PROFILE
AFTER taking giant strides forward, the next big step for Cohuna is the finals – and it’s one they’re desperate to take in 2023.
The Kangas finished last season seventh, with five-and-a-half wins placing them a game and a half outside the top five. While 2022 was a much-improved performance from a team who has spent many years in the bottom half of the ladder, it could have been so much different had results over the past month of the season gone their way.
A six-goal loss to eventual runners-up Swan Hill is all the proof needed to show that Cohuna’s to form can match it with the best – before a 41-goal all tie with NNW United and then three goal loss to Woorinen all but torpedoed their finals dreams.
With Meg Dye having taken over as sole A Grade coach, the Kangas have been working hard to make sure those late game fade-outs are a thing of the past – with their new coach hoping some small adjustments are all that is needed to turn those losses into wins.
“Last year was very exciting for us, even though we missed finals, because to be honest, wins had been few and far between for us prior to last season,” Dye said.
“We went from winning only one game in 2021 to winning five last season and a lot of those losses were by margins of less than 10.
“I’m big on giving 100 per cent and consistency is a big thing for me, as well as playing out a game under pressure, which is where we fell short last year.
“We’ve been training a lot in the weeks leading up to the season and learning how to finish a game off – hopefully those small-margin losses will be a thing of the past after we’ve tweaked a few little things within our game plan.”
With Cohuna having retained the bulk of their playing list from last season, Dye will have a fairly settled line-up at her disposal – one that has spent a number of years playing together. It’s that cohesion that saw the Kangas’ form improve markedly 12 months ago, with their new coach hoping that trend will continue.
“There’s about five or so girls that are in the A Grade side that have been playing together for the last four or five years now and they’ve all worked out how each other plays and built a strong bond over that time,” Dye said.
“We’ve added a bit of depth in our goals and our defence over the years, but it’s having those connections that has definitely paid off – we can only build on what we can and keeping teams together over time only builds that cohesion.”
Keely Wilson will return in defence after her career-best season and again combine with Danni Sawyer. At the other end of the court Carmen Dye and Kobie McIvor will again be under the goals for the Kangas.
While Ellena Findlay, Anthea Toma and Tannah Keely controlled the midcourt last season for Cohuna, 2023 may see the emergence of the next generation of Cohuna netballers ushered through the senior ranks. Among those set to get their opportunity include Taylor Hird and Sammi Moon, with both players having been selected in the Kangas’ A squad, along with a much-improved Jorja Henry.
FROM THE COACH
“Our main goal this year is to reach finals – that’s the next step for us, to play finals. Missing out last season was quite shattering, but at the same time, there were positives to take from it.”
KEY PLAYER
Keely Wilson
Plays in the hardest position on the court – and plays it very well. Wilson won Cohuna’s A Grade Best & Fairest last season, as well as finishing fourth in the league best-and-fairest award. Very versatile player who, while mainly playing in defence, is also very damaging through the midcourt when required.
INS & OUTS
INS
Demi Pascoe
OUTS
Georgia Anderson
