COHUNA have edged closer to sewing up a top three finish this season following a dominant second half performance that saw the Kangas claim their 10th win of the season on the weekend.
The Kangas kicked 10 goals to Tyntynder’s one after half time in wet conditions to eventually run away with a 76-point victory – 15.9 (99) to 3.5 (23).
While the win was set up by Cohuna’s talented midfield, it was finished off by Kangas forward Jacob Mitchell, who ended the afternoon with a game high six goals.
Cohuna now find themselves two games clear in third of NNW United, who suffered a 51-point loss to Woorinen on the weekend, with the Kangas also having a game in hand on the reigning premiers with four rounds to play.
After a slow start, where Cohuna led by just six points at quarter time, the home side quickly hit their straps, with Cohuna coach Jack Geary outlining a change in game style brought about a change in fortunes on the scoreboard.
“I thought we dominated play in the first quarter but we only kicked two goals to their one given the conditions,” Geary said post-match.
“We tried to adjust a few things after quarter time in terms of just playing to the conditions, it’s sort of hard to go from wanting to use the ball to just dump kicking it all the time.
“We just tried to eliminate turning the ball over closer to our goal and getting a bit more field position, and that helped us get on top in the second quarter.
“After half time when it cleared up and the fatigue came into it I feel our class sort of came to the top and we were able to get on top.”
Cohuna’s midfield proved almost unstoppable, with Tom Toma, Ricky Monti, Jackson Williams, Sam McGlone and Joel Helman all dominating around the stoppages and in contested ball.
Bailey Reeves and Darcy Bibby worked hard for Tyntynder but were simply outmanned at the coal face, with the bigger bodied Kanga midfielders thriving in the wet weather.
“Our midfield size and experience was a bit of a deciding factor really,” Geary said.
“We didn’t have it all our own way because they (Tyntynder) had a few good midfielders also, but our ability to repel the ball and sort of a drive it between the 50s in those sort of conditions was helpful.
“(Tom) Toma, (Joel) Helman, (Ricky) Monti, (Sam) McGlone, they can all run 10 meters and kick it 50 and in those conditions, it takes the opposition a couple of kicks to get it back.
“I felt we just had bigger bodies around the footy and then made the most of our opportunities too, we kicked 15 goals, nine behinds which was pretty impressive considering the conditions.”
Cohuna key forward Jude Palmer was also impressive given the conditions, while Corbin Anderson kicked three goals in his second match back from injury.
Reeves was among the Bulldogs’ best, while Elia Ware, Mick Dedini, Jack Kirby, Charlie Ford and Bibby were also named as Tyntynder’s better players.
Cohuna will travel to Greenham Park this Saturday to face Balranald before their highly anticipated clash against the Mallee Eagles in a match which now looms as being a qualifying final preview.
Tyntynder’s search for their third win of the season won’t get any easier when they host Woorinen this weekend, with games against NNW United and the Mallee Eagles to finish their 2025 campaign.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Cohuna | 2.1 | 5.3 | 9.4 | 15.9 | 99 |
| Tyntynder | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 23 |
VOTES
3 – Tom Toma (Cohuna)
2 – Ricky Monti (Cohuna)
1 – Jacob Mitchell (Cohuna)
