KERANG
FAST FACTS
PREMIERSHIPS – 8 (2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
PRESIDENT – Scott Clingan
COACH – Troy Coates and Bryce Curnow
2022 BEST & FAIREST – Bradlee Pay
2022 AT A GLANCE
LADDER POSITION – First
2022 FINALS RECORD – 1 win, 1 loss
RECORD – 15 wins, 1 loss
PERCENTAGE – 317.15%
AVERAGE POINTS FOR – 125
AVERAGE POINTS AGAINST – 42
QUARTERS WON – 57 of 72 quarters
2022 JACK BETTS MEDAL – TOP FIVE
22 – Bradlee Pay
20 – Martin Kelly
10 – Sean Hunter
8 – Josh Nitschke
6 – Bryce Curnow
LEADING GOALKICKERS
48 – Troy Coates
38 – Bryce Curnow
30 – Michael Runciman
29 – Bradlee Pay
25 – Sean Hunter
25 – Nicholas Stagg
KEY PLAYERS
Bryce Curnow – Can play at either end of the ground – as proved last week. Saves his best for the big games and won the Bendigo Football League’s Nalder Medallist as best on ground in Strathfieldsaye’s premiership in 2019. His marking ability and clean disposal is second to none, but will likely need a big game up forward to give the Blues a winning score.
Lachlan Ross – In his first season in navy blue, Ross has quickly become an integral member of Kerang’s back six. Is more often than not the first link in the chain in the Blues’ charge forward from defence and rarely wastes a disposal. Will be looking to provide plenty of drive off half back.
Ryan Gillingham – Could be any number of Kerang midfielders in this spot, but Gillingham is the one who is often the fire starter early out of the middle – along with Marty Kelly. Has missed significant chunks of football through injury this season, but returned to somewhere near his best form on the weekend. Can also go forward and create havoc when needed.
PROFILE
After a decade of domination, the Kerang Football Netball Club may well be on the verge of embarking on a new era of supremacy when they face the Cohuna Kangas.
The Blues won a remarkable seven premierships across an eight-year stretch – including six straight titles between 2012 and 2017 – and after missing the last two deciders, will make their return to the big stage tomorrow.
The latest incarnation of the league’s newest powerhouse will still feature many recognisable names to Central Murray supporters, with up to ten Kerang premiership players set to run out onto a ground they all know so well. Troy Coates, Ryan Gillingham (both seven premierships), Jesse Clark (six), Brandon Hayes (five), Troy Davis, Bronson Booth (both four), Marty Kelly and Josh Nitschke (two) have all won multiple flags wearing the navy blue – Hayden Hall and Michael Runciman (one each) will also be looking to become multiple premiership players for the club.
Add in Nicholas Stagg, Lachlan Ross, Bryce Curnow, Sam Heavyside and Rylee Smith – who have all played in premierships at other clubs – and it’s clear that Kerang are more than prepared for the events of tomorrow. With so much experience getting the job done on grand final day, it’s easy to see why Kerang will go into the game full of confidence, regardless of their loss to the Kangas a fortnight ago.
That loss stung the Blues, and produced a swift reaction from the playing group last Saturday in their 82-point win over Woorinen. Kerang looked full of running and took the game on in their trademark style, almost in the same manner as their dominant 66-point win over the Kangas in their only other encounter back in Round 8.
After battling a growing injury list for much of the season, the Blues are starting to get close to their best team on the park – with the exception of brothers Bradlee and Scott Pay. Gillingham, Curnow, Heavyside and Smith have all missed considerable chunks of the season through injury and will be better tomorrow for having a couple of games under the belt.
While Kerang are close to full strength, the absence of Bradlee Pay is still a bitter pill to swallow, with the star midfielder injuring his achilles in the penultimate home-and-away round of the season. Not only did Pay win the Blues Best & Fairest this season, but he also finished Runner-Up in this year’s Jack Betts Medal and will devastatingly not get the chance to add to his seven premierships in the navy blue.
While Kerang would love to add trophy number nine to their cabinet, they would equally love to prevent their arch-rival from adding their first – and take that first step in yet another potential Blues dynasty.
