MOST of the attention will be focused on the Lalbert Recreation Reserve tomorrow afternoon when round nine gets underway, with the third placed Mallee Eagles set to host the much-improved Cohuna Kangas.
After many seasons in the lower half of the ladder, the Kangas have risen in 2022 to be a genuine finals contender. But the question surrounding Cohuna is are they ready to beat the better teams, or are they just making up the numbers?
Their wins have so far come against Tooleybuc-Manangatang, Koondrook-Barham and Nyah-Nyah West United – all teams who are below them on the ladder. The other side of the equation is on the two occasions they have played teams above them – Balranald and Swan Hill – they have been competitive, but ultimately fallen short.
Tomorrow presents as a crossroads game for the Kangas, as it is for their opponents the Mallee Eagles, who find themselves in a scrap for a top three berth with Swan Hill (second) and Lake Boga (fourth). With only four points separating the three teams, every game from this point on becomes a must-win, according to Eagles coach Vicki McDonald, who spoke with The Guardian in the lead up to tomorrow’s encounter.
“It’s such a close competition that every game’s a big game this season – you never go into any game thinking it’s going to be an easy win, but that’s especially the case this year,” McDonald said.
“Take last weekend when we played Tyntynder for example – we didn’t really know what to expect and even though we had a good win in the end, those are also the games when you are having a good day that you have to make the most of and win big, because it’s going to be so close at the end of the season that percentage will be a huge factor.”
“You just can’t afford to take the foot off in any game because the competition is so close and anyone really can beat any team on their day this season.”
Claire Allen will return to the Eagles defensive structure in a major boost after missing her team’s 37-goal win over Tyntynder last Saturday. Allen will have the big job of trying to quell the influence of Cohuna shooter Carmen Dye, while at the other end of the court, Keely Wilson will have the unenviable task of trying to keep the Mallee Eagles main offensive weapon Kellie Walker quiet.
According to McDonald, the main area of focus will be her team’s whole court pressure, which is where her side’s big improvement has come this season.
“We’ve been working really hard on our defence and the defensive side of our game and particularly our down court pressure – that’s probably been our big focus so far this season,” McDonald said.
“We’re really strong both in defence and attack at either end of the court, but I think it comes down to our mid-court this year and the pressure that we can apply through there.”
“Having said that, you can do all the work across the midcourt, but at the end of the day you still have to score, that’s what wins you games, but our whole court pressure has really improved and it’s certainly enabling us to compete with the better sides in the competition.”
While most of the attention will be focused on the Eagles-Kangas contest, there will still be plenty of interest in the rest of tomorrow’s games. NNW United will have the opportunity to move back into the top five – depending on the result out at Lalbert – when they host the lowly Koondrook-Barham, in a game the Demons would be expected to win.
Much like the Kangas, the Demons are one the most improved sides in this year’s A Grade competition, with new coach Laura Anderson clearly instilling a confidence and willingness to compete that has been long missing out at Nyah.
Woorinen and Tooleybuc-Manangatang will do battle out at Tigerland, with the likelihood for both clubs that the losers finals hopes will be just about extinguished, while the final match of the weekend will be between Lake Boga and Tyntynder out at the Magpies’ nest.
