COHUNA has shone under night lights as another Rhys Free best-on-ground performance led the Kangas to a 93-point win over Koondrook-Barham on Saturday night.
After kicking 11 last week, Free continued his run of form with nine against the Raiders and helped his side to another comprehensive victory.
Currently sitting 4-0, Kangas coach Neil Bradley was happy with the club’s start to the season.
“I couldn’t be happier, especially with the challenges we’ve faced,” he said.
“It’s testament to our system, I think we have a pretty good system with the way we move the footy.”
“We’ve got big key targets that are kicking goals as well.”
Cohuna have been forced to make a number of key changes throughout the opening four games, with players such as Oscar Cooke and Sam McGlone forced to take on more responsibility.
“They were both wonderful tonight,” Bradley said.
“Dan Paterson has been another one that we have moved from half back to the midfield through necessity.”
“He has been fantastic, he is a good player and the players love him.”
In the first night game of the year, Cohuna started hot out of the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the game and headed into the first break with a 28-point lead after keeping the Raiders scoreless in the opening quarter.
Kye Attwell got the Raiders off to the perfect start in the second quarter kicking a goal in the third minute before Cohuna put the foot down and kicked the next six before going into halftime.
After halftime, the Raiders again got the quarter off to a great start, with Warren Lolicato kicking a goal within the first minute, before again falling off and letting Cohuna control the remaining of the quarter.
Morgan Randall kicked the Raiders’ third goal of the game in the final quarter, however they simply were no match for a well-drilled Cohuna side.
Free was outstanding again for the Kangas with another best-on-ground performance, with the key forward receiving plenty of first class service from the Kangas’ midfield.
Tom Toma continued his outstanding start to the year with another fantastic performance while Cooke again was great for the Kangas.
For the Raiders, Blake Watts, and Randall and Jordan Iudica were good contributors, however the team were brought back to earth after scoring a win last week against Tyntynder.
Raiders coach Aaron Collins admitted that it took his side too long to get into the game.
“I don’t think we were prepared mentally for the game,” he said.
“Our third quarter was our best quarter and they were all switched on and did their role.”
“We just weren’t switched on and our pressure was off today.”
The game could be a costly one for the Raiders with ruckman Owen Uaongo coming from the ground during the first quarter.
“We lost our ruckman in the first quarter and it just rolled on from there as our injuries got worse,” Collins said.
“We ended up with four injuries today.”
“There was no bench at all in the last quarter, but that is no excuse. They are a really good side.”
Despite going down by nearly 100 points, Collins said there was a lot that they could take from the game.
“Their pressure was outstanding tonight, but there were patches there I thought we played really well,” he said.
“We are learning and trying to get better and understanding each other. It was a good education tonight.”
The Kangas also have injury worries, with Kangas midfielder Tyson Findlay leaving the ground during the final quarter with a hamstring injury.
Votes
3 Rhys Free Cohuna
2 Thomas Toma Cohuna
1 Oscar Cooke Cohuna
COHUNA KANGAS 4.4 10.6 13.9 18.12.120
KOONDROOK-BARHAM 0.0 1.2 2.6 3.9.27
GOALS – COHUNA KANGAS – Rhys Free 9, Tom Toma 3, Jack Donat 2, Dylan Johnstone, Daniel Coates, Oscar Cooke, Aaron Wilson 1.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Kye Attwell, Warren Lolicato, Morgan Randall 1.
BEST – COHUNA KANGAS – Rhys Free, Thomas Toma, Oscar Cooke, Daniel Coates, Brenton Conforti, Daniel Paterson
KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Jordan Iudica, Jacob Barrington, Patrick Goble, Blake Watts, Morgan Randall, Jack Shannon
