COHUNA KANGAS v BALRANALD
THE Cohuna Kangas will be out to replicate their form of last season when they host Balranald in their opening game of 2022 on Saturday afternoon.
After enjoying the bye last weekend, the Kangas will be champing at the bit to get back out on the park and show that they are once again the pace setters in the Central Murray.
The Kangas have retained the bulk of their list from last season – and in a scary prospect for the other ten clubs, have added to areas that could have been perceived weaknesses. Ben Archard will return to his home club and assume the mantle of No.1 ruckman, while North Bendigo’s Tom Metherell (half back) and Eaglehawk pair Jarrod Findlay (midfield) and Brenton Conforti (centre half back) will add extra class and depth in a few key areas of the ground.
Balranald were their own worst enemy last weekend, kicking themselves out of the contest against Tyntynder with an inaccurate 8 goals, 17 behinds. While straighter kicking may have seen them get the points, the reality is the Roo’s were undone by a lack of outside speed and an undersized backline.
Both of these elements don’t auger well for tomorrow, with the Kangas possessing twin towers Rhys Free and Dylan Johnstone up forward – and plenty of pace to burn on the wide-open spaces of the Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
Ryan Hodgson will be a handy inclusion to the Roos’ back six, while Harrison Soraggi and Rory Fitzgerald could also return from injury. One player who won’t be out there though is Ben Fuller, who strained a hamstring last Saturday and is at least another couple of weeks away from being fully fit.
The big question for Balranald after last weekend is: where do they play co-coach Jydon Neagle? Despite looking dangerous up forward at times, are they better off playing him on-ball and going head-to-head with Joel Helman or Tom Toma – or would it be a wiser move to run him off half back and see if he can impact the game from there?
Either way, it’s unlikely to change the result – especially with the Kangas out to prove that last season was no fluke.
TYNTYNDER v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
AFTER last weekend’s 22-point win over Balranald, Tyntynder will go into tomorrow’s encounter with Tooleybuc-Manangatang confident of making it two wins to start the season.
The Dogs will have some selection headaches to deal with this week – after coming through their round one match with a clean bill of health and with full-forward Jason Eagle and midfielder Tom Bull both available for selection.
Eagle will give Tyntynder’s forward line a far better structure after relying on Brock Storer and their bevy of creative midfielders to create their chances last week. With Eagle providing a dominant marking target deep, it will also allow the Doggies to move the ball forward quicker instead of having to spot up loose or leading targets inside fifty – even though they used that tactic to great effect.
While Tyntynder used their outside run and slick skills by foot to great effect against Balranald, their back six also stood up when the game was on the line. The Crowe brothers – Cayden and Patrick – were terrific, with their ability to intercept mark on full display, while Elliott Broad was also strong on the last line of defence.
For the Saints, Sam Grant and Connor Mullins will both miss the match, while ruckman Ryan Connellan will make his long-awaited debut in the red, white and black. The experienced Connellan will be a welcome addition and should help to even the contest against Cameron Cook, who was one the Dogs better player’s last weekend.
The key for Tooleybuc-Manangatang will be getting their hands the ball first and winning it out of the middle. Brayden Pitcher looks like a class act and along with Gareth Grant, Tom Carland and Ryan Kliemt, there is certainly enough talent in the Saints midfield to trouble the home side.
Unfortunately, their ability to impact the scoreboard may well prove to be their achilles heel, with Tyntynder expected to win and start their season 2-0.
Tip – Tyntynder by 18 points.
LAKE BOGA v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
FRESH off their first round 1 win in 12 years, Lake Boga will go in as favourites against a Koondrook-Barham outfit that were far from competitive in their opening game of the season.
The Raiders failed to kick a goal until the final quarter of last week’s loss to the Mallee Eagles, allowing their opposition to dominate the game out of the middle and giving free rein to the Eagles runners off half back.
Don’t be surprised if it’s a case of deja vu tomorrow afternoon, especially after the strong midfield showing last Saturday from the Filo brothers, who teamed with new ruckman Jacob Simpson to monster the Saints out of the middle of the ground.
Simpson was a class above last week, rightfully earning best on ground honours. Koondrook-Barham coach Aaron Collins has a few options at his disposal to try and limit Simpson’s influence, but it’s a question of who he calls on to do the job. Jacob Barrington should get first crack, but whether he has the mobility to go with Simpson around the ground is questionable. The other likely scenario is a tag team approach, with Barrington and Max Baldissera to both share the role and try to work off the Boga big man instead.
Jack Thrum and Sam Randell will come into the Raiders line-up, but with Covid concerns rearing their head in recent days, exactly who runs out probably won’t be known until Saturday afternoon.
While getting the four points is always the main aim, the other big positive for Lake Boga to come out of last Saturday was the form of their younger players – particularly Xander Hartland, Rory Colville and Noah Sherlock.
Unless there is a serious form swing from Koondrook-Barham, it’s hard to see the Magpies losing this one.
Tip – Lake Boga by 27 points.
MALLEE EAGLES v SWAN HILL
SWAN Hill will travel to Lalbert tomorrow to take on the Mallee Eagles in what could well be the most competitive game of round two.
The Swans would have been stung by last Saturday’s comprehensive loss to Kerang – and you can be almost guaranteed Matthew Wade and Darcy Ryan won’t allow lightning to strike twice in two weeks.
On the flip side, Brent Sheahan has slipped seamlessly into the coaching chair, with a commanding 87-point win over the Raiders seeing them currently sit on top of the ladder. The Eagles were irrepressible last Saturday, with Clinton Cummins dominating off half back and Harry Allen returning to the form that saw him claim the Jack Betts Medal in 2019.
The other big factor that would have had Eagles fans salivating would have been the six goals to key forward Sam Dunstan – with the full-forward showing that he will be more than a handful for any defence this season.
Stopping not just Dunstan, but the entire Eagles forward line from scoring will be an issue for a Swan Hill side that conceded the most goals of any team last round – and a back six that had trouble containing another key forward in Bryce Curnow.
Admittedly, the Swans won’t be coming up against the same midfield as last week, with the Eagles possessing a bit less depth through the middle of the ground than Kerang – but they still have plenty of match winners that can influence any game on their day.
If the visitors are to be able to turn their early season form around, then it needs to come from their match winners in Wade, Xavier Moloney, Oscar Lewis off half back and Toby Thoolen in the ruck. If all four of them can play big games, then an upset will be in the offing. But if not, then it’s the Eagles who will be well in control.
Tip – Mallee Eagles by 12 points.
KERANG v NNW UNITED
IN the final game of round 2 the rampaging Kerang host an already injury hit Nyah-Nyah West United at Riverside Park.
The Demons put in a stellar performance in their opening game against two-time reigning premiers Woorinen last Saturday – and if not for a cluster of injuries which left them without an interchange bench for almost half the game, they probably would have secured the first upset of the season.
As it stands, the Demons fell short – and now face the unenviable task of trying to topple the Blues on their home patch without their coach Corey Daniels (hamstring) and Riley Daniels (collarbone). Also on the injured list is defender Adrian Knee, who is in doubt with a groin strain and youngster Campbell Everitt, who copped a significant corked thigh.
The good news for United is the likely return of big man Alex Erlandson, who could potentially fill a spot in the Demons back six as cover for Knee if he is unable to take his place in the team.
Kerang aren’t immune to injury concerns either, with Troy Davis likely to miss tomorrow’s game, along with Bronson Booth. Brandon Hayes will come in to the team along with Tyson Clingan for his first senior game, with the speedy youngster likely to fill a role either on the wing or up forward.
For NNW United to cause an upset, they simply have to win the territory battle and win the ball out of the middle. The Demons quick hands and pressure around the contest impressed Woorinen coach Marcus Demaria last Saturday – and if they can produce something similar for four quarters then they will give themselves a chance.
With class players on every line and with the form with which they’ve started the season, it’s Kerang’s game to lose – and one suspects that no matter how well United plays, the only way an upset occurs is if Kerang take their foot off the pedal – and that would be very un-Kerang like.
Tip – Blues by 36 points.
