ROB POPPLESTONE
FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By ROB POPPLESTONE
IN another exciting round of the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League, it was the final match of the weekend that created the most interest and anticipation.
The clash between Morwell East and Newborough, played on Saturday night, was always destined to draw a healthy crowd for a couple of reasons: one, because of the unique night time fixture, but two, the importance of these teams wanting to get a firm grip on a limited top five position later in the season.
MORWELL EAST v NEWBOROUGH
MORWELL East had slowly, but surely seen improvement in what they delivered in the month since their shaky start and first up loss to Yinnar.
The Hawks four matches since that time had resulted in wins that quickly elevated them to second on the league ladder.
Newborough, just a win behind, but three places below them on the table, saw this as a perfect opportunity to further enhance their reputation as one of the league’s big improvers while also putting some distance between themselves and several other teams nipping at their heels.
The Bulldogs did what they had carefully planned to do, accounting for the Hawks comfortably 11.17 (83) to 5.9 (39).
Newborough coach Craig Skinner said it was the best performance from his team this season.
“It was great to be part of Morwell East’s initiative to play under lights on a Saturday night, it just might suit us,” he said.
“Not always as a coach does preparation meet expectation, but I felt Saturday night is as close as I’ve been, a good start was important for our young team against a side of experienced players, if all were in their prime are an interleague squad.”
The start was the key for the visitors, but it shouldn’t have been a start that surprised the home side.
Morwell East coach Devon Soutar said the match was a huge letdown.
“It was a carbon copy of our first game of the year, just completely out worked, especially early,” he said.
“We were able to somewhat stabilise after quarter time but never managed to make inroads.
“In terms of prioritising team structure, communication and work ethic, a stark contrast was on display for all to see.
“At the moment we have a number of players who would sell their soul for the group, but far too many are comfortable sitting in the back of the bus, extremely disappointing considering the enormity of the game.”
The door is well and truly open for sides to step up and take opportunity, but there are limited opportunities.
BOOLARRA v MIRBOO NORTH
BOOLARRA returned home to take care of the Tigers in a match that loomed, as so many do at this stage of the season, as crucial, given that the Demons had found themselves precariously positioned inside the league’s top five after last week’s loss at the hands of Newborough.
Their opponents on the weekend, Mirboo North, after three opening round losses, had managed to win their last two games by less than a kick, and in doing so, also started to have a new found confidence in what they were capable of.
That confidence was quickly knocked out as the visiting Tigers lost 10.3 (63) to 6.5 (41).
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said it was always good to beat Mirboo North.
“It was good to get back on the winners list, a tough first half as I expected against Mirboo North, our ball use was letting us down, but again we cleaned that up after half-time and the game started to open up for us, still a tough contest till the end,” he said.
Mirboo North certainly had some issues pregame to deal with, but you line up as you line up and the Tigers were seemingly not near the side many thought they would be,
Mirboo North coach Josh Taylor said there was reasons behind the performance.
“It was a really disappointing day for the club, unfortunately we have been hit by the flu and COVID and had 11 guys out in seniors which inevitably hurt us across the board both reserves and seniors,” he said.
“We still had chances in the game where we looked the better side at stages but blokes not playing at 100 per cent took its toll.
“Boolarra moved the ball quite well and midway through the second quarter they ramped it up, no excuses on our end, we had chances but were just flat all day.”
Unfortunately for the Tigers the opportunities to have more flat days have just about gone.
HILL END v FOSTER
SOME people get on, some people don’t, some clubs have a healthy rivalry and some also have a rivalry with a twist of nastiness as well.
From the outside looking in, it appeared that in a very short space of time these two teams had not only established a new found rivalry, but there was also not much love lost between the two either.
The Rovers are always keen to make their home ground a nightmare for any visiting teams, but with the competition so tight, winning this one would also deliver some extra satisfaction for the victors, and that’s what the Hillmen got, winning by one straight kick 11.9 (76) to 10.9 (69).
Hill End coach Mike Santo praised his troops.
“Foster played a high pressure game and is very well coached. Zane Duursma is a legitimate top five AFL draft pick if ever I’ve seen one,” he said.
“A hard fought game that we were happy to come out on top of, we were able to gain some ascendency around the stoppages which enabled us to play the game in our half for a majority of the day, it was big step up from last week and encouraging win with Luke Mulqueen, Chase Saunders and Ben Kerrigan crucial in the win.”
The loss came in a game played in good spirits, but was another tough one for Foster to take according to coach Sam Davies.
“It was a great game of footy, Hill End beat us through the midfield all day which gave their forwards one-on-ones and ground coverage, we still nearly pinched it but ultimately need to be better for longer throughout the games,” he said.
“Do yourself a favour and follow Zane Duursma’s journey, what a treat!”
Duursma is a name that has been thrown around at the highest level already at Port Adelaide, and it seems it won’t be long before another one that comes from the famous Foster family will be on show.
YINNAR v THORPDALE
YINNAR have proved to be the most difficult side to read in a handful of games to date, the Magpies seemingly unbeatable one week and then almost a shadow of their former self just seven days later.
Coach Daniel Taylor knows he has the artillery to go to war against almost every side in the competition, but having his men ready to perform at their very best every week is proving to be a little more difficult.
After a team meeting during the week rather than a training session, the Yinnar side did what they knew they could and did it better than they thought they might, with one of the biggest wins of the season, getting up over Thorpdale 22.17 (149) to 0.9 (9).
Taylor could not fault his side.
“The boys responded well after a disappointing two weeks, full four quarter effort by the boys which was great to watch, great to be back on the winners list in what is a very tight competition,” he said.
“It was a tough day for Thorpy, we know they had a few out which makes it hard, but I thought they battled on all day.”
The loss was too much for Thorpdale coach Ray Pickering, who could only come back with “completely outplayed by a good outfit in Yinnar … sorry I just have nothing else to say”.
The fact is you sometimes have a dirty day, and this was one of those days for the Blues. You can also forgive a side for ‘not being there’ on the odd occasion, but you cannot forgive two in a row, and that is now the challenge for Thorpdale.
TOORA v MDU
A WEEK off for the Magpies probably couldn’t have come at a better time, given their winless start to the season was made worse by some unacceptable losing margins.
This week, after a bye and even at home their chances of a win looked slim given they were meeting the Demons on a high after their one-point victory over Hill End just seven days prior.
The Magpies it must be said have never given up even when faced with certain defeat, and on this occasion came within four points of winning their first match of the 2022 season, going down 8.6 (54) to 7.9 (51).
For Toora, it was a case of so close yet so far.
“We came so close, our side was well drilled and put in effort all day, our backline was amazing and two players in particular played great all day, Peter Grant and Jack Weston did amazing work, our structure was really strong and made everything for MDU tough, I’m proud of the players for the guts they showed,” coach Matt Ponton said.
The win for MDU was an important one on the back of their impressive win just a week earlier, and keeps the Demons in touch with the all-important top five.
MDU coach Peter Harris said Toora gave them a good run for their money.
“All credit needs to go to Toora, they made us play the game on their terms, we did just enough to take home the four points,” he said.
The competition is such that no side can spend too much time bathing in their success before quickly turning their attention to the week ahead.
FISH CREEK v TARWIN
FISH Creek, as the home side, was in desperate need of another ‘w’ next to their name.
It certainly wasn’t panic stations for the Kangaroos, but a win to stay in touch with those above them was very important to say the least.
In short, we had two really good sides, but only one of which had an unbeaten record going into this Round 6 clash.
The visiting Sharks had taken all before them but were also quite clear on the improvement still needed as they confronted yet another tough month of football.
That improvement found another level when Tarwin made light work of Fish Creek to win 21.5 (131) to 6.7 (43).
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming was pleased with the effort.
“Very proud of the boys staying disciplined and grinding away with Fish Creek all day,” he said.
With clubs across the region continuing to struggle with numbers due to COVID, the flu, injuries and availability all adding pressure on putting a side on the park, Fish Creek is no exception, as coach John Danckert explained.
“We had 12 out at the start of the day and finished the game with 17 again, that being said, Tarwin are a really good outfit, quick and really efficient with the footy, we felt we matched them at centre clearance but from then on, they tore us apart,” he said.
Stony Creek had the bye.
