THE belief among the Cohuna Kangas’ playing group is beginning to grow, according to senior coach Jack Geary after his team’s 79-point win over the Mallee Eagles at the weekend.
The Kangas dominated the game from start to finish, with an eight-goal-to-one first quarter helping the home side open a 44-point lead at the first break.
Although the visitors mounted a brief challenge in the second quarter, it was all one-way traffic after half-time, the Eagles held goalless for the rest of the match.
While the Kangas remain a game outside the top five following the 15.12 (102) to 3.5 (23) result, the win extended their strong run of form to a fifth consecutive win.
It was further proof that the Kangas are well and truly in the hunt for the finals despite likely needing to win their last three matches.
Geary said he was confident his team’s best football can match it with anyone’s.
“The boys are starting to believe now, we’ve been playing some good footy in recent weeks, and we’re starting to click and feel good out there and play as a team now,” Geary said.
“We went in knowing it would be a tough game and it was. The result probably didn’t do the game justice in many ways, we just started really well and got the jump on them.
“We were able to play the game on our terms and we’re a better team at home on the bigger ground, we’re used to playing on and training here and (Mallee Eagles) couldn’t really bottle the game up like they perhaps wanted to do.
“We had a bit of an emphasis on our first quarter, we’ve started poorly in recent weeks, and we came out a little bit slow and a little bit flat last week and then slowly got going.
“I thought we controlled the game relatively well for the most part, even though the first quarter was probably the catalyst for the win.
“(Mallee Eagles) were always going to come at us after quarter-time, so for us to combat that and then go on with the game was the thing that impressed me most.”
Despite the drizzly rain playing into the Eagles’ hands, Cohuna were able to blow the game apart on the outside, with midfielders Jackson Williams, Joel Helman and Sam McGlone proving difficult to shut down.
A four-goal first quarter from Jacob Mitchell, who ended with six in just his fourth match of the season, also helped the Kangas take the advantage.
At the opposite end of the ground, the much-lauded Eagles forward line were well held, Darcy Hourigan kept goalless by Kangas full back William Lee and Andrew Mead-Harding managing just one goal.
Also among the Kangas’ better players was ruckman Christopher Anderson, who continued his good form by taking the points in his head-to-head battle with Jai Middleton.
“It was a dirty day for us,” Mallee Eagles co-coach Harry Allen said.
“(Cohuna) played like a team trying to make a run at the finals and we didn’t have any answers.
“They jumped us in first quarter, and we were chasing our tails after that and just couldn’t seem to find any momentum to get back into the game.
“Full credit to them, they outplayed us and certainly will be a threat if they manage to sneak into the finals.
“We had a good debrief in the rooms afterwards and we know our best is more than good enough, so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
“We just need to get back to our DNA which has put us on good stead the last two months, and what a great opportunity against the ladder leaders next week back at home.”
The Eagles will host NNW United this Saturday in a big weekend for both clubs, with the Lalbert-based Eagles needing to win to avoid falling further down the ladder, while Cohuna face Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Cohuna Kangas | 8.3 | 9.3 | 11.6 | 15.12 | 102 |
| Mallee Eagles | 1.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 23 |
VOTES
3 – Jacob Mitchell (Cohuna)
2 – Jackson Williams (Cohuna)
1 – Joel Helman (Cohuna)
