Veteran the key to lock up EHU
IT IS the single mistake that still haunts MA Olympic two years later.
A breakdown in communication in their backline allowed Edge Hill United to have an open shot on goal and with it rob the Mundingburra outfit of their first treble in more than a decade.
It is those split second slip ups that has Mitchell Maher glad of the experience that stands beside him heading into this weekend’s Crad Evans Shield do-over against the Tigers.
The former North Queensland United defender is part of the best defensive unit in North Queensland Football and he credits 42-year-old veteran Paul Kohler as a main catalyst for that.
“He is very experienced and has been around for ages, because it is a one off game, you need someone who has been there before in those big moments,” Maher said.
“If you are playing in the league you have 20 other rounds to make up for mistakes you make. In one off games like the Crad Evans, you make a mistake and it’s over. We proved that in 2019, we made one mistake and we lost the game 1-0.
“PK has been in the situation where it is win or go home. You can see it in the finals, the people who have been there before. They settle pretty quickly, they talk early and they don’t get overawed.
“He has played everyone and then some, he knows what types of players will do what in these games and he knows where to be to try and nullify them. It is pretty crazy to think he is almost double our age.”
Kohler, who played in the midfield during his A-league career with Newcastle United and Northern Fury, has become a staunch centre back and has proved harder to get through than a wrought iron gate welded shut.
His experience has also helped lift the young MA Olympic backline which includes Daniel Kratzman and Kai Mittereger, two players whose experience defies their age.
Maher said the four at the back along with iron gloves keeper Josh Kassulke will be crucial in the Crad Evans final after they conceded a combined 12 goals across 20 rounds of the regular season.
“We have the best defensive record in Townsville, we are confident in our ability but we are not getting ahead of ourselves,” Maher said.
“We are confident we can score goals with our guys up front... if we can stop them from scoring, we win this game.”