GANMAIN-Grong Grong-Matong roared back into finals calculations with a 46-point thrashing of arch-rival Coolamon on Sunday.
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The Lions produced one of their best performances of the year to keep their season alive, beating the Hoppers 18.8 (116) to 10.10 (70) at Ganmain Sportsground.
The win does not get the Lions inside the top five but it puts them equal on points with fifth-placed Collingullie-Glenfield Park plus just a game from third spot.
GGGM were hungry from the outset and won the all-important midfield battle and were far more effective going forward.
Coolamon were average all day but the absence of travelling forward Chris Ladhams was obvious as the Hoppers struggled to find avenues to goal.
GGGM coach Jayden Kotzur was superb and in contention for best-on-ground honours with Nathan McPherson and ruckman Matt White, while Jess Johnson performed a tight tag on Coolamon midfielder Pete McGrath.
Kotzur knew the importance of the win.
“We had to win,” Kotzur said.
“In the scheme of things we were going to be two games behind everyone else and I think it’s been nearly 18 months since we’ve knocked off a team that’s been sitting in the top few.
“It was really important we came switched on ready to play and I think the boys did that.”
Kotzur is confident the Lions have turned the corner after a slow start to the year.
“We’re playing much better footy,” he said.
“We’re playing team orientated footy, we’re running in numbers, we’re sharing the footy and we’re probably even better by foot and hand, which was letting us down.
“We’ve worked hard over the last month to keep building, to get where we are, we’ve still got a lot of room to improve but it just goes to show we’ve got players here who are capable, and are starting to play good senior footy.
“We’re still a long way from those top couple of teams but we’re moving in the right direction.”
GGGM face another test in Leeton-Whitton next week.
Full-time
GANMAIN-GGM (116)
3.2 7.4 12.7 18.8
COOLAMON (70)
1.1 3.2 6.5 10.10
Goals: (GGGM) J Lawton 3, N McPherson 3, A Watt 3, J Kotzur 2, D Foley 2, C Steele 2, S Hatty, M White, N Irvine; (Coolamon) Z Robinson 2, L Gerhard 2, P McGrath 2, S Glyde, J Maddox, R Litchfield, R Pritchett.
Best: (GGGM) N McPherson, C Steele, J Johnson, A Watt, B McKinnon, M White; (Coolamon) H Bradley, R Litchfield, D Johnson, M Macauley, M Carroll, P McGrath.
