FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By ROB POPPLESTONE
THE weekend just gone was one in which a ‘line in the sand’ needed to be drawn by a number of Mid Gippsland clubs to determine their team’s destination.
Some lived to fight another day after Round 11, while others are now facing a testing two months of home-and-away football.
Yinnar v Boolarra
AS important as a win was for Yinnar, also a priority was the way in which they went about their business.
The Magpies had done what they needed to do against Hill End a week earlier, but the standard produced on that day was well below that expected by coach Sam McCulloch.
A visiting Demons side, whose season was very much alive, was expected to be a much tougher proposition, and it was, at least for a little while, until Yinnar broke away to win 11.12 (78) to Boolarra 5.7 (37).
McCulloch said it was great to win on an important day for the club.
“In what was a big day for the club with many of our past players and supporters on hand to watch, (it) was great to come away with the four points,” he said.
“We were expecting a tough game and that’s exactly what we got. The game was quite a battle and took us until the last quarter to break away and record a good win.”
Boolarra assistant coach, Scott Berechree paid credit to the Magpies consistency.
“After an arm wrestle in the first half injuries again took their toll on our line-up with only one rotation available after quarter time,” he said.
“Our back six worked hard with Mason Porykali doing an outstanding job to keep Kane Grinstead Jones out of the action.
“To Yinnar’s credit they found a gear after halftime with their midfield particularly damaging in both their clearance work and in hitting the scoreboard.
“Inaccuracy cost us early however all credit goes to the home side who played the full four quarters at much closer to 100 per cent than we were able to.”
Yinnar are fully aware further improved performances will be needed in the weeks ahead, whilst for the Demons, who sit just a game shy of a coveted top-six spot, there remains some work to be done in the run home to finals.
A loss to Fish Creek this Saturday may well mean Boolarra falls two games behind sixth with just seven rounds remaining.
Newborough v Stony Creek
IT was always going to be hard to justify the loser of this clash as a continued contender for a finals berth.
The pressure is now squarely on Stony Creek after going down by just a kick on the road against Newborough, 12.15 (87) to 12.10 (82).
Bulldogs coach, Pat Frendo breathed a huge sigh of relief on the siren.
“Massive win for us at the Kennel,” he said.
“First four quarter performance we’ve played in some time. Started the game well kicking 6.1 in the first, then hurt ourselves in the second quarter going 1.8 in front of goals.
“Managed to steady the ship a bit in the second half and gave ourselves a six goal lead late in the last before we switched off and allowed five goals in the last eight minutes.
“Four points is four points for us. We will take the win and move onto next week where we play Mirboo on their home deck.”
When the Bulldogs were hot they were hot, with hundred gamer Liam Cordner well supported by teammates Harrison Gallagher, Kyle Jennings and Wade Anderson, which made the day even more special.
Newborough, battling with injuries for most of the season, hung in and eventually found the line, despite the Lions attempting to pounce late.
Stony Creek Coach, Troy Sheperdson felt his side was a tad unlucky.
“Travelled to Newborough and took on a side who were desperate to get back on the winners list and for three quarters they outworked us,” he said.
“Boys dug deep in the last to try to steal a win, but fell short by five points. Hopefully we can roll the momentum of the last quarter into next week.”
The Lions have shown at times that they can play some incredibly good football, but grouping quarters together and then matches still seems a little allusive.
Toora v Thorpdale
GETTING a handle on just what type of Toora is going to turn up has proved to be a tough task in recent weeks.
Two wins out of three ain’t half bad, and that’s exactly what the Magpies had produced in the past month leading into another tough challenge against Thorpdale.
On their home deck, Toora knew victory would have themselves within a whisker of the top half of the ladder.
The problem however was a fierce visitor in the shape of Thorpdale, who won 15.10 (100) to 13.8 (86).
Blues coach Daniel Taylor described the win as hard-fought.
“Great game of footy which could have gone either way,” he said.
“I felt at halftime Toora had the momentum and when they kicked the first goal after halftime to take a 14 point lead it looked like we were on the ropes a bit.
“To the boys’ credit we really got to work, our midfield got on top, intensity and pressure lifted around the ball and we managed to get some forward half territory which got the game back on our terms at the last change.
“Cracker of a last quarter with a few lead changes before we settled and kicked the last two goals to get an important win for our season moving forward.
“Really proud of the effort from the whole group but I thought Gav Low in the ruck was fantastic all day, Lachie Wallace was brilliant late and our full forward Cougar ‘The Weapon’ Millsom had a day out and was the difference on the day kicking eight goals straight.”
The Magpies struggled to keep the key forward down, and that coupled with some poor decisions proved to be costly to a Magpies side that, in recent weeks, looked as though they were ready to make a significant move up the ladder.
Toora Coach, Jay Acardi lamented a lost opportunity.
“Really tough encounter against Thorpy,” he said.
“The game was played at a high level and a physical one. It was a close match all day and to their credit they were able to take their chances when it mattered to grab the win.
“Really proud of the effort our lads showed but some silly errors at crucial moments in the last quarter were costly, but I’m sure we will learn from them and move on.”
Toora sit third to bottom on the MGFNL ladder, but are just two games out from the top six.
MDU v Morwell East
FOR Morwell East, there remained just a glimmer of hope that a steady climb up the ladder was still possible, if only they could regain some of their football from 12 months ago.
The problem however was a strong and steady Demon’s team that had the opportunity to kill off the Hawks’ season in one afternoon, and that’s exactly what they appear to have done after winning 12.7 (79) to 7.7 (49).
Meeniyan Dumbalk United Coach, Rhett Kelly praised his team’s performance.
“It was great to come away with the four points, especially after Morwell East put up such a strong fight in the second half,” he said.
“We started the game really well and absorbed Morwell East’s pressure to have a small lead at quarter time.
“Our pressure in the second quarter was excellent, allowing us to play a lot of forward-half football with repeat entries. While we probably didn’t capitalise enough on those entries, I was still extremely happy with our first-half efforts.
“Credit to Morwell East for coming out strong after halftime and putting the pressure back on us. We were a bit lost structurally after a player was sent off at the start of the third quarter and they (Morwell East) were able to take advantage of that. Morwell East also scored a few goals late in the game, which was a bit disappointing from our end, but as I said, it was great to come away with the four points.
“We have the bye this week, so we’ll use this time to freshen up. It will also be great to see some returning players over the next couple of weeks.”
As important as winning is, for Morwell East it’s been about competing, being honest and aggressive, playing Hawk’s footy, and it seems they are getting closer and closer to doing that.
“We competed all day against MDU. We had a lot of forward 50 entries in the first quarter, just didn’t capitalise. MDU did,” a frank Morwell East Coach, Paul Henry said.
“We got outworked in the second quarter. Second half we outscored them by a goal. Got within four goals in the last but MDU was too good in the end. We are playing better footy.”
Finals might not be on the agenda, but there is little question that Morwell East are capable of playing a part in how the shape of the top six finishes up.
Fish Creek v Hill End
BOTTOM of the ladder Hill End strolled into the home of top team Fish Creek, not with extraordinary confidence, but at least with some belief they could keep in touch, such was their performance just seven days earlier against Yinnar.
It soon became obvious however that the Kangaroos were going to be a very different proposition.
So it proved in the finish, with Fish Creek winning 25.17 (167) to 2.2 (14).
Kangaroos coach, Jarrod Walker said there was strong signs.
Continued page 27
