THE question after round nine of the Mid Gippsland Football League is can anyone stop Newborough?
The Bulldogs continue to barnstorm the opposition with their latest victim, Yarragon, well and truly dismissed on Saturday.
The form team of the competition has gone seven games undefeated to go top, four points clear of closest rival Yallourn Yallourn North.
YYN sent Morwell East packing down to fourth on the ladder and hopped up into second after a 42 point win over the Hawks.
The East were competitive but outscored by a faster, stronger YYN side at Ronald Reserve, Morwell.
The host’s moment of glory came when Brad Gibson ran through the banner for his 200th game and scored the first two goals of the match within five minutes.
After that YYN took control in cold conditions; Tim Phillips was allowed to shake off his minder and score two goals while league leader Dean MacDonald scored the other in the opening term. YYN had plenty of the play but Morwell East put the pressure on and it was difficult to score.
The Bombers led the first break by one straight kick.
It was lucky there was a net at the southern end as YYN continually bombarded the goal in the second term, but poor decision making led to easy misses by the Bombers.
MacDonald was strong, making his marker work hard, and further majors pushed up his lead on the goal kicking table.
Defenders Jack Casson, Owen Budge and Ash Anderson were kept busy for the Bombers, keeping the Hawks to only a minor score for the term.
By half-time YYN was well in front by 36 points.
The East came out in the third with a better attitude and started to get their act together.
Andrew Brown was a tower, using his big frame to advantage and Norm Harrison was having a good tussle with Barry Brooks.
Up forward Brayden Darby-Lock and Frank Marks were busy putting scores on the board.
YYN looked flat as Morwell East started a mini-revival and scored 5.3 (33) to 1.2 (8) to creep within 11 points by three-quarter-time.
With the wind increasing in the last term YYN made full use to add a further 6.2 (38) to 1.1 (7) to run out strong winners 14.14 (98) to 8.8 (56).
The Doggies added 16.73 per cent with a 103-point win over the Panthers.
With only one loss in nine games to date it’s been a great first half of the season for the Bulldogs.
Their demolition of Yarragon started in the first quarter when they belted through 7.1 (43) and kept Yarragon scoreless.
Picked as defenders, Ash Dugan and Liam Carolan were sent up forward in the second term to bolster an already impressive attack and they became the focal point of all Newborough’s raids.
The second term continued in the same vein as the first with Newborough having more shots at goal but missing easy ones to finish with a creditable score of 11.6 (72) to Yarragon’s paltry two behinds at the half-time break.
After the break Newborough continued to keep Yarragon on a tight lead, not letting the Panthers get too many scoring chances, however Yarragon did manage a first goal after 58 minutes of play.
It was the two Regesters, Zac and Hayden, who registered the first goals, but in the meantime Newborough was increasing the score.
Rapid goals to Dugan and Carolan came next and the game was looking a cakewalk for the Bulldogs.
Anthony Rosato, a star in the making, was again playing superb football using his ability and height to advantage.
By three-quarter-time the Dogs were well in front and still climbing.
In the last term Newborough piloted through another five goals to three with Dugan scoring the 20th to finish his day out with seven goals.
Carolan also finished with seven as the Bulldogs won 22.7 (139) to 5.6 (36).
MIRBOO North went into its clash against Yinnar without prolific forward Jesse Giardina, due to injury, but his position was well filled by eight teammates over the course of the match.
Mirboo North jumped up one position to third while keeping Yinnar back in fifth courtesy of a 23-point win.
It was sweet revenge for the Tigers after last year’s finals dismay.
In a tight match, in which only four goals were scored up to half-time, Mirboo North claimed the edge.
Inaccuracy by both teams in the slippery conditions meant the game was bottled up with many stoppages.
Mirboo North appeared the stronger with many of its players able to turn defence into attack which put the Tigers well in front at three-quarter-time.
Yinnar had posted only 1.7 (13) up to then while Mirboo North had 5.11 (41).
Yinnar proved it is a tough team with a strong last quarter, and its accuracy gave it a reasonable tally after a poor three quarters.
Mirboo North got in by 23 points in a hard graft to win 8.13 (61) to 5.8 (38).
Mirboo North had eight goal kickers while Yinnar had four.
BOOLARRA and Trafalgar swapped places on the ladder as the former chalked up its second win of the season.
After losing seven matches the Demons finally hit pay dirt with a gutsy 29-point win over a fiesty Trafalgar.
In their 99th head-to-head game Boolarra led at every change but the Bloods were competitive, throwing up the challenge for three quarters.
In the end Boolarra came out the strongest with a last quarter of 4.1 (25) to 1.4 (11) to run out winners 13.4 (82) to 7.11 (53).
It was also a sweet victory for Boolarra coach Shayne Paynter – a former Blood.
Troy Tobin added another four goals to his already imposing tally and was well assisted with seven other players scoring.
Matt Robertson and Tyson Leys kicked a brace each for Trafalgar.
THORPDALE condemned Hill End to the bottom of the table for the first half of the season, with the Dales enjoying their third victory for the season.
The Hillmen have gone 10 games without a win which must be a concern for coach Paul Smit.
Hill End was competitive against Thorpdale but never in a position to put in a real challenge.
Thorpdale led at every break and suffered, like many teams, inaccuracy when shooting for goal.
The greasy football and slippery conditions didn’t help good play but Thorpdale deserved its win, 11.15 (81) to 6.9 (45).
