GOOD Friday football will make its first appearance in the Central Murray tomorrow afternoon, with two-time reigning premiers Woorinen hosting this season’s premiership favourites, Cohuna.
The Kangas will come into the game full of confidence following their massive 105-point defeat of Balranald last weekend. Woorinen on the other hand will enter the game fresh after enjoying the bye – and buoyed by the addition of former Essendon, Adelaide and Geelong player Josh Jenkins for the one-off game.
Along with the addition of the 149-game AFL forward to their line-up, the Tigers will also welcome back defenders Ben Booth and Matt Gardner. Booth’s return couldn’t have come at a better time, with the key backman expected to team up with Angus Butterfield to try to negate the dual threats of tall forwards Dylan Johnstone and Rhys Free.
The midfield battle will likely be where this game is won and lost, however, especially with both teams possessing dominant ruckmen in Ben Archard (Cohuna) and Arnold Kirby (Woorinen). Whoever can give their side the ascendency around the stoppages and give their midfield first use will also give their team a massive advantage.
The Kangas midfield is laden with some of the best midfield talent in the competition – most notably Joel Helman, Tom Toma and both Tyson and Jarrod Findlay. While trying to quell Cohuna’s engine room is no mean feat, Woorinen also possess some dangerous on-ballers, who if left to run free can tear a game open in the blink of an eye.
Jye Barry is the main man in that regard – and is the player Neil Bradley will be most keen to stop – but Rob Miller, Josh Domaille and new recruit Clayton McCartney can also win a game off their own boot.
The smaller Woorinen Rec. Reserve hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Cohuna in recent years – and was in fact the venue for their only loss last season. This Kangas outfit is a more rounded unit, however – and at least at this early stage of the season, has very few weaknesses and should get the job done. Tip – Cohuna by 18 points.
