After a drama filled week, the Cohuna Kangas had reason to smile on Saturday night after holding on for a heart-stopping five-point win over the Mallee Eagles at Lalbert.
It would be fair to say 2023 hasn’t gone to plan for either club, with Eagles coach Brent Sheahan stepping down last week on the back of a ninth-placed finish, while Cohuna missed the finals after playing off in last year’s grand final and also had their request to move to the Heathcote District league quashed last week.
But both teams were able to put the distractions aside to play out a cracker in the final round.
In a game that ebbed and flowed in the first half, the Mallee Eagles took a one-point lead into the break thanks largely to the dominance of Harry Allen, Beau Bennett and Clinton Cummins.
But Cohuna broke the game open in the third quarter, kicking five goals to two to take a 15-point lead into last change.
The home team then hit back, kicking four goals in the final term to drag the margin back to just five points in the dying stages.
Cohuna held on, however, winning 13.10 (88) to 13.5 (83).
Joel Helman was at his influential best in the midfield, going toe-to-toe with Eagle Allen.
Dylan Johnstone finished with four goals for the visitors, while Andrew McDonald was also dominant at the other end of the ground kicking four goals for the Eagles.
Brenton Conforti, Daniel Paterson, Nathan Hammond and Daniel Coates were among the Kangas better players, while Zac O’Meara, Liam Drummond, Brent Macleod, Cummins and Bennett were best for the Eagles.
VOTES
3 – Harry Allen (Mallee Eagles)
2 – Joel Helman (Cohuna Kangas)
1 – Brenton Conforti (Cohuna Kangas)
