FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
Accuracy and composure had Yallourn/Yallourn North in control for most of the day in their 10.8 (68) to 3.13 (31) win over Yinnar in round four of the Mid Gippsland Football League.
The Magpies were yet to be really tested and the match for them was a chance to line up against in-form, quality opposition.
The opening minutes were manic, with good skills and electric pace shown from both sides.
The Bombers were first on the scoreboard through Tim Phillips and were proving the steadier side early on, especially in defence, which was complimented by a sprinkling of pace around the ground.
The visitors were struggling and managed just one goal and nine behinds to half time to trail by 24 points.
Yinnar could only manage two more majors for the match and misfired shots on goal proved to be their undoing.
Coach Barrie Burnett was pleased with the speed of his chargers given their comparable lack of experience.
“We have plenty of pace and with 10 guys under 21 in the side … we also have plenty of enthusiasm, which is good for me and the other older guys in the side,” Burnett said.
“To beat a team like Yinnar,you really need 20 guys contributing and we’ve now done that three weeks in a row.”
Boolarra v Hill End
Boolarra got half-way there before Hill End ran the game out to secure the win 12.13 (85) to 7.4 (46).
Things were looking up for the home side after a promising start put them six points ahead at half-time.
Matt Powers, Luke Conway, Marcus Twomey, Tom Reiske and Nicholas Smith were just a handful of better contributors for Boolarra.
Hill End took control in the third quarter and coach Mike Santo was hard to stop at full forward after being well served by Isaac Ketchen, Ambu Uliando, Josh Hecker, Power and Callum Paul further up the ground.
The game was not out of reach for the Demons heading into the final quarter, but toughing it out was not enough.
The good news is Boolarra have not been embarrassed in the past three weeks.
The bad news is, they are yet to record any premiership points for their efforts.
Mirboo North v Thorpdale
As if the Tigers weren’t feeling enough pain as it was, a one point loss to the Blues at the weekend, 10.7 (67) to 10.8 (68), has the reigning premiers on their knees.
Perfect conditions greeted the healthy crowd at Mirboo North as the local community hoped to see their Tigers grab a home ground win ahead of their gala auction night.
It was very much do or die for the reigning premiers as they headed into round four without a win.
The Tigers led at quarter-time and were well served by Zach Kilgower and Lloyd Powell and looked the goods early.
Thorpdale responded well and wrestled back the lead at the main break as Gavin Low, Kane Saliba and Hugh Greene proved hard to stop.
Jacob Nash, Josh Taylor, Darryl Mayman and Clancy Bennett threw their weight behind their team’s push to regain control with less than a kick separating the two sides with a quarter to play.
The match could have gone either way but the efforts of Green and Corey Nickels to score seven of their side’s 10 goals was the difference in the end.
Blues coach Josh Collie was impressed by his undermanned side.
“We lost two blokes in the first quarter, so only had one rotation for three quarters,” Collie said.
“So we were lucky to have every guy contribute which helped edge us in front when it really counted.”
Trafalgar v Yarragon
After four rounds Trafalgar remains the only unbeaten side in the Mid Gippsland league after their win over Yarragon, 12.13 (85) to 12.3 (75).
Winning form is good form and both sides had that as they headed into their round four clash.
The Bloods remain unbeaten while the Panthers are slowly growing in confidence and now have a chance to flag themselves as genuine contenders against quality opposition.
Trafalgar have had a good spread of contributors and goal kickers early in the season with Klay Butler, Darcy Brock, Jamie Hines, Connor Noonan, Daniel Puglia and Austin Byrne leading the pack this week.
A two-point lead was extended to 15 at half-time and then a match-winning 33 at the last break.
With seven separate goal kickers in their twelve goals, the Panthers were sharing the load well but the previous quarter by Trafalgar had already done the damage.
Newborough v Morwell East
Morwell East picked the pocket of Newborough to steal a seven-point win, 10.11 (71) to 9.9 (63) on Saturday.
Newborough led at quarter, half and three-quarter time through the efforts of Wade Smith, Mat Slattery and Phillip Hicks, while Michael Gelagotis continued to kick goals.
Morwell East were in front at the final siren courtesy of Dylan Field, Brendan Evans, Shaun Barnes and Sam Marks, not to mention the six goals between Nicolaus Campbell and Rob Michaelides.
“Our depth isn’t quite there, given we have had some injuries, but I believe we still have some significant improvement to come,” coach Colin King said.
“We got a little more run out of our backline and we dropped our tag on Slattery which freed us up to run the ball well and send us forward.”
