The Blues prevailed by 29 points, 10.15 to 6.10 after leading at every change.
The Blues let themselves down again at the goal front, particularly in the second quarter, when they let chances go begging and kicked 3.7.
Tongala captain and ruckman Kyle Fitzgerald, who starred in the win, attributed every Tongala player carrying out their role the key to their success.
‘‘Everyone chipped in, and it was really a good team effort,’’ Fitzgerald said, at the same time acknowledging Finley had lost 15 players from its runner-up side in 2024.
Fitzgerald said Tongala’s engine room was the key to the Blues’ commanding win.
Exciting young talent Jessie Johnstone put together his second successive best afield performance on a wing in another polished display.
Other midfielders in Jack Hammond, Mackenzie Cowley and Tristan Watson also got a lot of the Sherrin along with the determined Kyle Halliwell who played on a flank and midfield.
Fitzgerald also turned his usual tireless game in the ruck to initiate many fruitful Tongala forward excursions.
The win puts Tongala within two games off the top six, with a meeting with Numurkah at Numurkah this Saturday now a must win assignment to keep its faint final hopes alive.
The Blues will be greatly strengthened for the clash by the return of key players Jordan Souter and Bailey Waasdorp.
It was extra joy for the Blues in the reserves and under-17s, with both of those sides getting important wins over the Cats.
After both sides remained scoreless in the first quarter of the seconds match, but a huge second period from the Blues powered a 40-point victory.
Sam Tyler was named as Tonny’s best in the 9.17 (71) to Finley 4.7 (31) win.
It was a similar outcome for the thirds, but Tonny got on the board early in the first quarter and never looked back — holding the Cats to just three goals all game to record a 46-point win.
Joshua Morrison was player of the day for the Blues in the 9.10 (64) to 3.0 (18) triumph.
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