MCUE looking to bounce back from “embarrassing” performance

MCUE will make the longest road trip in the Riverina Football League this weekend to play Griffith in Griffith in the last round of the home-and-away season and the game will come one week after the Goannas were smashed by 101 points by Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka.

Speaking frankly this morning, Cohalan (pictured) admitted MCUE’s loss to CAK was unacceptable and said the Goannas needed a spirited performance against Griffith just one week out from their elimination final against Wagga Tigers.

“It was probably the most embarrassing game I’ve been involved in,” Cohalan said.

“Even through my first few years of senior footy we copped a flogging like that a fair bit but the fact that it came after a strong win against Tigers was an embarrassment.

“It is disappointing to suffer a loss like that leading into the finals but hopefully that’s the wake-up call we needed and we get back on track.”

After trailing by just three goals at half-time last weekend, MCUE only managed one goal in the second half as CAK piled on 13 majors to run away with the massive victory.

Cohalan said he was hopeful MCUE would learn from the game and play with more diligence against Griffith.

“We had a lot of kids in that team that will learn a lot from that game,” Cohalan said.

“Our disposal was very ordinary and we almost packed up shop at half-time which isn’t acceptable.

“We need to stick to our structures, the same structures which had us within a few goals at half-time, rather than going away from them and panicking and just bombing the ball long.”

MCUE is expected to welcome back key talls Scott Purcell and Reece Cohalan, who both missed last week’s big loss while coach Nathon Irvin will miss the Griffith game due to injury.

Cohalan said the return of Purcell and his brother Reece, should allow MCUE to push big man Andrew Dickins forward against Griffith after the move worked wonders when the Goannas beat Wagga Tigers a fortnight ago.

“Having Scott Purcell and hopefully Reece back in the side will straighten us up a bit,” Cohalan said.

“We experimented with three big talls against Tigers then turned around and only had one of them available the week after against Gullie so fingers crossed they come back in as it worked pretty well.”

With MCUE set to play Wagga Tigers in the elimination final on September 1, Cohalan said it was imperative the Goannas bounced back with a win over Griffith on Saturday.

“We need to win this week ahead of finals just to get some confidence leading in,” Cohalan said.

“A win this week would ensure we know the structures we have in place are structures that we know can win games of footy.”

MCUE will field its strongest available team this weekend with star midfielder James Creasy set to miss the last game of his three-week suspension before lining-up in the elimination final.

MCUE will be without Irvin with an ankle injury while Jock Cornell (foot), Mark Roberson (calf) and Guy Ward (groin) all remain in doubt for the showdown with Griffith.

Cohalan acknowledged taking on Griffith at its home ground was one of the toughest challenges in the RFL and said MCUE would need to play its best attacking brand of football to win.

“Griffith’s midfield is their key so if we can win that battle in there against Orton (Guy) and Duncan (Mick) it goes a long way to winning the game,” Cohalan said.

“I think we need to kick a score, we will need to kick big scores against sides to be successful in the finals so that will be paramount.

“We play our best footy when we play an open brand of footy and keep the forward-line open.

“We have a few big guys who will be hard to stop one out so if we get it into them one out we look better.”

RFL round 18

Saturday

CAK v Turvey Park at Crossroads Oval

Griffith v MCUE at Exies Oval

Leeton-Whitton v Wagga Tigers at Leeton Showground

Sunday

Coolamon v GGGM at Kindra Park