THE Cohuna Kangas will clash with Kerang at Riverside Park on Saturday, with the winner set to be the first team through to this year’s Central Murray Football Netball League Grand Final.
The Blues and Kangas have been the competition yardstick is 2022 and will resume their rivalry on the big stage after having met just the once this season – with Kerang recording a comfortable 66-point win in round 8.
The Blues turned it on after a slow start, kicking 17 of the last 20 goals of the match to blow the Kangas away in a performance that confirmed their premiership favouritism early in the season. Kerang’s ball use was superb, with their midfield dominating the contest from quarter time onwards.
Bradlee Pay was sensational, kicking a game-high four goals while playing a hybrid midfield-forward role – with Marty Kelly, Josh Nitschke and Rylee Smith also having a significant on-ball impact. Unfortunately for the Blues, Pay won’t be out there this time around, with Kerang’s best and fairest out for the remainder of the season with an Achilles tendon injury.
While Pay is a massive loss, the Blues will potentially regain a number of key players who missed their round 18 win over Swan Hill, with Jesse Clark, Ryan Gillingham, Sam Heavyside and Smith all set to resume after injury – with Heavyside the only one needing to survive a fitness test to be available.
Cohuna have their own injury concerns, with Ben Archard suffering a dislocated thumb during the Kangas’ 15-point win over Woorinen in the qualifying final. Tom Metherell and Brenton Conforti both picked up knocks during the game, however it’s expected all three will take their place in a full-strength Cohuna line-up.
The Kangas were impressive last Saturday in taking down the Tigers on the own home deck, but will need to take their game up a level if they are wanting to be first through to this year’s decider. Their methodical ball movement off half- back helped set up many of their attacks, with both Tom Toma and Metherell having big games. Their half-backs were able to do as they pleased against Woorinen, but will need to be more cautious against the Blues – with Troy Coates, Sean Hunter and their plethora of resting midfielders an ever-present threat inside their attacking 50.
The Kangas’ preferred game style is to maintain possession and move the ball forward by picking their way through the opposition’s defensive zone with uncontested marks. This worked to a degree last weekend, but fell apart when their last kick was bombed into attack, not to the advantage of key forwards Rhys Free and Dylan Johnstone.
They can ill-afford a repeat of this against Kerang, whose back six is as well organised as any team and will peel off and help their teammates at any opportunity.
Kerang’s ability to maintain possession is second to none, and it will be incumbent on the Kangas to find a way to interrupt their ball movement or else suffer a repeat of their round 8 loss. Woorinen have been the only team who have been able to do it so far this season, with their high pressure and aggressive attack on the footy providing the blueprint to bring down the premiership favourites.
With both teams possessing both deep and talented midfields, the battle out of the centre will alone be worth the price of admission. Marty Kelly and Josh Nitschke have both had fantastic seasons, as highlighted by their club best-and-fairest results, while Nick Stagg has the game that will see him thrive on the finals stage.
For the Kangas, Joel Helman is the man to watch, along with both Jarrod and Tyson Findlay. If Helman and Kelly line up on each other as expected, it could well be on for young and old. With Toma and Metherell both in form across half back for the Kangas, Kerang will be hoping for a similar output from their runners, Lachlan Ross and Jesse Clark. If Cohuna allow the pair to run free unchecked, the game could be over very quickly.
Up forward, the Kangas have the advantage, with Rhys Free (75 goals) and Dylan Johnstone (48 goals) among the competition’s leading scorers for the season. While Michael Dalrymple will be the logical choice for one of the two big men – most likely Free – that still leaves the Blues short and exposed if Cohuna can get their forward-50 entries right.
While both clubs like to control the tempo of the game – with a spot in this year’s decider on the line, a physical and willing match can be expected.
This will likely suit Kerang best – along with the home advantage. But an upset cannot be ruled out if the Kangas are able to supply key forwards Free and Johnstone with plenty of opportunities to hit the scoreboard.
Tip – Kerang to win by 10 points.
KEY PLAYER
Bryce Curnow – The reigning Jack Betts medallist has had an up-and-down season, with illness in the second half of the season taking its toll on the key forward. While the Blues have developed forward depth in his absence, Curnow at his best is still a matchwinner who thrives on the big stage, having previously won the Bendigo Football League’s Nalder Medal as best on ground on Strathfieldsaye’s 2019 premiership.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can Kerang nullify Jake Hammond?
Hammond has been a revelation for the Kangas since coming into their team for their round 13 win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang. While he can play at either end of the ground, he’s had most impact an as intercept defender floating across half-back and often sitting in the hole in front of his opposition’s key forwards. The Blues must find a way to make him accountable and keep him from sagging back in front of Curnow or else an upset could be on the cards.
COHUNA KANGAS
KEY PLAYER
Thomas Toma – Absolutely dominated from the outset last Saturday against Woorinen, with his clean disposal and line- breaking running helping set up many attacking forays for his team. Will spend time in the midfield when required, but should spend most of the match across half-back as he continues his return from a lengthy hamstring injury.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can the Kangas midfield go all day with Kerang?
One of the big strengths of Kerang’s midfield is not only their top-end quality, but also how deep they run through the most important area of the ground. Even with Bradlee Pay out injured, the Blues can call upon up to eight high-class onballers to rotate through the centre square – a luxury no other team has at their disposal. Cohuna have the class to match the Blues, with Joel Helman and Jarrod Findlay the equal of the Blues’ best, but they will be required to do the bulk of the work.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams have played each other just once this season, with Kerang recording a comfortable 66-point win in round 8. The Blues dominated after quarter-time, kicking 17 of the last 20 goals to run over the top of the Kangas, with Bradlee Pay, Troy Davis, Marty Kelly, Rylee Smith and Michael Dalrymple all influential contributors in the win.
KEY MATCH-UP
Marty Kelly v Joel Helman
The midfield battle will likely decide the outcome of the match, with the two midfield bulls crucial to each club’s chances. Both love putting their head over the ball and winning the contested footy and will thrive on the opportunity to put their team in a winning position. Both Kelly and Helman have been consistently among the Blues’ and Kangas’ better players across the season – and will need big games to get their team through to the grand final.
