A NINE-goal haul from key forward Rhys Free helped Cohuna continue its strong start to the season with a 91-point win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang on Saturday.
The Kangas blew the game open in the second term with seven goals to two after the Saints kept pace with them early to be only four points adrift at quarter-time.
And when Jack Donat kicked the opening two goals within three minutes of the second half, it was only matter of how far for the unbeaten Kangas.
Cohuna had all the answers, and their weight of forward 50 entries eventually told as they went into the final break 11 goals clear.
The Saints, to their credit, started the fourth quarter strongly with goals to Jack Spinks and Brayden Pitcher, before the Kangas re-established their dominance with the last four goals of the game, including one to debutant Jude Palmer.
Free was outstanding for the Kangas with his nine goals, while Thomas Toma continued his strong start to the year through the middle of the ground and Oscar Cooke backed up his fantastic game against Woorinen with another great performance.
Tom Carland continued to battle for the Saints all day through the middle while Standen and Sam Morton had admirable performances despite the heavy defeat.
Cohuna coach Neil Bradley said his playing group was in a good space at this early stage of the season.
“We are just looking forward to the next game,” he said.
“The young blokes just want to play footy and test themselves.
“There is a genuine excitement around the club.”
After a tight first quarter, Bradley was pleased how the team responded in the second, which resulted in much cleaner forward 50 entries.
“He (Free) is a terrific target for us up there,” he said.
“He had plenty of opportunities and the ball was kicked nicely to him.
“A lot of our clearances were clean and precise and we were able to kick under little pressure.”
Despite the loss, Saints coach Dean Helmers had plenty to be happy about post-match.
“The boys probably surprised everyone, I don’t think the scoreboard shows the game at all,” he said.
“The boys were competing really well and they are learning plenty. We are pretty happy with the way we are tracking.”
The Saints had four players playing their first game of the year including recruits Connellan and Shylo Smith, along with Spinks and Zach Nicolls.
“You can see why we probably dropped out of the contest later in the game because these guys are just exhausted,” Helmers said after the game.
“We are looking forward to the challenge each week and we know it is never going to be easy.
“It is only early but everyone seems pretty damn excited around the club.”
On the injury front, Cohuna’s Joel Helman left the ground in the opening half with a hamstring injury while Saints recruit Alex Powell departed in the third quarter with a hip injury.
