By Brook Shaune-Bould
Cohuna Kangas proved too strong for Balranald as the league celebrated the contributions Indigenous Australians make to the game and to the broader community as part of NAIDOC Week.
Both teams took part in a welcome to country ceremony before the game, with Balranald wearing a special jumper designed by Louise Murray, a local Barkindji, Nari Nari and Jita Jita woman.
The jumper represented the indigenous community’s strong connection to country and featured the Murrumbidgee River and powerful symbols, including a kangaroo and boomerang.
Balranald took the lead early in the game, with co-coach Jydon Neagle kicking two huge goals. By quarter time they were up by 16 points.
Balranald made an aggressive start to the second quarter, but Cohuna was having none of it. They increased their pressure and kicked three goals in quick succession and by half-time they were ahead by 18 points and it was clear that the game was theirs to lose.
The Kangas started to run away with it in the third quarter. They were ahead by 30 points by the 10-minute mark, as Balranald struggled with a lack of fitness – while Balranald’s Josh Hodgson suffered an ankle injury in the final quarter and took no further part in the game.
The Kangas kicked eight goals in the last quarter and extended their lead to 64 points by the final siren.
The Kangas worked well together as a team, despite missing a number of key players.
Newcomer Sam Conforti was outstanding for the Kangas, with four goals and some strong assists. Rhys Free was also excellent, adding five goals to his season tally of 49, while Riley Hird and Dylan Johnstone each kicked three majors.
Ben Fuller, Drew Lloyd and Jydon Neagle were the only multiple goal kickers for Balranald, with two goals each.
After the game Kangas coach Neil Bradley thanked Shaun McIvor and Zac Poole for stepping up and singled out Sam Conforti for praise.
“Some of that stuff we addressed at quarter-time, it’s good to see that come to fruition,” he said.
“Balranald is an improved side with a really good coach and really good players. Our teamwork today was excellent.”
VOTES
3 – Sam Conforti (Cohuna Kangas)
2 – Rhys Free (Cohuna Kangas)
1 – Colin Andrews (Balranald)
MATCH RESULTS
BALRANALD 4.6 5.9 7.12 9.17.71
COHUNA KANGAS 2.2 8.9 12.15 20.17.132
GOALS – BALRANALD – Ben Fuller 2, Drew Lloyd 2, Jydon Neagle 2, Colin Andrews, Seth Connell, Connor Soraggi 1.
COHUNA KANGAS – Rhys Free 5, Sam Conforti 4, Riley Hird 3, Dylan Johnstone 3, Daniel Coates, Tyson Findlay, Joel Helman, Sam McGlone, Nathan Taylor 1.
BEST – BALRANALD – Jydon Neagle, Colin Andrews, Jack Salau, Tom Salau, Harrison Soraggi, Drew Lloyd
COHUNA KANGAS – Sam Conforti, Christopher Anderson, Brenton Conforti, Sam McGlone, Joel Helman, Joshua Bird
