Kate Withers
MID GIPPSLAND
Yinnar won an epic qualifying final, worrying Yallourn-Yallourn North out of the game to take victory, 10.8 (68) to 9.3 (57)
The pressure of finals football got the better of the Bombers late in the final quarter, as the experience and composure of the Magpies proved to be the difference.
The game throughout the day was tight and tough and the intensity from both sides was outstanding.
In fact the biggest margin between the two sides was probably at the final siren.
At quarter-time scores were locked away at three goals apiece and at half-time Yinnar held a slender one-goal lead.
Yinnar’s win under pressure against good opposition was full of merit and confirmed them as a genuine contender for the premiership.
The Bombers’ better players all got enough of the ball to win the game but it was the better team that got the chance to take one step closer to the ultimate prize.
Next week, the Magpies match up against Trafalgar, a side they have failed to beat on the two occasions they have met during 2018.
The winner takes a shortcut through to the grand final, while for loser, the pressure builds as they wait for who might be coming at them next.
“We just didn’t stick to the plan. A few of the young fellas who have been so good during the year just didn’t follow instructions, didn’t do as they should have done, and in the end that allowed Yinnar some chances that made a difference,” Yallourn-Yallourn North coach Barrie Burnett said.
“They didn’t really bring any surprises – they didn’t line up or dish up anything unexpected, they are just a good side who didn’t panic and who held their nerve well. Even when we were a couple up in the last quarter, they just kept to their process and in the end take nothing away from them – they deserved the win. There is no excuses.”
Elimination final
Mirboo North dominated their elimination final, winning over Thorpdale yesterday, 12.10 (82) to 5.9 (39).
There was no tomorrow for the loser of the elimination final as a year’s work was tested between Mirboo North and Thorpdale.
You can sometimes get a sense of the type of afternoon you might be in for in the early minutes of a game, and for the Blues it didn’t look good.
A rushed behind by Thorpdale courtesy of a kick off the ground was mistakenly called a goal, leading to a heated complaint by Thorpdale players to the umpires, resulting in a free kick in front of the Tigers’ goals and a second goal without the ball getting back to the centre.
This came on top of the late withdrawal of key Blues’ forward Ed Greene with shingles – a goal kicker Thorpdale could ill afford to lose.
In muddy conditions that tested both sides, goals were at a premium and Mirboo North had four of them at quarter-time courtesy of a strong breeze and some good work from Tim Trail and Zac Kilgower, while keeping their opposition to a single goal.
The Tigers are a very close community club and have been tested by the passing of one of their admired and respected players in Kal Nash.
When his brother Jake wore Kal’s number one guernsey out on to the ground it was obvious the Tigers were playing for a departed teammate as much as they were for the right to compete for another week.
The second quarter was going to be crucial for the Tigers control on the game and they needed to temper Thorpdale’s use of the wind and surge forward to create opportunities.
The work rate of Mirboo North continued at an impressive standard, even with Jed Alexander and Riley Oddy coming to the bench with slight injuries.
At half-time the Tigers had earned themselves a 23-point margin.
The heavy conditions were starting to have an impact on players as the second half started.
Use of ball, decision making, work ethic and the sharing of the load all started to play a more important part.
Mirboo North dominated in all key areas and blew the game open to lead by nearly 10 goals at the final break.
By game’s end the reigning premiers had signalled they were capable of beating anyone in any conditions. f
