THE Cohuna Kangas will bounce into this Sunday’s elimination final against Balranald full of confidence after defeating second placed Nyah-Nyah West United by 31 points to secure their place in this year’s finals series.
The 12.14 (86) to 7.13 (55) win was set up by a commanding second-quarter display by Cohuna, who kicked four unanswered goals to take a 30-point lead into half-time.
From there, the Kangas managed to control the game, with the Demons pressing hard but unable to bridge the gap the home side had created.
It was a win that sealed Cohuna’s finals ambitions as they entered the final round on the same points as both Balranald and Woorinen, with both the Kangas and Roos progressing to Sunday’s elimination final.
After opening the season with just two wins from their first eight matches, Saturday was the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for Cohuna under first-year coach Jack Geary.
“There was a great atmosphere on Saturday night with everyone around the club,” Geary said.
“From where we come from to where we’ve ended up was nothing short of a miracle.
“We said before the game on Saturday that the team that settled first and had a bit of composure with the footy would get on top.
“With the weather being warm it was enticing to play quick, but we still wanted to move the ball with a bit of purpose.
“We didn’t want to play end-to-end footy because we knew with their young kids it would play into their hands and it would just become a shootout.
“We really wanted to play the game on our terms, I suppose, and control the contest.
“We hadn’t really spoken a great deal about it until this week but we just took the approach that Saturday was going to be our first final.
“It effectively was an elimination final for us and if we had of lost we would have been out, as it turned out.
“We treated it as a final and threw everything at it, but by the same token considering they (NNW United) didn’t have a lot to play for, given their spot on the ladder, they gave it their all too.”
Cohuna’s midfield, led by Jackson Williams, Joel Helman and Jack Donat, proved too strong around the contest, with Christopher Anderson providing his team with first use of the ball.
Although the Demons’ onballers won their fair share of clearances, it was the class of Cohuna’s engine room that was the difference, with the home side owning the corridor.
Williams and Donat were particularly good, the pair showing how dangerous they could prove to be over the next month as the weather heats up with their speed and ability to run and carry the footy.
“Our mids were really good, I felt, but at times they (NNW United) moved the ball really well also,” Geary said.
“There were just a few turnovers on their behalf in costly spots where we got second looks and repeat inside 50s and in the end that really felt like it was the difference between us and them.
“It was quite an even contest for the majority of the day.
“We were up be 30 points at half-time and that was basically the final margin.
“They kept coming and credit to them.
“It was a pretty complete team performance from our boys.
“We didn’t have too many passengers and our role-players did what they needed to do.”
Brenton Conforti was good in defence for Cohuna while Jayden Cordy was also among the home side’s better players, with Corey Daniels, Riley Daniels and Ethan Saville among NNW United’s best.
The Demons were also well served by a trio of youngsters who continue to show that the future beyond this season looks promising, with Ethan Curran, Max Thompson and Zak O’Shannassy also named in their team’s best.
Brandyn Grenfell kicked four goals for the afternoon to lead the way but was well held by William Lee, with the points shared between the pair.
NNW United will take on the Mallee Eagles at Lake Boga this Saturday in the qualifying final, with the winner to play Kerang for the first place in this year’s Central Murray grand final.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Cohuna Kangas | 3.5 | 7.7 | 10.11 | 12.14 | 86 |
| Nyah-Nyah West United | 2.4 | 2.7 | 5.8 | 7.13 | 55 |
VOTES
3 – Jackson Williams (Cohuna)
2 – Jack Donat (Cohuna)
1 – Joel Helman (Cohuna)
