THE Cohuna Kangas face a must-win match against Swan Hill tomorrow if the side is to keep its finals hopes alive.
Rick Easton’s men are two and a half wins off fifth spot on the ladder, with the margin to extend to three and a half wins if the Kangas lose to the Swans for the second time this season.
The Kangas play five more times after this weekend, but will need to record four more wins than fifth-placed Tooleybuc/Manangatang to play finals for the first time since 2014.
The match is just as important for the Swans, who have one more win than the Kangas this season and also play five more games in the home and away season.
The Kangas were no match for competition leaders, Nyah-Nyah West United last weekend, going down by 90 points, whilst the Swans held off the Mallee Eagles to win by nine points.
Half-forward, Tobias Thoolen and midfielder, Leighton Dullard helped set up the Swans’ win last weekend, and Kangas’ tall, Ben Archard and Rhys Bradley will need to stop the pair from replicating their efforts at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
Easton and Bradley Griffiths will be key targets in the Kangas’ forward line, with Thomas Corridan and Jack Fletcher to challenge the pair.
Kangas defenders, Kaleb O’Flaherty and Harrison Keely will take on forward Patrick Noonan and Mitchell Makepeace when he moves down the ground, but the visitors boast too many match-winning options.
Swan Hill won by 39 points when these sides met under lights in round one this season. A similar result may occur tomorrow.
PREDICTION: Swan Hill will win by 30 points.
Bye for top three
THE Central Murray Football Netball League’s top three sides will all observe the bye this weekend as the battle for the minor premiership intensifies.
Competition leaders, Nyah-Nyah West United join local teams, Kerang and Koondrook/Barham in not playing during round 12.
It will be the Demons’ third weekend off this season, with the Blues and Raiders to join the Cohuna Kangas in having round 14 off.
All three sides are locked on nine wins, with Nyah-Nyah West United’s sole loss this season coming against Lake Boga.
Kerang – which is aiming for a fifth consecutive CMFNL title – will play the Demons in round 16, with the match to determine which side will have the first week off during the finals series.
The Blues’ two losses this year came against the Demons (round five) and Raiders (round nine, week one), whilst Koondrook/Barham’s two defeats occurred against Kerang in round one and Nyah-Nyah West United during the second weekend of round nine action.
