AN eight-goal haul from full-forward Zak Bozanich ensured Kerang claimed their third win of the season on the weekend, with the Blues defeating Balranald by 53 points at Riverside Park.
After a tough and competitive first half, Kerang broke free, kicking 10 of the last 12 goals of the game to run away comfortable 16.8 (104) to 7.9 (51) winners.
Bozanich proved chief destroyer for the Blues, with the spearhead kicking seven of the 10, including five in the last term when the game was out of the Roos reach.
Bozanich’s performance was bettered only by that of Tyson Clingan, with the midfielder dominating out of the middle and providing the Blues with plenty of run and drive through the corridor.
After consistently improving year on year, Clingan has taken his game to another level this season, with the extra midfield minutes in the wake of several departures over the off-season helping accelerate his development.
Clingan wasn’t alone in his ability to break the lines for Kerang, with the home side owning much of the play in the second half.
Rylee Gitsham’s move into the ruck after half-time was one of the key catalysts for Blues, with his ability to not only compete in the air but also impact at ground level helping Kerang get on top around the stoppages.
It was a different story in the first half, however, as both teams attacked the ball and the contest with the ferocity of two clubs that both wanted the win.
Unfortunately, the intense pressure often affected the disposal of both sides, who consistently turned the ball over by both hand and foot.
This was particularly prevalent when going inside 50 as both teams failed to hit targets or make the most of their opportunities in their attacking halves of the ground.
That would eventually change in the second half with Bozanich able to break free of Jarryd Stead, who worked tirelessly despite the volume of possession that came his way.
Balranald on the other hand lacked that key target without injured key forward Ben Fuller, with Cody Henness one of the few to trouble the Blues defence at times.
Henness was one of the Roos better players, but was equally dangerous at winning the ball around the contest, which saw him play higher up the field and even across half back in the second half.
Tanner Coulthard was also influential in the first half and was able to break the game open with his raking left boot on multiple occasions, but drifted out of the match along with many of his teammates after half-time.
Ryan Middlebrook and Jack Salau were two players who clocked in a four quarter performance for the Roos though, with both attacking half backs also spending time forward at stages in the second half as the visitors tried to stay in the contest.
Kerang on the other hand had plenty of winners across the ground, with youngsters Flynn McKnight and Leigham Mcalpin not only finding plenty of the ball but also using it effectively.
Marty Kelly was another key contributor for the Blues and showed his importance to his team’s structure in the first half, often linking up with Clingan and Cody Makeham in the centre corridor as Kerang tried to break the game open.
Makeham was another of the home team’s better players, along with Jordan McNeil and Scott Pay, who worked tirelessly in the ruck in the first half against Balranald’s Daniel Harris, who was also among the Roos best.
The win sees Kerang sit just outside the top five by percentage only ahead of this Saturday’s winnable match against Tyntynder, while Balranald will be looking to regroup when they host Lake Boga at Greenham Park.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Kerang | 3.2 | 6.3 | 10.6 | 16.8 | 104 |
| Balranald | 2.1 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 51 |
VOTES
3 – Tyson Clingan (Kerang)
2 – Zak Bozanich (Kerang)
1 – Marty Kelly (Kerang)
