FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By ROB POPPLESTONE

 

THE first week of Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League finals produced the high level, high intensity football expected at this time of the year, where all teams were acutely aware there would be no tomorrow for the losers.

All of the excellent work produced by all clubs over the home-and-away season was for this opportunity, where the pressure is immense but also a privilege to be a part of.

At the end of the weekend, Yinnar and Meeniyan Dumbalk United lived to fight another day.

The Magpies and Demons defeated spirited opponents, Boolarra and Thorpdale respectively.

As the final structure goes, Yinnar and MDU will now play each other, with the winner to take on the loser of the clash between top-two sides, Foster and Fish Creek.

Either one of the Tigers or Kangaroos will go straight to the Grand Final if victorious this weekend.

 

ELIMINATION FINAL – SATURDAY

Yinnar 16.9 (105) def Boolarra 11.8 (74)

THIRD-placed Yinnar entered the first of the MGFNL finals as firm favourites.

The Magpies’ form was as good as they could have hoped for, cutting through opponents as they pleased.

Now, however was the challenge of confronting an enthusiastic Boolarra side still on a high from its last gasp victory in the final round of the home-and-away season that secured a finals chance,

What unfolded was somewhat expected, the Demons staying in touch early, but with the quality of the Magpies proving too much late.

Yinnar defeated Boolarra 16.9 (105) to 11.8 (74) at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve.

After imploring a fast start, Boolarra coach, Brendan Mason was filthy as Yinnar jumped the Demons through Jaxon Notman.

Mick Gerry was in everything early for the Magpies, and bar for inaccurate kicking, Yinnar may well have put the game to bed early.

Hearing nothing of a white flag, ageless Boolarra president, James Holmes slotted his first for the day and the Demons were soon in the contest.

Young Yinnar gun Harvey McKay opened the scoring with a quick transition goal before the Demons president again stood up for Boolarra and kicked truly.

After being held goalless when they last met, Yinnar’s Kane Grinstead-Jones wasn’t going to be quiet in the rematch, especially being a final. When he marked and goaled it reflected the fact that the game had really opened up.

As if spurred into action, it was the Demons with the next couple.

Firstly it was Bailey Flanagan after high contact, and then Lachy Smith, who may finally have the belief he belongs in the late game, booting one from the boundary to reduce the gap to just seven points with 23 gone in the second term.

The Demons, hanging on for dear life, took a much needed chance for a deep breath, a chance to compose oneself and then give 60 minutes of their best.

As good sides do though, Yinnar dug deep.

Firstly, Ben Cheffers set up Grinstead-Jones and then Josh Bugeja again turned on the jets and in the blink of an eye, the margin was out to 14 points again.

After a scoreless few minutes, Grinstead-Jones again goaled, and then after a late free kick, he kicked yet another to all but end the contest with the Magpies 25 points up at the last change.

If the game wasn’t over it surely was when Cheffers found Geary only 90 seconds into the last to push the margin beyond five goals.

As if to close the circle, it was left to Geary, so instrumental early, to ice the cake and close the scoring. His goal extended the final margin to a tick over five goals and consigned Boolarra’s season to the history books.

The Demons year, courageous, but just short of what was needed, Yinnar, on the other hand, with their enormous final experience, looked composed for most of the afternoon.

Magpies coach, Sam McCulloch was roundly pleased with how things went.

“Was a typical finals game with plenty of pressure from both teams,” he said.

“We got our game going and managed to get a bit of breathing space during the second quarter, but to Boolarra’s credit they were able to work their way back into it.

“Throughout the day we threatened to kick away, but as you’d expect in a final, they never gave in and we were able to steady each time we were challenged.

“The composure of the group throughout these moments was very pleasing.”

 

ELIMINATION FINAL – SUNDAY

MDU 12.14 (86) def Thorpdale 9.12 (66)

MDU (who finished the regular season fourth) coming off a confidence building win just seven days earlier against Tarwin, seemed ready to go against what appeared to be a fragile Thorpdale team.

The Blues were given a footballing lesson in the last round of the home-and-away season by Yinnar, but that loss masked a pre-planned decision to rest many of their first choice players in order to give the underdogs the best possible chance of surprising the favoured Demons, and for a period of the afternoon at Terrill Park, it seemed the Blues’ strategy might pay off.

It didn’t however, with MDU winning 12.14 (86) to 9.12 (66).

The heat was on from both sides early, the intensity an expected high for an elimination final that had several lead changes within the first 30 minutes, but three goals deep into time-on gave the Demons some breathing space and a quarter time lead of 21 points.

The Blues were never going to turn this one up however, and the second quarter saw Thorpdale dig deep in an attempt to claw its way back into the game, the margin back to just eight points at the main break.

The third term, the ‘premiership quarter’ saw the best of the Blues, lifting its pressure, showing composure when it counted and arresting the lead by five points with 30 minutes to go.

This is where the favoured MDU really flexed and found what was needed. The Demons finally managed to shrug off a courageous Thorpdale side to win by 20 points.

MDU coach, Rhett Kelly breathed a sigh of relief afterwards.

“What a great game. I thought we had the edge on them early, but to their credit they just fought and fought and fought their way back into the game,” he said.

“I was just so happy that our boys could find something in the last 30 minutes and get the prize of another step forward in the finals.”

Thorpdale coach, Daniel Taylor was gracious in defeat.

“Always disappointing when the season comes to an end but proud we made the finals and put in a decent performance,” he said.

“We got outplayed in the first quarter and at quarter time it probably looked like MDU by how far. Proud that we got ourselves back into the contest and I felt like we had the game on our terms in the third quarter but probably didn’t capitalise enough on the scoreboard.

“Full credit to MDU though, they finished the game a lot better and were deserving winners. In my opinion the best four teams are still in it which is good for the competition, I’m looking forward to seeing how it pans out.”