FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By ROB POPPLESTONE

 

WITH so much more known about what each of the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League clubs appear to be able to deliver, the weekend just gone loomed as possibly the most anticipated of the year.

Round 6 results had a dramatic impact on ladder positions, as the senior football competition heads towards the halfmark of the season.

 

Newborough 8.13 (61) def Boolarra 4.11 (35)

THE Bulldogs had been around the mark, but were well aware the bar was to be lifted and they therefore needed to find another level as they welcomed a much improved Boolarra side to the Kennel.

The Demons, who started the season so brilliantly with three wins from as many rounds, had since come off a fortnight of losses and desperately needed another “W”.

However, the fiercely fought encounter was claimed by the home side, 8.13 (61) to 4.11 (35).

Newborough Coach, Pat Frendo said he was happy with what transpired.

“Solid win from our boys,” he said.

“We started off dominant but were unable to put any scoreboard pressure on. Boolarra responded really well in the second and we went into the main break only up two points.

“Put a fair bit of pressure on the boys to lift the intensity in the second half and they answered really well, only allowing 12 total points in the last two quarters.

“A great team win with eight different goal scorers for all our majors. It was past players day at the Kennel so a win in front of a packed Can Bar will do wonders for our momentum.”

As the Bulldogs momentum starts, Boolarra’s has stopped – three early season wins followed by three losses.

“In a game that failed to reach great heights we were out-worked by a more mature and desperate Bulldogs outfit,” Boolarra coach, Brendan Mason said.

“Two game day changes seemed to unsettle the side and the Dogs were deserved quarter time leaders.

“After working hard to level things up at halftime, the Dogs poured on the pressure and were more efficient going forward than us after the main break.

“Whilst we made them work hard for their five second half goals we could only manage one ourselves and look forward to another big clash next week against Thorpdale.

“We will be keen to put on a better performance at home and keep our noses in front of the ledger by going 4-3 with a victory.”

Both of these teams are capable of playing a part later in the season, but are equally aware that improvements will need to be made.

With limited positions in the top six available, there might not be room for both.

 

Thorpdale 11.21 (87) def Hill End 4.14 (38)

FRESHENED up after a bye and back on their home deck, the Blues were expected to roll up, grab the win and turn their attention to the next contest.

Their opposition however, as they have done in every clash to date, were keen to throw their very best at the home side and snatch their first win of the season.

Unfortunately the Rovers will have to wait a little longer, after going down 11.21 (87) to 4.14 (38).

Thorpdale Coach, Daniel Taylor said it was a good win on a special day for the club.

“It was a great day with club legend Dan Hammond playing his 400th seniors/reserves game for the club which is a bloody good effort!” he said.

“It was great to see the twos boys put in a big performance for Hammo and get their first win of the season.

“In the seniors it was tricky conditions which meant for some inaccurate goal kicking by both sides. We had the game under control all day but to Hill End’s credit they never went away. Glad to bank the points and get through the game unscathed.”

It was a little like Ground Hog Day for the Rovers. The visitors did their best, and were not embarrassed at all, but still a little way off where they need to be .

“I can’t complain about the boy’s efforts, they are playing some good footy, I asked the boys to hit the scoreboard 20 times, but I would have rather they kicked a few more goals than we did, but we are getting opportunities, we just need to keep on improving,” Hill End Coach, Adrian Burns said.

As tough as the season has been to date, as winter looms the real challenge starts for Burns and his men to hold tough and believe in the long journey they are on.

 

MDU 15.9 (99) def Yinnar 15.6 (96)

THIS clash promised plenty and delivered most of what was expected.

The Magpies rolled into Round 6 with five wins from as many matches, welcoming an in-form Demons side that hadn’t tasted defeat since Round 1.

Meeniyan Dumbalk United edged ahead in a three-point thriller, 15.9 (99) to Yinnar 15.6 (96) in one of the games of the year.

MDU Coach, Rhett Kelly said it was a top game.

“Another great game of footy. We understood that it was going to be a huge challenge to take on Yinnar on their home deck but I knew the lads were up to it after playing some good footy the last few weeks,” he said.

“I thought we started that game really well, but to Yinnar’s credit, they kept spreading hard from the contest and put some pressure on us across the second and third quarters.

“I asked the boys for a big effort in the last quarter, which is what they delivered. The game could have gone either way, but I am proud that we fought it out till the end.

“Yinnar is a solid team, and we look forward to another hit out in the second half of the year. We have the bye this weekend, so we will have some time away from the club to refresh and regroup after a solid block of footy.”

As good as the Demon’s were, a case could be made that the home side had their chances.

“Very disappointing loss. We played some really good footy at different periods throughout the day, but weren’t able to maintain it for four quarters, which won’t win games against good opposition,” Yinnar Coach, Sam McCulloch said.

“(We) will learn a lot from the game and work on the areas which let us down.

“Can’t wait to have the opportunity to respond and redeem ourselves against Foster. Will be a good test to see where we are at the moment against what looks like the team to beat right now.”

The league ladder has four teams vying for position at the top: Yinnar, MDU, Foster and Fish Creek, and a few mistakes by any one of the four will have another group of teams ready to take their spots.

 

Fish Creek 18.25 (133) def Morwell East 5.3 (33)

A LOT was going to be learned about Morwell East as they prepared to take on the reigning premier on their home ground – one of the toughest challenges in the competition.

The Hawks have appeared to be a shell of their normal selves of late, and this contest loomed as one that would give coach Paul Henry a look at how his men handle the adversity they are currently going through.

The result was maybe not a true indication of the Hawk’s efforts, but surely worrying nonetheless, as they lost 18.25 (133) to 5.3 (33).

Fish Creek Coach, Jarrod Walker kept the margin in perspective.

“Solid win on the weekend against Morwell East, who from all reports have been struck down with a big number of injuries.

“Credit to them for fighting the game out and hopefully they can get some numbers back soon. Still a bit for us to work on with our skills and ball movement a work in progress.

“A nice early bye next (this) week before what will be a big month in shaping our season.”

The Hawks will be focused on getting more soldiers on the park, and then on turning their fortunes around after a horror start to the year.

“We were undermanned coming into a game you don’t want to be undermanned in. We battle hard! To be honest it was seven minutes at the back end of quarters two and four where the heavy scoring was done. Other than that, like I said, we battled hard,” Henry said.

Coach Henry defends his team, as he should, but this Hawks outfit needs to find something from somewhere, and they need to do it as soon as possible.

Fish Creek on the other hand are cruising through another season.

 

Mirboo North 8.5 (53) def Toora 5.15 (45)

IT was still reasonably early in the season to highlight this clash as a “must win match”, but that was the reality for the combatants.

Mirboo North, with two wins, and Toora, searching for their first, both needed the premiership points to keep in touch with the top six sides in the competition.

The Tigers however found a way on the road, winning by eight points, 8.5 (53) to 5.15 (45).

Mirboo North Coach, Damien Turned described it as a tough slog.

“Tough road trip to Toora on the weekend. They certainly came to play and never once went away,” he said.

“They let us off the hook a little with some wayward kicking, but it was great for our boys to take our chances and keep pushing to the end.

“A scrappy affair but a good tough hard fought win, what’s more a very important one for our season.”

It was a costly loss for Toora, who certainly had their chances, but some bad decisions made can turn a game quickly, and in this instance, there was no coming back.

“A really tough loss against Mirboo North who had a crack all day,” Magpies coach, Jay Acardi said.

“Quite a few missed opportunities in front of goal and some undisciplined acts were very costly and in a tight contest unfortunately they are the difference.

“So now we face another big challenge against Morwell East who play their ground extremely well.”

The clash between the Hawks and the Magpies looms as a must-win for both clubs. The losing team can probably kiss goodbye any chance of playing finals this season.

 

Foster 10.11 (71) def Tarwin 7.5 (47)

FOSTER may have comfortably accounted for most opposition to date, but nevertheless had also prepared themselves for a fiercer contest in the shape of a Tarwin side on the rebound.

The Sharks have been competitive, but their long list of injuries has started to take its toll, and it showed, eventually defeated 10.11 (71) to 7.5 (47) at Foster Showgrounds.

Foster coach, Sam Davies said it was a hard-fought win.

“We were really challenged today, they’ll (Tarwin) beat teams and really contend for a finals position if they stay healthy.

“We showed a lot of grit and just found a way to score and keep pressure on when we were up against it though so I’m really proud of the group”.

Foster now sits atop the MGFNL ladder with five wins from as many matches. The Tigers are good and getting better as the competition dives deeper into the season.

Tarwin however should not be forgotten in this contest, as the Sharks at one stage looked as though they might actually steal the win.

Sharks coach Lachie Jones said there was plenty of positives.

“A tough loss to swallow for us,” he said.

“We took the game up to them in lots of areas but a seven minute lapse after halftime proved costly and was probably the difference. Good sides don’t have these lapses so we will focus some time on that in our review. A few injuries again doesn’t help the cause but we will keep persisting.”

The Sharks are starting to loom as one of a few clubs capable of forcing themselves into the top half of the MGFNL ladder.

STONY CREEK had the bye.