THE Cohuna Kangas’ strong start to the Central Murray Football Netball League season will face a key test tomorrow when the competition’s southernmost team hosts Swan Hill.
Scott Beattie’s side goes into the game on the back of three consecutive wins, including a 44-point victory against Lake Boga six days ago.
“We are looking forward to another challenge. We may be 3-0, but we can only play who is put in front of us,” the first-time Kangas coach said.
“Our squad is still very young and going through an education process, but they are continuing to learn how to play defensive footy.”
The hosts have produced their best start to a season since 2013, and a win tomorrow will eclipse the efforts of the group that eventually made it to the grand final four years ago.
“We have not played our best footy yet this season, but we have played periods of good footy,” Beattie said.
“We played one solid quarter against Nyah-Nyah West United (in round two) and beat Lake Boga last weekend in one quarter, before holding them off.
“There is no ceiling in relation to what we as a club can achieve, but we are looking forward to a tough challenge.”
The Swans go into the match on the back of an 81-point win against Lake Boga in round two, but have not played since April 8.
This could give Matthew Wade’s side an advantage, considering how wet conditions were last weekend.
The defending Jack Betts Medallist headlines a midfield that includes Leighton Dullard and Xavier Moloney, but Rhys Bradley and Jack Dehne can be just as dominant for the hosts.
Key Kangas defenders, Clayton Holmes and Mason Fehring will need to stop Mitchell Makepeace and Jonathon Hirst from dominating in front of the Swans’ goals if the hosts are to go into the round five bye with a 4-0 record.
However, the key battle to this match will be in the Kangas’ forward 50. Brett Collins has become a key focal point in the Kangas’ goalsquare, meaning opposition coaches are placing their best defender on him.
This is enabling Harrison Keely – who kicked nine goals in his last outing against the Swans – to become just as prolific, with Thomas Corridan and Brendan Blackmore facing the challenge of stopping the Collins and Keely show tomorrow.
The teams split the points during their two meetings in 2016. The Swans recorded a 39-point win under lights at the Swan Hill Showgrounds in round one, with the Kangas prevailing by 91 points at home in round 12.
PREDICTION: The Cohuna Kangas will hold on for a 10-point win.
Blues to extend lead
FIVE-TIME defending Central Murray Football Netball League premiers, Kerang could be the biggest benefactors of tomorrow’s round of matches.
The Blues take on the winless Lake Boga in round four action – a side it has not lost to during its run of nine consecutive seasons that have resulted in grand final appearances each year.
Travis Matheson’s side dominated in the second half of last weekend’s grand final rematch against Nyah-Nyah West United to prevail by 40 points, whilst the Magpies went down to the Cohuna Kangas by 44 points.
With the Kangas playing Swan Hill tomorrow and fellow undefeated side, Tyntynder having the bye, Kerang could be one win clear at the top of the ladder with a win at Riverside Park and if the Swans prevail at Cohuna.
For the Blues to keep its strong record against the Magpies going, Luke Cotchett, Troy Davis and Bronson Booth will need to repeat their efforts from six days ago.
Cotchett will be one of Kerang’s attacking options alongside Matheson and Caleb Nitshcke, with Oliver Rohde and Harley Durwald facing another tough day out after having to contend with Kangas forwards Brett Collins and Harrison Keely last weekend.
Davis’ ruck duel with Cody Mirtschin will be critical to the result, whilst Booth will work with the likes of Martin Kelly and Brad Pay in a midfield tussle headlined by key Magpies player, Kyle Brawn.
However, this match will be determined in Lake Boga’s forward line, with Jayden Lonergan and his Magpie teammates needing to contend with Patrick Taban and Brandon Hayes to get the ball to have any chance to score.
Kerang won by 52 points when the teams last met in round 10, 2016. Another one-sided affair is on the cards tomorrow.
PREDICTION: Kerang will win by 50 points.
Raiders to bounce back
KOONDROOK/BARHAM will aim to move level with teams sitting in the Central Murray Football Netball League top five tomorrow with a big win against Balranald.
The Raiders have dropped their past two games following an opening round win against Tooleybuc/Manangatang, going down to Tyntynder and Woorinen either side of the Easter break.
Neil Bradley’s side goes into tomorrow’s match against the league’s northernmost side as strong favourites, thanks to a strong recent head-to-head record.
Koondrook/Barham has won its past 10 games against the ‘Roos, with the last meeting in round 11, 2016 ending in a 151-point victory to the Raiders.
Dean Limbach – who kicked two goals in last weekend’s 38-point loss to Woorinen – could have a day out in front of goal for the hosts, with Ryan Hodgson to be given the role of stopping the home team’s key forward.
Daniel Mowat could also have a big day for the Raiders, but faces a head-to-head duel with Jarryd Stead.
The home team’s midfield, headed by Troy Rogers, will be too strong for the likes of Kobe Lloyd and company, whilst Ben Fuller – who kicked four goals in Balranald’s 62-point loss to the Mallee Eagles six days ago – will struggle against the pressure Michael Grant and Matthew Dean will produce in the visitors’ forward 50.
PREDICTION: Koondrook/Barham will extend Balranald’s losing streak to 22 with a 60-point win.
