A 12-goal burst after quarter-time has seen reigning premiers Kerang return to the winners’ list in style, with the Blues recording a commanding 83-point win over Swan Hill at the weekend.
After leading by just three points at the first break, Kerang quickly turned the game on its head, holding the Swans goalless for the remainder of the match to run out comfortable 15.19 (109) to 3.8 (26) winners.
The win sets up a mouthwatering battle between the 2023 premiers and undefeated Nyah-Nyah West United this Saturday, with Kerang assistant coach Josh Hann and his Kerang teammates already looking forward to the challenge.
“It will be a huge game for us and it’s one we’re really looking forward to it,” Hann said.
“I think we play our best footy against the best sides and the teams that also try to attack the game, which was a bit like what happened on the weekend.
“It was good playing against Swan Hill.
“They didn’t try to throw 15 guys behind the footy – they obviously have a young group there and they’re trying to teach the kids to play the right way, which I like.
“I know they (NNW United) have worked a lot on their defensive game recently too, but we saw last season that it’s in their nature to go out there to try to win it and play attacking footy, so it should be a pretty attacking contest.”
While Kerang dominated the play after quarter-time, the first 30 minutes developed into an arm-wrestle, with the Swans competing both on the inside and outside of the contest with their more fancied rivals.
That they were able to do so without Ned McKeown, who injured an ankle early in the first quarter and took no further part in the match, is further proof that the young Swans are on the right path.
The challenge now is for them to remain at that level for all four quarters, with the home side having retreated into their shell as Sam Heavyside, Sean Hunter and Hann started to get on top through the midfield.
Hunter was especially damaging, with the energetic half-back playing predominately forward and kicking a game-high four goals in a best-on-ground performance.
“We flicked the magnets around a little bit this week and just focused on getting back to basics really,” Hann said.
“We’ve probably been overcoaching a little bit as a coaching group the last few weeks so we went back to basics, gave the boys a bit of freedom and told them to not focus so much on our structures and instead celebrate those little moments in the game where people do those one percenters really well.
“The first quarter we were pretty average, but after quarter-time we were back playing the way we want to play, which will hold us in good stead ahead of Saturday (against NNW United).”
Livewire forward Brett Kennedy was another welcome addition to the Blues’ front half, with the new recruit showing plenty of class around goals and through the midfield, while Jordan McNeil on the wing and Tom Hetherington up forward were also strong contributors.
Toby Thoolen was among the home side’s better players, with the veteran ruckman having an entertaining duel against Blues big man Nick Lang, while Tom Holdstock, Tom Corridan, Jarvis Keogh, Sonny Beasy and coach Michael Herlihy were also named in Swan Hill’s best.
While a big week and a highly anticipated clash against the Demons await Kerang, Swan Hill will also face an important match-up on Saturday, with the Swans chasing their first win of the season against ninth-placed Lake Boga.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Swan Hill | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 26 |
| Kerang | 3.3 | 7.8 | 10.15 | 15.19 | 109 |
VOTES
3 – Sean Hunter (Kerang)
2 – Sam Heavyside (Kerang)
1 – Josh Hann (Kerang)
