AFTER seven straight wins, the Cohuna Kangas’ finals destiny is in their own hands – if they continue their winning streak when they host Nyah-Nyah West United this Saturday.
The Demons are locked into second place and a qualifying final against the Mallee Eagles next Saturday, however the finals path is less certain for the Kangas, who are in a three-way battle with Balranald and Woorinen for the final two spots.
It’s a simple equation for the home side, however, with a win guaranteeing their spot in next Sunday’s elimination final.
“We spoke about it during the week, and we said that our finals start now,” Cohuna coach Jack Geary told The Guardian this week.
“It’s effectively an elimination final this week for us and that’s the way we’ll be treating it, it’s do or die from now on.
“We weren’t that far away from them when we last met (in round 7) and we had a couple of guys out, and then we lost a couple of guys through injury.
“(NNW United) have been one of the best sides for most of the year, but we give ourselves a chance this week and we think that our best footy is good enough, but also understand that they are a quality opposition as well.”
Jackson Williams, Xavier Mitchell, Riley Hird and Cooper Mcloughlan all missed the round 7 match, and Joel Helman and Jacob Mitchell suffered game-ending injuries in the first half.
All six will be key players for the Kangas this weekend, along with ruckman Christopher Anderson, who also missed the 25-point loss to NNW United.
Anderson’s battle against underrated Demons ruckman Blake Larkings will be an intriguing one, with the Kangas big man having a career-best season and one of the key reasons for the team’s climb up the ladder.
“The last five or six weeks, a lot of their good form has been coming off the back of Anderson,” NNW United co-coach Jason Murphy said.
“He’s been really important for them, and he’ll be a key player that we’ll have to try and stop on Saturday.
“Saturday will be a good test of our character, the ladder can’t move for us and they’re fighting for their season. We need to be able to match their energy and that is where the game is going to be won and lost, I think.
“If we can match them and come out with that finals intensity, I think we can get the job done.”
Although the Kangas will have several key players at their disposal that they didn’t have last time, one player who is in doubt to take his place is key onballer Jarrod Findlay, who will need to pass a fitness test on his injured hamstring.
The Demons also have fitness concerns over one of their key players, with Joel Walsh having missed the past two matches with his own hamstring complaint but nearing a return.
Despite both teams possessing plenty of firepower up forward, it’s through the middle of the ground where the match is likely to be decided, with Cohuna’s well-known home-ground advantage perhaps becoming less benefit against the hard-running NNW United, according to Geary.
“The midfield will be where the game will be decided and that’s not just offensively, but also defensively,” Geary said.
“We’ll need to be putting pressure on their midfielders and on their delivery forward.
“If we can help our defenders stop their big forwards and nullify them through a lack of quality opportunities, that will be the key.
“Our ability to transition from offence to defence and hopefully stifle their ball movement will be our big focus.
“If (NNW United) get too much supply and clean ball into their forward 50, they will be pretty hard to stop from kicking a big score.”
There’s no denying that Cohuna know how best to make use of the wide-open spaces at home.
But for Murphy, the extra room will hold no fears for his team.
“We’ve been a little bit bewildered about some of the talk around town about how the big ground will suit Cohuna more than us,” Murphy said.
“We’ve been eyeing this game off and the big ground all year, and looking forward to getting out there and using the space.
“Teams have been holding us in on some of the smaller grounds recently, so to get a bit of room on Saturday will be nice.
“Hopefully we can free up a few of our runners, get our game going and see if they can keep up with us.”
Tip – NNW United to win by three points.
KEY MATCH-UP
William Lee v Brandyn Grenfell
AFTER being held to just one goal in round 7, you can be guaranteed that Brandyn Grenfell will be out to make amends.
William Lee more than had Grenfell’s measure that afternoon, with the Demons’ poor forward entries not helping their full forward’s cause.
There is no denying that NNW United are a much more dangerous team when Grenfell is firing on all cylinders, although when the big fella is clunking them, they can also become very one dimensional in attack.
With 69 goals to his name this season, Grenfell is without doubt the competition’s most powerful forward, but if the Demons are to halt the Kangas’ winning streak, they will need his very best.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the wide-open spaces of the Cohuna Recreation Reserve suit the Demons more than the Kangas?
THERE is no team that uses the open space at the Cohuna Rec better than the home side – but if there was to be a perfect challenger then the Demons would be it.
No team can run and spread from the contest like NNW United does and although their form may not have been as impressive as the Kangas’ in recent weeks, their game style is sure to stack up on the big ground.
The biggest question is whether the Demons have the class to go with Cohuna’s elite midfielders such as Joel Helman and Jack Geary – and how do they stop them?
