Sport

Injuries hamper Tongala in loss to Cobram

By Matthew Kappos

May 19, 2024

Consistent kick: Sam Cipriani added another three goals to his season tally at the weekend, bringing his total to 17. Photo: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

Tongala was unable to capitalise on a promising first quarter against Cobram, going down in round seven of Murray Football League action on Saturday.

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Despite being forced to make eight changes during the week, the Blues put together a strong first quarter at Scott Oval to lead 3.1 (19) to 1.3 (9) at the first break.

However, a huge six-goal quarter for the Tigers put them on top by 21 points at half-time after Tonny was only able to manage one in response.

Cobram extended the lead to 32 by the final interval and, although Tongala fought back to win the fourth quarter, the Tigers had done enough to take the game 13.10 (88) to 9.6 (60).

“It was a little bit disappointing how we let our guard down in the second quarter,” Tongala coach Billy Barnes said.

“I think that’s probably where we lost the game. Unfortunately we just had a patch of, it would have been six or seven minutes, where we were just lacking that defensive pressure.

“They’re able to put on a few goals and then for the rest of the game it was a bit of an arm wrestle.”

The Blues returned to Tongala as the walking wounded, finishing the match without a bench due to several players going down during the game, on top of the eight changes forced upon them going into the fixture.

“With those eight changes, that meant that we were able to play some younger developing players on our list as well like Jesse Johnstone and Hudson Kellet and even Mitch Peterson as well,” Barnes said.

“(We have) some very impressive younger kids coming through, which is a silver lining to making those changes.

“It gives those boys an opportunity and they definitely played their role, which is fantastic, but certainly Kyle (Fitzgerald) going down just meant that we probably didn’t have that communication, the leadership in the middle.

“Our midfield groups still did really well. Matt Caia was also missing from that mix of onballers as well and Mackenzie Cowley is out with a PCL strain at the moment as well.

“When you start to throw those rotations out a little bit it means that we’ve got to try and make sure that we adjust.”

Tongala will have a chance to rehab its sidelined contingent as it has the week off next weekend as part of another Murray league split round before it hosts Finley on June 1.

The result sees the Blues fall to seventh place on a congested table with a 4-3 record.