Kuwarna’s SANFL side has shown it can match it with the State League’s best, overcoming a tenacious Glenelg outfit by seven points at Glenelg Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Challenged multiple times throughout the game, Kuwarna kept responding to Glenelg’s pressure to run out 12.9 (81) to 10.14 (74) winners.
Here are Kuwarna SANFL Coach Matthew Wright’s five key takeaways from the match.
Terrific Tex
Forward Taylor Walker returned from a hamstring injury in his first SANFL game for Kuwarna since 2014, making an immediate impact and finishing with a game-high five goals.
Walker made his presence felt in the forward 50, proving to be a tough match-up for The Bays, as well as giving the crowd a few highlights, including a hanger in the opening quarter and snapping through a nice goal on the run in the second term.
“He continues to rock up and put in a performance and it’s no surprise, he works as hard as anyone during the week, so when it comes to game day, he just goes out and executes,” Wright said.
“Archie Ludowyke, Finnbar Maley, Mitchell Marsh and Indy Cotton get to play with him, and you just can’t replicate 300-plus games of experience.
“For those boys to get the opportunity to play footy with the big Texan is fantastic.”
Walker finished with five goals, 13 disposals, seven marks – with three contested – and four inside 50s.
Murray dominates in the air
Defender Nick Murray spent the afternoon down back where he commanded the backline, taking care of anything that came his way.
Murray was a key cog in Kurwarna’s back six, able to nullify his direct opponent, along with winning the ball in the air – highlighted by taking a game-high 13 marks.
“For Nick to come in and get the job done on Liam McBean, who is a match-winner, and really execute his role in that space is pleasing,” Wright said.
“He’s played forward for us at both SANFL and AFL level, which is about growing his game and adding more strings to the bow, but for him to go behind the ball and impact the way he did was really important.”
Murray finished with 21 disposals, 13 marks, two tackles and nine rebound 50s.
Midfielders share the load
Kurwarna’s midfield brigade of Billy Dowling, Charlie Edwards, Chayce Jones and 100-gamer Jay Boyle all had their moments, going toe-to-toe with Glenelg’s experienced on-ball group.
Dowling won the ball from stoppages effectively, Edwards linked up well with his teammates, Jones provided strong tackling pressure, while Boyle delivered the ball inside 50.
“We are under no illusions we are going against quality midfields each week, but I suppose the pleasing thing for our midfield group is it was pretty level,” Wright said.
“They all broke even and it didn’t depend on one midfielder to touch it 40 times.
“It is about sharing the load and getting it done together and I thought they did a really good job today to help us get it done.”
Dowling collected 30 disposals and eight clearances, Edwards 22 disposals and seven marks, Jones 21 disposals and 10 tackles, and Boyle 17 disposals and five inside 50s.
Marking Maley
Forward Finnbar Maley supported ruckmen Reilly O’Brien well throughout the afternoon, giving Kurwarna a different look in the ruck and helping secure a 51-24 hitout advantage.
Maley was impactful in the air, taking multiple contested marks, with Wright impressed by his ability to grind it out late and play an important role.
“It is a good one-two punch when you can bring your second ruck in and he can have an impact,” he said.
“He is a contested beast, he has this ability to take a really strong pack mark, and we saw that five or six times today.”
Maley finished with nine disposals, nine marks – six contested – nine hitouts and one goal.
Kurwarna hold on late
It was a tightly contested affair through the first three terms, with Kurwarna holding a 14-point advantage going into the last term.
Glenelg started the fourth quarter in a flurry, booting three goals in the opening eight minutes to flip the scoreboard four points in its favour.
However, Kurwarna showed its perseverance, responding with two majors, before Glenelg got one back to bring the margin to within two-points with just minutes remaining.
A costly turnover in The Bays defence proved the deciding factor, with Dowling putting the game on ice with a clutch goal in the final minutes to give Kuwarna a two-score lead and the win.
“To get it done was really pleasing, but probably most rewarding was overall everyone pulled their weight and played their role,” Wright said.
“Not ideal when your third quarter lead is chewed up five minutes into the quarter.
“For our ability to then wrestle back momentum and come away with the win, it shows really good growth in this group.”
The game was part of the SANFL’s First Nations Round.
There will be no State League footy for Kuwarna next weekend with both AFL and SANFL having the bye.
Kuwarna’s next SANFL game will be against South Adelaide at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday June 6th with the first bounce at 2:10pm.
KUWARNA: 3.4 7.5 9.9 12.9 (81)
GLENELG: 4.1 5.8 6.13 10.14 (74)
GOALS:
KUWARNA: Walker 5, Taheny 3, Ryan, Ludowyke, Maley, Dowling
Glenelg: Hosie 5, Robinson-Cay, Window, Lovelock, Lyons, Brown
BESTS:
N.Murray, Walker, Hinge, O’Brien, Dowling, Maley
