COHUNA cemented its spot in the finals with a 152-point win over Balranald at Cohuna on Saturday.
With the Mallee Eagles losing to reigning premier Kerang, the Kangas are now assured of a finals berth with one round to play. The Kangas themselves come up against the league leaders at Kerang this Saturday in a match that should show how far the Kangas have come this season after a slow start.
Kanga Chris Anderson was a late withdrawal with a back spasm and was replaced by Shaun McIvor doubling up from the reserves.
Returning from injury, Tom Holdstock had the unenviable run-with job on Roos’ gun Dane Fitzgerald.
It was the visitors who were able to register the first major through youngster Bailey Brougham but unfortunately this would be the only real joy for the youthful Roos, as the Kangas would bang on the next seven for the term.
Shane Jacobs and Christian Bock were good for the Kangas in the midfield, while Bryce Delmenico and Fitzgerald were giving their all for the visitors.
The home side would register another seven goals for the second term, with Angus Grigg bringing up five goals to half-time.
To their credit, the Roos continued to battle manfully and bring up goals to Brougham again and Lachlan Watt.
Unfortunately the Brougham goal would be the last for the visitors for the remainder of the match.
Jordan Weekley had the huge task on Grigg but, due to the Kangas midfield dominance, the free-flowing delivery into the forward 50m was too easy.
Roos Josh Richards and Damien Russo were able to provide assistance were they could but the weight of numbers was telling as the Kangas took a 68-point lead into the main break.
Kanga Jacob Mitchell left the field in the second term with what appeared to be a nasty arm injury requiring medical attention.
Any thoughts that the Kangas would come out and go through the motions after holding a match-winning lead were unfounded as Shannon Keam’s team went for the jugular with a 10-goal to nil third term.
Keam and Grigg kicked four apiece to inflict more misery on the visitors.
For more on this story see the football liftout in Monday’s Guardian (August 18, 2014).
