COHUNA Kangas and Koondrook Barham are two wins away from a drought-breaking premiership in Radio 3SH Central Murray senior footy.
The Kangas and River Raiders will clash in Saturday’s first preliminary final at Balranald’s Greenham Park from 2.30pm.
Both clubs joined the CMFNL in 1997 and are yet to etch their name on the seniors trophy.
In their only meeting in the 15-round home-and-away series it was the Jack Geary-coached Cohuna which won 90-80 in Barham in round three.
The Kangas took on Nyah Nyah West United which was unbeaten in the run to the finals series.
Cohuna stunned the Demons in a 71-86 victory in qualifying final two.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham began its run with a 103-28 win against Moulamein in elimination final two at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
A 99-97 win against Mallee Eagles in semi-final two at Murrabit kept the River Raiders in the premiership race.
The Koondrook Barham team had a nine-six record as it completed the home-and-away series in sixth place.
Cohuna’s on-ball group of Chris Anderson, Ricky Monti and Sam McGlone is one of the league’s best.
They will be up against Jacob Barrington, Nathan O’Toole and Martin Kelly.
Among the highlights will be in the centre where Kangas’ captain Tom Toma is opposed by Harry Bremner.
Targets in Cohuna’s attack include Corbin Anderson, Daniel Coates, Tyson Farrant and Kain Robins.
It will be a massive test for KB defenders Reagan Hamilton, Jack Poulton, Ryan Bassett and James Martin.
A Cohuna defence led by Mitch Treacy, Lachlan English, Jack Geary and Brady Hore will be aiming to limit the impact Cameron Arnold, Kye Attwell, Jack Shannon and Clayton McCartney have in this contest.
It’s a rematch of the ’25 grand finalists, Woorinen and Nyah Nyah West United in Sunday’s second preliminary final at Kerang’s Riverside Park from 2.30pm.
The Demons and Tigers met in round one at Nyah Nyah Recreation Reserve.
The Corey Daniels-coached NNWU Demons dominated in a 102-46 victory.
Stung by defeat to Cohuna in qualifying final two, Nyah struck back for an 85-64 win against Hay in semi-final one.
Woorinen earnt a week’s rest after a 100-81 victory against Mallee Eagles in qualifying final at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
Both teams are stacked with plenty of scoring power.
Targets in Woorinen’s forward line include Jose Miliado, Rhys Cason, Will Collicoat and Sam Hilton-Joyce.
They will be opposed by Joel Walsh, Nash Richman, Zack Threadgold and Jack Palmer.
The Demons’ attack is led by Alex Erlandson, Jonathon Ross, Corey Daniels and Beau Schwarze.
Huge roles will be played by Woorinen defenders Oscar Lewis, Josh Stone, Ben Booth and Kane Reid.
A key factor will be the amount of scoring chances created by the on-ball groups.
Woorinen ruckman Lachlan Gardner will team up with Jye Barry and Lachlan Warburton against Blake Larkings, Jordan Johnston and Scott Carlin.
In the centre, Henry Thompson takes on Demons’ captain Dominic Gallo.
The Woorinen Tigers joined the league in 1946 and are chasing a 12th senior premiership.
The Tim Free-coached team of ’26 is also aiming for a rare feat in the club’s history.
Only time the Tigers were back-to-back premier was in 2018 and ’19.
Most recent of NNWU’s three premierships was in 2024.
In the reserves competition, Mallee Eagles tackles Ultima in preliminary final one at Balranald from 12.25pm.
In round 11 the Eagles soared to a 75-42 win on Ultima’s turf.
Mallee won qualifying final one against Swan Hill by 15 points.
Ultima marked a 134-41 win against Tooleybuc Manangatang in elimination final two and followed up with a two-goal victory against Koondrook Barham in semi-final two.
It’s the Demons against the Swans as Nyah Nyah West United faces Swan Hill in Sunday’s preliminary final two in Kerang from 12.25pm.
In round nine the Swans beat the Demons by 13 points at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The NNWU line-up dominated qualifying final two against Koondrook Barham to win by 10 goals.
Swan Hill bounced from a 15-point loss to Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final to defeat Lake Boga in semi-final one by 37 points.
In the Colts competition, Lake Boga meets Swan Hill in preliminary final one on Balranald’s ground.
The Magpies swooped for a 51-40 victory in the Swans’ nest in round 11.
On day two of the finals series, Lake Boga dominated qualifying final one against Koondrook Barham to win by 61 points.
The Magpies went 14-1 in the home-and-away series.
After a 34-point loss to Tooleybuc Manangatang in qualifying final two, Swan Hill hit back for a 25-goal win against Woorinen in semi-final two.
On Sunday it will be Tooleybuc Manangatang against Koondrook Barham in Kerang.
In round six the River Raiders won 66-58 at Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
The Saints surged to a 73-39 win against Swan Hill in qualifying final two.
Stung by a 10-goal loss to Lake Boga in qualifying final one, Koondrook Barham hit back to beat Wandella in semi-final one by 43 points.
Preliminary final action starts at 9am when the Mildura Health Fund under-15 matches are played.
It’s the Eagles against Magpies on Saturday as Mallee and Lake Boga contest preliminary final one in Balranald.
In round six, Mallee won 60-nil against the Magpies in Lalbert.
The unbeaten Mallee Eagles marked a 52-point win against NNWU Demons in qualifying final one.
After a two-goal loss to Swan Hill in qualifying final two, Lake Boga fought on for a 44-39 win against Koondrook Barham in semi-final two.
On Sunday it will be Swan Hill against Murrabit.
The Swans scored a 50-19 win against the Blues at Murrabit in round two.
Swan Hill kicked off its finals campaign with a 36-24 result against Lake Boga in qualifying final two.
Murrabit has fought its way from an elimination final where it beat Tyntynder by 38 points.
The Blues won semi-final one against Nyah Nyah West United in the Demons’ den by 13 goals.
Schedule for Saturday’s first preliminary finals at Balranald’s Greenham Park:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 9am: Mallee Eagles v Lake Boga.
Colts at 10.20am: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Mallee Eagles v Ultima.
Radio 3SH seniors at 2.30pm: Cohuna Kangas v Koondrook Barham.
Schedule for Sunday’s second preliminary finals at Kerang’s Riverside Park:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 9am: Swan Hill v Murrabit.
Colts at 10.20am: Tooleybuc Manangatang v Koondrook Barham.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Nyah Nyah West United v Swan Hill.
Radio 3SH seniors at 2.30pm: Woorinen v Nyah Nyah West United.