PROFILE
With a new coach and fresh ideas, the Cohuna Kangas will be hoping to go one step further in 2023 – and finally break their premiership hoodoo in the Central Murray.
While widely regarded by many as the one that got away, the Kangas’ heartbreaking 10-point loss in last year’s grand final could well be the catalyst for success this season, according to new coach Tyson Findlay – who has taken over the reins from long time senior coach Neil Bradley.
“The club’s never won a premiership as the Cohuna Kangas, so there’s certainly a lot of motivation there for us,” Findlay said.
“The playing group were pretty inexperienced in terms of grand final experience with regards to a lot of the locals, so I think last year will hold us in good stead for what it takes to win one.”
“Kerang have been the bench mark for a long time and it was a good learning curve for our boys – we’re champing at the bit to get another crack at it.”
Cohuna have once again recruited strongly, adding both midfield experience and defensive depth to their squad, both areas that were identified as being weaknesses. The signings of Blackburn trio Pat Contin, Lucas Conca and Anthony Fagan (all midfielders) and Nathan Hammond will give the Kangas immediate improvement, as will the return of wingman Will Thrum, whose run and carry will cause opposition teams plenty of headaches on the wide-open spaces of the Cohuna Rec. Reserve.
The news hasn’t all been good, with Tom Toma, Ben Archard, Oscar Cooke and Josh Bird all significant contributors last season – and all having departed the club.
“Losing Tom (Toma) will be a big loss, but he wants to have a crack playing a higher standard of footy again and we can’t begrudge him for that,” Findlay said.
“At the same time, it’ll give a few of our younger guys a chance to play more through the midfield, which will be a positive for the development of guys like Jack Donat and Sam Mcglone.”
“They’ve both been champing at the bit to get in there, so it’s going to be a good opportunity for them.”
“We’ve lost some good young talent but added some experience, which I think we lacked a little bit last year in the big moments and I think that showed in the grand final when their (Kerang) leaders stepped up and took their games to another level.”
While Cohuna will still possess one of the competition’s most potent attacks – with league leading goal kicker Rhys Free and the dangerous Dylan Johnstone both returning – one of the changes their new coach wants to see is a more even spread of contributors hitting the scoreboard.
“We’ll make a couple of adjustments to the way we play, especially forward of the footy just with not wanting to rely on the twin towers to do the bulk of the work,” Findlay said.
“Our game style will change a little bit, but it will be more how we set up in our forward half.”
“We’ve got a good balance with the guys we’ve brought in and hopefully we can get a more even spread of contributors.”
“We don’t want to rely on the same guys to win the game each week – and that goes for the midfield, too.”
“I think overall, we want to have plenty of versatility around the ground and not rely on the top tier guys to do the work – as well as implement a bit more handball receive and not just bomb the ball in to our big guys inside forward fifty all the time.”
FROM THE COACH
“We think we can be around the mark again. Finishing top three is our goal and the disappointment of last year has really driven the group throughout the pre-season. The competition sounds like it’s evened out and most teams will be pretty competitive, but we definitely want to finish top three and then go from there.”
INs & OUTs
INs
Toby Duncan (Leitchville-Gunbower)
Will Thrum (Golden Square)
Pat Contin (Mypolonga)
Lucas Conca (Blackburn)
Nathan Hammond (Finley)
Anthony Fagan (Blackburn)
OUTs
Tom Toma (Golden Square)
Ben Archard (Melton)
Tyler Jones (Leitchville-Gunbower)
Sam Archard (Elmore)
Oscar Cooke
Josh Bird
Mason Fehring
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2023
The Kangas have retained the bulk of their playing list from last season, as well as adding more depth in defence and through the middle, they are well placed should they have a tough run with injuries. A new coach with a fresh outlook often sees clubs gain an early sugar hit, with Cohuna also set to adjust their game style – albeit slightly. The big unknown is does last year’s grand final loss spur this list on to go one better – or does it serve as constant reminder of the one that got away?
KEY PLAYER
Joel Helman
One of the best and most dynamic players in the league, Helman will be vital to the Kangas’ chances of going one step further this season. The former Jack Betts Medallist can hurt opposition teams with both his ability to win the contested ball and his clean disposal on the outside. Will most likely get extra attention from opposition teams with the departure of Toma during the off-season, but will still be expected to break games open with bursts of brilliance – as he has in the past.
BIG IMPROVER
Jack Donat
Donat has played 57 senior games with Cohuna since his debut in 2017 and is perfectly placed to take his game to another level in 2023. The departure of Toma has opened up a midfield spot, with Donat set to be one of the major beneficiaries, after working diligently on his fitness base in the off-season. His ability to break the lines with his speed and desire to run and carry the ball will give the Kangas midfield a very different look about it this season.
THE BURNING QUESTION
What changes will new coach Tyson Findlay have in store for Cohuna?
The Kangas will be under new leadership in 2023 after the retirement of Neil Bradley in the off-season. Cohuna played a high possession, attacking brand of football under Bradley, you can expect more of a run and carry style game plan with Findlay at the helm. While the Kangas liked to utilise the wide-open spaces of their home ground, a more direct approach to moving the ball inside attacking fifty can be expected this season among a raft of changes to the way Findlay wants his team to play.
COHUNA KANGAS PREDICTED BEST 22
B. Brenton Conforti – Toby Duncan – Nathan Hammond
HB. Tom Metherell – Jake Hammond – Daniel Paterson
C. Pat Contin – Joel Helman – Will Thrum
HF. Tyson Findlay – Rhys Free – Sam Mcglone
F. Lucas Conca – Dylan Johnstone – Daniel Coates
R. Christopher Anderson – Jarrod Findlay – Jack Donat INT. Cooper Mcloughlin – Riley Hird – Harrison Keely – Anthony Fagan
