Tom Doyle was excited about the improvement his charges were able to show this time around.
‘‘We’re overwhelmingly positive about the result, despite it being a bit of a hollow feeling,’’ Doyle said.
‘‘We’re a young side and we’re building, and we’ve just got to feel like we’re in games.
‘‘We’re not paying as much attention to the ladder as we are to getting our culture right.
‘‘We were really bad last week, we had our colours lowered against Tongala, so the theme for this week was resilience and we spoke about it all week.
‘‘We knew we’d have to weather a few storms if they got going, but we know we’ve got good footy in us and we always felt like we were in it.’’
Teenager Nick Lunn was one of the players able to stand up and be counted in the final stanza for the home side, booting a crucial goal on his full senior debut.
‘‘It was Nick’s first full game, he’s had a few as sub,’’ Doyle said.
‘‘He really gave us some spark, you know what you’re going to get from him, he’s a head down, bum up and a real straight down the line type of footballer.
‘‘He kicked an important goal in the last quarter, which was great from a 16, 17-year-old.
‘‘We started getting a bit of momentum in the last quarter and really pushed them.
‘‘Both teams had their chances to win the game. The last probably two to three minutes the ball was in our forward line but we just couldn’t get a score, and then when the siren went they were streaming down the field.’’
Lachie Hawkins and Mat Wilson were also huge for the Cats — the latter booting three goals along with Duncan Clarke — but there were plenty of contributors all across the field.
‘‘Lachie Hawkins got the three votes, their ruckman was out and he was a real giant in there for us,’’ Doyle said.
‘‘A few had a lot to prove after last week and it was hard to pick anyone who didn’t play their role this week.’’
Harry Crossley and Dylan McNamara booted three goals apiece for the Lions, while Dylan Flanagan, Glenn Dominick and Josh Hammond were also impressive.
The draw gives the Lions and Cats separation from the teams around them on the table, with the former in fifth spot and latter in ninth.
●Cobram was back on the winner’s after a positive result against Moama, drawing away in the final term for a 13.6 (84) to 7.2 (44) triumph.
Darcy McCormack kicked four goals for the Tigers, with John Lucas contributing two, as Adam De Cicco, Nick Dore, Daniel Clarke, Luca Allen and Sam Beasley also stood out.
For the Magpies, who managed just one behind in the last stanza, Jack Harland, James Whitehead, Matt Palmer and Luke Dunham battled hard.
●Numurkah dominated proceedings against Deniliquin after half-time, booting 11 goals to five to secure a 17.8 (110) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Nathan Hicks (six goals) and Michael Herlihy (four) were at their best in attack for the Blues, while Jye Warren, Shane Miller and Mitch Price were also damaging.
Adrian Pappin (three goals), Ricky Gittens and John Allitt were important for the Rams.
●Barooga put paid to Rumbalara’s finals hopes with a 21.11 (137) to 9.6 (60) win, led by Ricky Thomson, Lucas Olson and Riley Gow all managing four majors.
Ash Miller, Justin Terlich and Ben Payne worked hard for Rumba.
●Tongala notched up another crucial win with a solid performance against Tungamah.
The Blues took the points 11.11 (77) to 7.16 (58) thanks to Adam Lovison, Cam Ilett, Alex Williams, Anthony Dennis, Bailey Cox and Jordan Souter, while Chris Powell, Kade Rowe and Tom Irvine stood out for the Bears.