WHILE all and sundry have been looking forward to the return of the greatest day on the local sporting calendar for three years, tomorrow may well signal the end of waiting for two particular clubs and their quest to win that long elusive silverware.
The Cohuna Kangas will be out to win their first senior’s premiership since entering the Central Murray Football Netball League some 25 years ago. The Kangas have been close in that time, having played in three losing grand finals in 1998, 2000 and 2013, but on each occasion encountered a raging hot favourite they just couldn’t overcome.
Tomorrow is different, however, with the Kangas now the favourites – albeit slight ones – after defeating tomorrow’s opponent in Kerang a fortnight ago and enjoying a well-earned week off last Saturday as a result.
Now Cohuna president Rick Easton has been here before, having played in the Kangas losing grand finals in 1998 and 2000. But while the sense of nervousness and apprehension is there – as it is with every grand final – for Easton and the township of Cohuna, they’re hoping their luck is about to change.
“It’s (a premiership) always something you think about towards the end of a season when you’re going well,” Easton said.
“A win would be enormous for our club – 25 years is a long time, but even before that, the last premiership before Cohuna and Union merged was back in 1990, so the wait’s been even longer than most realise.
“It would be great for the club and great for the players to get to play in one if they are lucky enough to win it.
“It’s a tremendous honour and feeling that never happens again with the same group of people.
“The town has been hanging out for the opportunity to hold the cup aloft for a long time, but a lot if things have to go right for it to happen. It would be great for everyone involved if it was to happen, though, that’s for sure.”
Cohuna’s senior footballers – and their B Grade netballers – won’t be the only ones out to end a drought, with Balranald’s A Grade netballers out to claim their first piece of silverware.
Unbelievably, the Roo’s wait for glory has been even longer than Cohuna’s, so long in fact, that nobody still at the club can remember a time when they made it this far.
With their team on the verge of greatness, Balranald has been at fever pitch this week – with their proud community getting behind their girls and covering their town in a sea of blue and white. While the proud community may have long blown the lid off – and rightly so – their coach, Jess Parry, is keeping her players focused on the job that is still very much in front of them.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge – it’s exciting to be back playing finals, especially after the last couple of years,” Parry said.
“We’re all just trying to enjoy the week and everything that it brings, the nerves set in at different times, but that’s what grand finals are all about and we’re all really looking forward to it.
“The vibe around the town is more excitement than anything at the moment. We’re just trying to keep things normal, but it’s been 50 years since Balranald have played in an A Grade grand final so it’s hard to not get wrapped up in it.”
