KERANG will go into this Saturday’s grand final against the Cohuna Kangas full of confidence according to joint coach Troy Coates, following their 82-point win over Woorinen at the weekend.
Coates spoke with The Final Score in the wash-up to the Blues’ preliminary final victory and was pleased that their big names all got through unscathed.
“To win by that amount gives us great momentum going into next week and to have potentially played our best team footy for the season the game before a grand final is a really positive sign as well,” Coates said.
“I think some of our guys are really starting to hit some form, which is what we need going into Saturday. We got to look at a few guys in some different roles as well, which gives us a few good options going into the grand final and gives us faith in throwing something different at Cohuna.
“The boys got through pretty well. We had the chance to manage a few guys in the last quarter, which was lucky, because if it was a close game, that’s when it’s likely soft-tissue injuries are going to happen in that last quarter.”
The Blues got through largely unscathed, with Rylee Smith the only potential concern with a tight hamstring. It leaves Coates with a selection headache, with Caleb Nitschke a chance to return from a dislocated shoulder he suffered in Kerang’s second semi-final loss to Cohuna.
“He’s the only potential change,” Coates said. “Obviously, he’ll have to tick a lot of boxes, but we’ll wait and see whether we take that risk or not.
“I don’t think you can underestimate the value of Troy Davis in our side either. We really missed him in the semi-final against Cohuna, so to get him back and firing was a massive positive too.
“(Samuel Nitschke) is only just six foot and going up against Archard was a huge ask for him, so having Truck come into the side will give us a different look.
“Sam Heavyside’s run gives us a different look and a lot of confidence going into this week as well. We were a bit nervous taking them in, but they got through.”
While Coates was happy with where his team sat following the weekend, he was also quick to point out that it would be a much tougher contest against the fit and refreshed Kangas, who will go in as favourites to win their first senior football premiership since joining the Central Murray in 1997.
“We’re the hunters now, the pressure’s on (Cohuna) – they’ve gone straight through and will go in as favourites and no doubt they’ll be out to end their drought,” Coates said.
“We said after Saturday’s game let’s throw the kitchen sink at it and try a few different things – what that looks like we won’t know until we sit down this week and discuss some potential positional changes.
“We went back to basics on the weekend and let the boys play with a bit of freedom and I think that helped us play the standard of footy we did.”
