Riding the momentum of last week’s comeback victory over Mulwala, Cobram was out to make a statement on Good Friday as they visited Barooga for round three of the MFL.
A minute’s silence in respect for the late legend Ray Nye was held by the crowd of at least 2000 before the match got under way.
After three shots on goal that resulted in only behinds, the Tigers got their first major in the 10th minute, answered minutes later with a goal from Barooga’s Sebastian Fotia.
As the visitors pulled away with a 70-point lead at half-time, with much of the damage done by Tigers full forward Ben Ryan (eight majors), Barooga couldn’t tighten the leash around the Tigers.
With just one goal in the second half, Barooga’s miseries piled one on another as Cobram ran away with a 152-point win at the full-time siren (3.2 to 26.16).
Ben Ryan was awarded the inaugural Ray Nye Medal for his eight-goal dominance in front of goal, while Luca Allen marked his 100th senior game with Cobram.
Meanwhile, Riley Brooks led the Barooga pack on to the field for his 350th game with the Hawks to the applause of a guard of honour.
Ryan, Allen, Hunter Hardwidge, Lucas Roberts, Tyron Baden and Kyle Coates were named Cobram’s best players, while Thomas Barker, Jayden Geisler, Kane Rattray, Ned Higgins, Jake Murphy and Jai Nolan were the best players for Barooga.
Cobram faces off against sixth-placed Echuca United at home this weekend, while the Hawks face another tough prospect with a date against last year’s premiers at Congupna.
Reserves
Cobram met their Barooga counterparts in round three of the MFL reserves on Good Friday.
Tigers debutant Harris McCarthy made for a tough challenger in the ruck, replacing Tully Kerr, who is out with injury.
The visitors pulled away early with a three-goal lead before the Hawks replied in kind with a behind in the ninth minute.
With two goals at the opening of the second quarter, the Tigers went on to cement a 56-point lead at half-time despite a spree of inaccuracy in front of goal and a Barooga major in the 13th minute.
The blood-letting continued into the second half, with Tigers vice-captain Koby Withers returning to form with six majors, joined by Paulie Degei and Tim Cantrill on a hat-trick each.
The full-time siren left the scoreline on the Ray Nye Stand with a Tigers victory, 1.2 (8) to 20.12 (132).
The best-on-ground went to Cobram’s Koby Withers.
Cobram’s best players were Harris McCarthy, Koby Withers, Paulie Degei, Daniel Ellis, Lachlan Adams and Callum Hulley.
Best players for Barooga were Lewis Baxter, Ashley Ian Rigby, Nicholas Macheda, Sam Poole, Beau Quinane and Max Aksionov.
