ROB POPPLESTONE
FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By ROB POPPLESTONE
SO much had been said over such a long period of time as to who, and how, and why one team or another might have the edge.
But finally the contest to decide the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League senior football premiership between two deserving clubs was going to be decided not by talk, but by action.
With Yinnar and Newborough extremely well coached, and with enormous talent at their disposal, the Grand Final clash did not disappoint.
Yinnar eventually claimed victory and secured the 2022 premiership on the back of a most disciplined and methodical four-quarter performance, 8.9 (57) to 5.7 (37).
The win was the stuff of legends.
The Magpies, only securing their finals position in the last round of the home-and-away season, won three sudden-death finals before going on to win the premiership.
“I don’t even know what to say to be honest, obviously we’re stoked, the effort they put in to get here, I knew we were a chance if we got there and I really couldn’t be prouder,” Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said.
“The game was hard and physical and that’s when we play our best football.”
Just one goal separated the Magpies and Bulldogs at the first break. Yinnar did well to keep the Bulldogs within reach against a strong wind toward the Pegasus Soccer Club end, and lifted the bar in the second term, winning more of the 50-50 contests and using the ball well with the wind at their back.
A pair of goals to Harry McColl, and singles to Blake Van Der Meer and Stuart Patten gave Yinnar a three goal lead at half-time.
Dreams can be made in a third quarter, and Newborough wanted to keep theirs alive, adding goals from Josh Bland, Patrick Charles and Peter Ainsworth, while keeping the Magpies goal-less.
Newborough led by one point at the final break, but Yinnar finished the stronger, kicking three goals to none in the last to secure the title.
“We had lost so many close games, but the boys have just kept fronting up, just kept playing footy with mates,” Taylor said.
“We hadn’t had a chance for a couple of years and these guys gave 100 per cent and I could not be prouder.”
Best on ground Ned Marsh gave Yinnar victory, with his last quarter goal from a boundary throw-in a highlight that had to be seen to be believed.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner said his side was beaten, but not finished.
“Look, the blokes gave everything they could and I couldn’t ask for more than that,” he said.
“But we were beaten on the inside and the outside by a side that has been touching the footy a lot more than us (Newborough had played one game since August 6 leading into the Grand Final, owing to a last round bye, and two weeks off during the finals).
“And it showed out on the day and that was the best we could do.
“We will be back, and better
“We have a good group and there is not a person going anywhere.
“They say you have to lose one to win one.”
Yinnar’s premiership continued the Magpies record as the most successful Mid Gippsland club in terms of senior flags.
Yinnar now has 14 senior premierships, and can lay claim to winning the first in the expanded MGFNL featuring six former Alberton Football-Netball League clubs.
YINNAR FOOTBALL-NETBALL CLUB
‘THE MIGHTY MAGPIES’
SENIOR PREMIERSHIPSÂ
1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2015, 2022
GRAND FINAL DAY OBSERVATIONSÂ
With LIAM DURKIN
Chock-a-block
IF ever there was an indication as to just how much local football and netball grand finals have been missed during the last two years, it was surely evident at the Mid Gippsland decider.
By 7.30am the carpark inside Ronald Reserve was full, and before too long, spaces were quickly being filled at the neighbouring Pegasus Soccer Club.
So big was the crowd, there was reports of people parking at The Top Pub and walking to the ground.
Bad omen
THE wind at Morwell East played havoc on and off the field.
Banners at local football are only seen at milestones games and grand finals, and sure enough, the unfortunate Newborough banner was ripped in half as it was rolled out before the senior team took the field.
Some Newborough supporters would have surely been fearing the worst at that stage, possibly evoking memories of what happened to Collingwood in 2018.
Not to worry – Yinnar’s banner suffered the same fate.
Fellow paperboy
GOOD to catch up with Foster Mirror editor Rob Best at the Grand Final.
Best has been the man behind the Mirror for a number of years, still producing a well-appreciated paper for the small South Gippsland community.
He was at the Grand Final in a work and family capacity, as his daughter Ebony is the playing-coach of Mirboo North A Grade.
Coaching runs in the family – his son Jake is senior coach of Traralgon Football-Netball Club.
Opposite ends
YINNAR veteran Jamie Winters looks to have gone out in the best possible way.
The Magpie ruckman, now well into his 40s, has given the club over 200 senior games of service.
It would be anyone’s guess as to how many games Winters, Jimmy Dowling and Brendan Chapman have played together.
At the other end of the scale, youngster Harry McColl could nearly retire now.
McColl has won a senior premiership and A Grade cricket flag for Yinnar before the braces have even come off his teeth.
Bulldog through and through
LATROBE City Councillor Sharon Gibson was present at the Grand Final, cheering on her beloved Bulldogs.
The former mayor showed her support, rocking a Newborough beanie,
Despite the result, Cr Gibson was called on stage, keeping her Newborough beanie on as she presented Yinnar’s Ned Marsh with the best on ground medal.
Cr Gibson is certainly no bandwagon supporter.
What was the real Yinnar?
WHILE the history books will say Yinnar came from sixth to win the premiership, a closer look at the Magpies’ season shows they could have easily finished top-two.
Yinnar won nine home-and-away games, including Round 18 to make the finals.
However, of the seven games the Magpies lost, six were by less than 12 points.
Hill End was the only team to hand Yinnar a sizeable defeat, and even then it was only 24 points.
Percentage generally tells the story of a team, and the Magpies finished with 176.74 – the second best in the league.
The Magpies clearly had the makings of a good side, and put it all together after their Round 15 bye.
They didn’t lose a game from there.
