FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By ROB POPPLESTONE

 

SPECTATORS across the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League got to witness what many believe will be the Grand Final prelude at the weekend.

Round 8 also put a spotlight on the fight, pressure and even heartache that continues for more than a handful of teams trying desperately to keep in touch with the top half of the ladder.

With twists and turns at every corner, most scenarios have been considered, not many however with confidence.

The league takes a break for the King’s Birthday this weekend, with a standalone game between Meeniyan Dumbalk United and Fish Creek highlighting.

 

Foster 7.7 (49) def Fish Creek 7.6 (48)

TWO teams in top form clashed for the expected title of premiership favourite.

Foster arrived at the home of the Kangaroos as the only unbeaten side in the competition, ready to take on the reigning back-to-back premier.

A clash worthy of the big crowd that attended didn’t disappoint, the home side winning in the game of the season 7.7 (49) to 7.6 (48).

Fish Creek Coach, Jarrod Walker said it was an arm wrestle.

“A gritty win yesterday. A genuine arm wrestle all day with neither team able to kick back-to-back goals. Both teams defended really well making (it a) low scoring affair and we just fell on the right side at the final siren,” he said.

It was one of those games – Foster didn’t lose, they just happened to be behind when the final siren sounded.

The Tigers believe they had their chances, and now the most frustrating thing is they must wait some months before their chance for redemption.

“Just a game that got away unfortunately and a game that we definitely lost from our mistakes rather than they won from playing good footy,” Foster Coach, Sam Davies said.

“High stoppage scrap for a lot of the day and we just failed to execute late which led to turnover or poor decision making. We’ll learn and take a lot away from it, but we need to be better in certain areas.

“We need a break and will take the week off to reset before the next block of games.”

Only percentage separates the top three sides of Fish Creek, Foster and Yinnar, and the impressive and important win on the weekend, as crucial as it was for Fish Creek, does little to help predict which of the trio are worthy of premiership favouritism.

 

Boolarra 9.20 (74) def Hill End 9.7 (61)

COMING off a bye the week before, Hill End had time to prepare for a visiting Boolarra side that looked somewhat fragile, given that the Demons had suffered a month of defeats after such a fast start to the season.

The Rovers, looking for their first win of the season, were out to treat a hometown crowd to something special, and boy, did they get close, falling short by just 13 points, 9.20 (74) to 9.7 (61).

Boolarra assistant coach, Scott Berechree said the team was pleased to get back on the winners list.

“An important win for us today heading into a two week break,” he said.

“Inaccuracy in front of goal in the second term where we kicked one goal seven behinds saw the game absolutely still up for grabs in the second half.

“To Hill End’s credit they played the game right out to the final hooter and made us earn the points. Both the Mason boys hit the scoreboard and had plenty of the footy while down back Mason Porykali, Tom Reiske and Daniel Wilson did a great job. Bailey Flanagan was sensational in the ruck and paired well with Tim Potter for many clearances. The Paul boys (Bayley and Callum), (Ambu) Uliando and (Jesse) Burns had plenty of it for Hill End.”

It was a familiar story for Hill End unfortunately, with the Rovers within striking distance of claiming their first victory of the season, only to once again fall agonisingly short.

“We should have, maybe could have won the game really, we had our chances, got in front, I don’t really know what to say, it’s a club rebuilding and it won’t happen overnight, but we are learning each and every week,” Rovers coach, Adrian Burns said.

You wonder how many more times the Hillmen can go so close and not drop their heads in disappointment, but the Rovers are as honest as the day is long and with just a little more time, their day will surely come.

 

Yinnar 24.6 (150) def Newborough 9.5 (59)

THE Bulldogs were under no illusions as to the enormity of the task when they welcomed a very good Yinnar side to The Kennel.

The Magpies, as good as they have been in the early part of the year, were coming off successive losses and determined to write some wrongs.

They did just that, winning 24.6 (150) to 9.5 (59).

Yinnar Coach Sam McCulloch said it was a solid performance.

“Very happy to get a win on the board after a couple of close losses,” he said.

“We came in at quarter time with a five goal lead and managed to build on that every quarter. Pleased with our efforts over the course of the game and the way we finished off in front of goal was a credit to the boys.

Newborough still has some work to do, something coach Pat Frendo knows.

“Tough day at the office,” he said.

“We started the game of really well kicking the first couple but it was quickly downhill from there with Yinnar bouncing back and kicking the next five or six.

“The injury bug continues to plague us at The Kennel, losing three players in the first quarter and another in the second quarter entering concussion protocols, leaving us with 17 on the ground for the remainder of the half. No rotations in the second half had our boys absolutely spent.

“Take nothing away from Yinnar, they’re a real class act and genuine flag contenders again this year, well drilled and stacked with talent.

“Get a much needed week off to recover and hopefully get a few more before heading to South Gippsland in back-to-back weeks.”

 

Stony Creek 12.16 (88) def Morwell East 4.8 (32)

FOR most of the season, there has been an expectation that Morwell East was going to bounce back into the sort of form that had them as contenders just 12 months ago.

The Hawks knew this was quite possibly their last chance, all that stood before them was a Stony Creek side that coincidentally was just as desperate as them

The Lions killed off the Hawks’ season even before the halfway mark of the year with a comprehensive win 12.16 (88) to 4.8 (32) at home.

For Morwell East, the week off cannot come quick enough.

“I’m not sure if and when our season is going to turn around and we start playing some decent footy but the weekend against Stony wasn’t it,” Hawks coach Paul Henry said.

“A week off now before we start the backend of our season. Hopefully the week off we can soul search and come up with something. Mirboo North at home is our next game to hopefully start a good run home.”

 

Tarwin 14.17 (101) def Thorpdale 14.7 (91)

TWO teams that had been as honest and as aggressive as you could hope for clashed at Thorpdale.

Tarwin desperately needed victory to not lose touch with teams above them, one of which happened to be the Blues.

Thorpdale were most certainly prepared, but just could not shake the Sharks, going down 14.17 (101) to 14.7 (91).

As much as Tarwin, enjoyed possibly their best win for the season, the defeat was a tough pill to swallow for Thorpdale.

The Blues led at the first and second breaks and by 19 points at three quarter time.

“Disappointing to lose in a game that had a lot of momentum swings,” Thorpdale Coach, Daniel Taylor said.

“The most frustrating thing was giving up two four goal leads throughout the day. We battled to the end but I feel the better team won on the day so full credit to Tarwin.

“We need to find a way to get ourselves going when the going gets tough. Our best has shown we can compete and our worst is nowhere near the level.”

 

Toora 11.8 (74) def MDU 9.7 (61)

TOORA, coming off a first-up victory just a week ago, welcomed a quality MDU refreshed from a Round 7 bye.

The Magpies knew the job was never going to be an easy, but they had the Demons on the back foot early, and went along to the most unlikely of wins, 11.8 (74) to 9.7 (61).

Toora Coach, Jay Acrardi was ecstatic.

“We came up against a strong MDU that are pretty polished with the ball in hand and are a side that set the ground quite well,” he said.

“To our boys credit we applied pressure for four quarters and were able to get the game on our terms for periods of the match. The task doesn’t get any easier next up with a game against Foster who are going quite well and are a tough team to play on their home deck.”

The win was unexpected for most, but not from those at Toora, the Magpies now with two wins in a row, and dreaming of even bigger and better things ahead.

On the flip side, the loss was a disaster for the Demons, who up until the weekend seemed to be travelling so beautifully. Their fourth place on the MGFNL ladder is now looking a little fragile.

“Disappointing day for us, full credit to Toora, who started the game full of energy and effort and maintained it for four quarters,” MDU Coach, Rhett Kelly said.

“We looked like that at stages we were going to get our game going, but Toora was able to respond at every opportunity and deserved the win.”

 

MIRBOO NORTH had the bye.