TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang have taken another big step towards a top-five finish with a hard-fought 19-point win over Cohuna.
While the Saints led for most of the afternoon, they never managed to put the game beyond reach, the home side fighting all the way to the final siren in a bid to save their season.
The loss leaves the Kangas languishing in seventh on the ladder with a 1-3 record, ahead of a crucial game against the Mallee Eagles this Saturday.
The 12.8 (80) to 9.7 (61) result is Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s third win of the season.
Saints coach Brad Morris was full of praise for his team’s performance away from home, especially throughout a tough third quarter.
“It was a good win, especially down there (at Cohuna), it was a tight contest all day and they threw everything at us,” Morris said.
“To our boys’ credit, they handled everything that was thrown at them and were able to respond and hold them off in the end.
“It was tight all day but especially in the third quarter, they came at us hard after half-time and the game swung in their favour a bit.
“(Joel) Helman was good around the stoppages and (Jack) Geary came into it a bit in the third quarter, as did Jarrod Findlay.
“They (Cohuna) know how to play their ground really well and they’re a three-to-four-goal better team at home and we knew we’d have to adapt to that, but the bigger ground suited us as well and we played it to our strengths also.
“That was another thing that I was pleased with, just our ability to spread and use that space.”
Cohuna’s key midfielders in Helman, Geary and Findlay were all impressive after half-time, but it was Saints onballers Elliott Chalmers and Blake Grant who had a significant impact on the contest for the full four quarters. While Helman was a clear standout for the home side, he was still short of a his scintillating best, with Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s Jesse Wilson tasked with slowing the former Jack Betts Medallist.
Connor McDonald was another who continued his good early season form, with the Saints ruckman taking advantage of the missing Chris Anderson.
“Our midfield really clicked, Connor (McDonald) has been fantastic all season and our midfield has been working alright, I think we had more clearances against Nyah (last week) but we didn’t really capitalise and they weren’t effective,” Morris said.
“We got the extractions and really dominated in there and that was perhaps where the game was won and lost for us.
“Although our boys in the middle have been going alright, the fact that they’ve had three or four games together now means they’re starting to gel together now.”
Harrison Maher was prominent around the ground for the visitors, while Jaicob Kenny was another Saint who was among his team’s better players, with the key defender intercepting several of the Kangas’ forward entries. Kenny was also instrumental in keeping Cohuna’s Dylan Johnstone goalless, with Kenny going to the key forward after half-time when Jackson Morris left the field with a gash that required stiches.
Along with Helman and Findlay in the midfield, Jack Donat was instrumental in keeping the Kangas in the match with his class around the ground, along with Rhys Thrum, while Zac Poole and Brenton Conforti were strong in defence.
FINAL SIREN
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Cohuna Kangas | 1.4 | 4.4 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 61 |
| Tooleybuc Manangatang | 3.2 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 12.8 | 80 |
VOTES
3 – Elliott Chalmers (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
2 – Blake Grant (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
1 – Joel Helman (Cohuna Kangas)
