FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By ROB POPPLESTONE
ROUND 3 of the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League saw a couple of turnups.
Yinnar provided the biggest talking point, taking down Fish Creek, while Foster sent an ominous warning after disposing of a highly-rated Thorpdale.
Yinnar 11.7 (73) def Fish Creek 7.10 (52)
IT was always going to be interesting to see how Yinnar might front up to the reigning premier just seven days after going down to the 2023 runner-up in Newborough, a match in which they were in control of for most of the day before a 30 minute lapse saw the game slip away.
You could argue the bar might have been even higher at the weekend as the Magpies confronted a Fish Creek side that had very few weaknesses.
The home side lifted to the occasion however, with an impressive 27 point win, 11.7 (73) to 7.10 (52).
There was nothing between the two sides for the first 60 minutes, with Fish Creek leading by just the single point at both the first quarter and the main halftime break.
Yinnar however broke away from there, much to the delight of coach Sam McCulloch.
“Happy to come away with the win. We played our brand of footy in the second half which was pleasing to watch,” he said.
“Very impressed with the even contribution right across the board. Was a great response from our group and I felt we learnt from our mistakes the previous week.
“Looking forward to the bye this week and will give us the opportunity to refine parts of our game and reset for our next block of tough games.”
The win by the Magpies, was as good a victory as the club has had in recent seasons, and has Yinnar among a handful of genuine contenders in 2024.
Fish Creek was beaten but far from disgraced, according to coach Jarrod Walker.
“A tight tussle for most of the day, we couldn’t get the game on our terms for most of it, with credit to the Yinnar pressure and spread,” he said.
“A few key moments we didn’t win, allowing Yinnar to kick away a little bit. A late surge saw our intensity get to where it should have been all day, in the end, we left it too late.”
Boolarra 9.9 (63) def by Tarwin 13.11 (89)
BOTH these teams were coming off a Round 2 loss, but both had also shown enough in the very early part of 2024 that they could believe this clash was very winnable.
Pregame predictions had the game to be decided by a very small margin, and for the most part they were right, the Sharks coming from behind before scoring an impressive victory 13.11 (89) to 9.9 (63).
The Demons got out to a fast start, leading by better than three goals at quarter time, before the visitors slowly but surely started to reel them in.
The way the Sharks went about their business would have impressed the Tarwin faithful, and it certainly did to coach Jason Kennedy.
“After a slow start we chipped away but finished off strong which was in contrast to our week earlier, it’s a pretty new group, and it’s new to us coaches as well with so many new faces as we get to know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses,” he said.
Boolarra coach, Brendan Mason lamented a missed opportunity.
“We started well but that’s about as far as it got,” he said.
“We were outplayed for three quarters to a team that wanted to work harder and wanted it more.
“Now we have to face another tough game next week against MDU on their home ground.”
Hill End 3.3 (21) def by Newborough 25.17 (167)
GAMES can sometimes be won or lost before the ball is bounced, the reputation of the opponent enough to intimidate the opposition even before battle.
Hill End, hosting a premiership contender, could have be seen in one of two ways, as a match that was always going to be out of their reach, or one from which many lessons could be learnt.
The result was probably never in doubt, with Newborough comfortable, very comfortable 146 point winners, 25.17 (167) to 3.3 (21).
Newborough coach, Craig Skinner was willing to put the result and margin in perspective.
“Great to play in perfect conditions against a young, undermanned HillEnd team,” he said.
“A consistent game from us to celebrate Liam Charles and Josh Pearce’s 100 game milestone. We are improving every week and look forward to taking on Morwell East, the competition’s only undefeated team and see how we go.”
As good as the Bulldog’s victory was, pundits should also be commending the Rovers’ efforts in turning up, rather than turning it up, on a weekly basis.
“Tough day for the Hillmen. Newborough were too strong and quick all over the ground. Still plenty of good signs though. We will keep improving each week,” Rovers coach Ambu Uliando said.
“This week, it’s another tough challenge, in fact possibly the toughest of them all, taking on the reigning premiers Fish Creek, themselves coming off a loss.”
Foster 12.7 (79) def Thorpdale 6.12 (48)
YOU always get the feeling that no matter where or when the season might be headed,, Foster is the type of side that could turn it on when you least expect it.
Hosting a quality opposition like Thorpdale meant that the Tigers were going to have to do just that if they were to trouble a quality Blues outfit, and guess what? They did, winning 12.7 (79) to 6.12 (48).
The game however didn’t come without a cost, both teams having several players sidelined after brutal clashes, in a match that was not officiated by league umpires, but the clubs themselves.
Tigers coach Sam Davies was happy to get the win, albeit losing a few troops.
“Stoked to get the four points. Our ball pressure was at a level that I haven’t seen for a long time – but we have three blokes in a hospital bed from the game, hopefully the league can sort out this umpire situation because we can’t have dangerous and out of control games. Not fair on anyone,” he said.
“We will have to find players from everywhere next week against Tarwin, that all said we were also stoked that the netballers had a clean sweep today too!”
There is no questioning that Foster, at their best, is a force to be reckoned with, and Thorpdale found that out in no uncertain terms at the weekend.
“It was another tough contested game. Unfortunately we couldn’t step up and compete to our expected level,” Blues coach Jason Winderlich said.
“Brutal game of footy, I’d expect there to be four or five players from each team missing next week. It gave us a good indication where we think we are though, which is in the middle of the table. Great to have such an open competition again this year.”
Morwell East 19.9 (123) def Toora 3.4 (22)
THE prospect of a perfect start to the season for Morwell East was always going to guarantee the Hawks were ready to clip the wings of the visiting Magpies.
Make no mistake, Toora are an improved side on what they were in 2023, but the weekend clash also showed that there is still some significant improvements to be made to threaten the top end of town.
So it proved, as Morwell East won 19.9 (123) to Toora 3.4 (22).
Hawks coach Paul Henry said it was a solid effort.
“Great win today at home. We attacked well from the half back line. We got our running game going through the middle of the ground and our forwards were working hard to make sure we were kicking goals from good positions. A well balanced team effort from us,” he said.
“Similar position to last year leading into an away game against Newborough. We will however be looking to make a much better effort than we produced then.”
The Hawks continue to impress, with really consistent football, the weekend providing five, eight, three and three goals for the four quarters respectively, ensuring a victory that builds on the platform from which to launch even bigger and better victories.
Toora coach Jack Weston had a bit to contend with.
“We had seven changes from last week that provided an opportunity for two debutants. However, unfortunately we were outgunned by a slick Morwell East side who defended the ground well, spread hard and moved the ball skilfully, giving their forwards good looks,” he said.
The scoreline shows a one sided affair, but it also provided a learning for a Magpies side intent on improving as quickly as possible.
Morwell East was good, Toora will get better.
Stony Creek 15.11 (101) def Mirboo North 3.6 (24)
AS much as the Tigers may have made the trek to Stony Creek believing this match could well be the one to kick start their season, there would have been few that didn’t realise that the Lions were always going to be a massive mountain for Mirboo North to climb.
Chris Verboon is very quickly putting together an outfit that has bigger and better things that lay ahead, and the visitors were a stepping stone in that quest.
The Lions jumped out to a better than five goal lead by the first break, on their way to a 15.11 (101) to 3.6 (24) victory.
Stony Creek coach, Chris Verboon said he was happy to be back on the winners list.
“It was good to see us playing our brand of footy this week. Going into the game we just wanted to play with confidence and really take the game on and we did this from the start,” he said.
“Mirboo North had a few boys out injured which always makes it hard. They managed to tighten up in the second quarter which made it hard for our midfield to get clean possession. Was really good to see a couple of great individual efforts from a few of our boys. Reward for effort they have been putting in at training.
“Thorpdale away next week will be a great challenge for us. Always love seeing the bag of spuds they give away at the end of the game!”
The Lions have set their sights on a finals spot in 2024, and the weekend win was as a small step forward.
By contrast, new Mirboo North coach, Damien Turner, is still searching for his first win.
“Tough day on the weekend, certainly can’t fault our effort, but the skill errors really hurt. Credit to Stony Creek, they were better for longer and hurt us when it counted,” he said.
MEENIYAN Dumbalk United had the bye.
