COHUNA have passed their first major test of the season, putting reigning premiers Nyah-Nyah West United to the sword by 49 points in perfect conditions on their home deck.
A sleepy start from the Kangas saw Demon Alex Erlandson slot the first goal of the game, but was shortly answered at the other end by Cohuna’s Jacob Mitchell.
The home team began to find their mojo halfway through the first term, with a clean rove and a fast snap from star Kanga Tom Toma.
The Demons struggled to make the most of their inside-50s, a theme that continued throughout the match with the scorecard reading 17.6 (108) to 8.11 (59).
Cohuna coach Jack Geary was measured after the match.
“After the first two rounds we set ourselves to face a couple of contenders in the next couple of weeks,” Geary said.
“That was the first major challenge for the boys and we’ve passed that one.
“The scoreboard probably didn’t justify what the contest was like, we had 23 scoring shots and they had 19, so it could have been much closer.
“But I thought our ability to enter the forward line and get some good looks on goal was probably what set the boys apart.”
The Kangas had no worries finding an avenue to goal, with eight different goal-scorers and a honed ability to find space in their forward half.
“We get the luxury of training here and knowing the size of the ground,” Geary said.
“It’s a hard ground to defend, with gaps and holes everywhere.
“We like to be mobile inside our forward 50 and we don’t have an absolute key target down there.
“Unpredictability and fast movement in the forward 50 is something we’ve been working on.”
Toma started deep in the forward line in the second quarter, and two quick goals from the reigning Jack Betts medallist saw his team off to a fast start.
The second quarter was when the Kangas began to break through, piling on six goals to the Demon’s two.
Throughout the match the Kangas dominated centre clearances, as the combination of Toma and Helman proved an unstoppable machine with six goals between the pair to boot.
Geary was full of praise for the duo.
“Those two are immense week after week, but if you saw the way they prepare every week they don’t leave anything to chance,” Geary said.
“I think everyone around here just knows what you’re going to get from them, and each week they just deliver.
“We thought Jarrod Findlay was good off half back, and Daniel Coates was really good on the half forward line.
“These blokes are a little bit older now, and their ability to stand up when they need to and make good decisions, use the ball well is something that’s really developed.”
Coates had four goals for the game, including two in the opening minutes of the fourth which look set to put a tired NNW United outfit to bed.
Zak O’Shannassy and Mitchell Grinham for the Demons both provided classy, dangerous moments of play.
Grinham on the wing was instrumental in several key passages with smart ball movement and laid several critical tackles.
O’Shannassy’s speed out of the centre gave more than one Kanga whiplash, as the youngster looked equally threatening roaming inside 50.
Now 3-0, the Kangas will head to Lalbert next week to face an Eagles outfit hungry for redemption after bowing out to Woorinen by 17 points.
“A few of the boys were a little bit sore, it’s a big ground and a warmer day so it takes it out of you,” Geary said.
“So we’ll prioritise recovery early in the week and hopefully we have everyone to choose from and take the best team over there.”
Geary acknowledged the strength of some key Eagles and said they’d look at options through the week.
“Definitely (Matt Rankine’s) had a big influence on a few games, but I’m confident our mid’s can go head-to-head.
“Obviously if he gets off the chain we’ll have something in place – just someone to put an arm across and show him a bit of respect.”
VOTES
3 – Thomas Toma (Cohuna)
2 – Joel Helman (Cohuna)
1 – Alex Birch (NNW United)
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Couna Kangas | 4.2 | 10.2 | 13.4 | 17.6 | 108 |
| NNW United | 2.4 | 4.6 | 5.9 | 8.11 | 59 |
