SWAN Hill secured their third win in a row with a shock 51-point victory over a disappointing Cohuna Kangas.
The 12.16 (88) to 5.7 (37) result left the Kangas’ season hanging in the balance, last year’s grand finalists finding themselves outside the top five with just two wins from their first five matches.
It also helped cement Swan Hill’s place among the league’s contenders for a spot in the finals.
The Swans established a 14-point lead in the first quarter, keeping Cohuna to a single goal and preventing them from moving the ball forward.
From there the visitors never looked in danger against the unusually-flat Kangas, the margin extended during the second quarter despite several missed opportunities and a lack of accuracy up front.
A massive blowout was possible at the 25-minute mark of the second term, when the home side fell 40 points behind with just one goal themselves.
With the game seemingly on the line, Cohuna launched a spirited comeback in the final few minutes of the quarter, briefly reinvigorating their hopes with three goals in rapid succession to bring the margin back to 23.
The third quarter was a scrappy affair however, with Cohuna failing to kick a goal.
Strong pressure from both sides through the midfield kept the ball tied up for much of the term and prevented either team from moving it forward with any sense of purpose.
Swan Hill added three goals to their tally in the final quarter, while Cohuna scored just one.
Bodhi Kelly impressed both teammates and spectators alike with his debut senior game for Swan Hill, while Jose Miliado was the game’s top performer, booting an impressive six goals.
Matthew Wade was another Swan at the top of his game, putting on a midfield masterclass and contributing two goals, while Xavier Moloney turned back the clock with a standout performance.
Jarrod Findlay was Cohuna’s only multiple goalkicker, but strong pressure limited his ability to make an impact on the game, while Tynan Dove, Sam McGlone Daniel Coates, Daniel Paterson and Brenton Conforti were among their better players.
Swan Hill coach Cal Beasy was pleased with his side’s effort after the match and attributed the result to the team’s communication.
“When we talk, when we instruct, when we do all those things we’ve been working on, the rest will look after itself,” Beasy said.
“We showed that we’re doing the right things and can match it with the best.”
FINAL SIREN
| Cohuna | 1.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 37 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Hill | 3.3 | 7.8 | 9.10 | 12.16 | 88 |
VOTES
3 – Jose Miliado (Swan Hill)
2 – Xavier Moloney (Swan Hill)
1 – Matthew Wade (Swan Hill)
