Kerang enters the 2022 Central Murray finals series as the team to beat, after ending the home-and-away season with a 97-point thrashing of Swan Hill.
The Blues dominated from the opening bounce, with a 14 goal first half helping to set up a commanding 68-point lead at the main break to effectively break the spirit of their opponents.
While the Swans were able to slow the avalanche of goals in the second half, they were unable to impact the scoreboard themselves – finishing with just six for the match.
Óne of the main positives for the Blues ahead of their second semi-final in a fortnight’s time was their spread of goal kickers – with 11 individual goal scorers on their way to 20 majors for the afternoon. It’s been an element of Kerang’s game that has been a work in progress throughout the season, as the Blues try to create an environment that is non reliant on one player to score the bulk of their goals.
Michael Runciman led the way for Kerang up front with four for the day, while the silky-skilled Xavier Moloney was Swan Hill’s major goal kicker with three.
The Blues dominated through the midfield with Martin Kelly, Nicholas Stagg and Josh Nitschke all influential around the stoppages for the full four quarters.
For Swan Hill, their ever-consistent joint coach Matthew Wade showed flashes of brilliance, but needed more help.
Kerang ruckman Troy Davis, who missed his team’s 71-point win over Tyntynder last weekend, returned to the Blues line-up in form – a good sign in what looms as a tough finals series opposed to some of the best big men in the competition. Sean Hunter and Caleb Nitschke were also among Kerang’s better players in an even performance.
For the Swans, both Wade and Moloney performed well, along with Jared Halligan, Matthew Battenally, Matthew Pearse and key defender Tom Corridan.
While Saturday was the full stop on what could only be described as a disappointing 2022 season for Swan Hill, there are still plenty of positives for the Swans to take into next season – namely a fully fit and healthy list with which to choose from and the continued improvement of a number of the club’s younger players such as Jarvis Keogh and Darby Meney.
For Kerang, their season is only just beginning, with Saturday’s victory not only confirming their status as the Central Murray’s number one seed for the finals, but also guaranteeing them of at least two shots at securing yet another Grand Final berth.
VOTES
3 – Martin Kelly (Kerang)
2 – Josh Nitschke (Kerang)
1 – Sean Hunter (Kerang)
MATCH RESULTS
KERANG 7.5 14.10 18.17 20.20.140
SWAN HILL 2.1 4.2 5.4 6.7.43
GOALS – KERANG – Michael Runciman 4, Troy Coates 2, Bryce Curnow 2, Hayden Hall 2, Caleb Nitschke 2, Josh Nitschke 2, Harrison Saunders 2, Rylee Gitsham, Brandon Hayes, Nicholas Stagg, Jonah McKnight 1.
SWAN HILL – Xavier Moloney 3, Tom Pontell 2, Matthew Wade 1.
BEST – KERANG – Martin Kelly, Sean Hunter, Josh Nitschke, Caleb Nitschke, Nicholas Stagg, Troy Davis
SWAN HILL – Xavier Moloney, Jared Halligan, Thomas Corridan, Matthew Pearse, Matthew Wade, Matthew Battenally
