THE jury was out when Sam Keenan arrived at J.C. Lowe Oval this year.
After three seasons of ups and downs as coach of Riverina league club Coolamon, the man- mountain came to the Ovens and Murray with mixed reviews as the Pigeons attempted to solve their ruck woes.
It only took him one round to feel at home.
Keenan was among Yarrawonga’s best in its round-1 win against Albury and, in partnership with fellow signing Steve McKee, has gone on to become one of the most consistent ruckmen in the league.
“I have loved it at Yarra,” Keenan said.
“Obviously Dad (Peter) has had a bit to do with the club over the years and there’s no stress.
“It’s probably harder to get a kick in the Riverina league because the ball is kicked on top of your head all of the time.
“At Coolamon you had parents coming up and getting stuck into you and without the coaching hassles I can just go out and try and get a kick.
“I’ll leave the rest to Craig (Ednie).
“I can focus on my game.
“It’s been good, but we all want to finish the year off well.”
Keenan, 32, has been changing up forward with McKee and, along with Marcus McMillan, forms an attack that will command attention from North Albury in today’s qualifying final at W.J. Findlay Oval.
While the Pigeons’ form has been patchy over the past month, he is confident of a lift with the competition intense for finals spots with Clint Runnalls the only player on the injured list.
“We have played some good footy and average footy, but it can’t have been too bad finishing 16-2,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get over North Albury.
“We pretty much have a full list and having ‘Woll’ (Matt Wollington) back in the side helps.
“It’s probably the strongest side we have put on the paddock since round 1.
“North is a good side though with Dan Leslie up forward and a good midfield and we’re looking no further ahead than Saturday’s game.”
North Albury has prided itself on its spread of goal kickers this season and desperately needs Leslie, Kade Brown and Travis Hodgson kicking goals to defeat the Pigeons.
The Hoppers have kicked 9, 24 and 8 goals in their past three outings and likely match-ups between Leslie and Marc Lonergan, Brown and Nick Tassell and Hodgson and Kyle Archibald will be pivotal.
Hodgson believes midfield pressure is crucial to his team’s prospects.
“We need to break even in the midfield battle to be a chance,” Hodgson said.
“I think our forward line is potent enough and our defence is pretty close to full strength with the exception of Alex Popko so it’s crucial to put them under pressure as obviously they have some dangerous forwards.
“Yarrawonga&rsq uo;s a good side and probably go a bit deeper in the midfield, but I think we are more than capable as well.”
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