LIAM DURKIN and ROB POPPLESTONE
FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By LIAM DURKIN AND ROB POPPLESTONE
NEWBOROUGH were emphatic winners over Fish Creek in Round 2 of the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League.
The Bulldogs sent an ominous warning to the competition after annihilating the Kangaroos on their home turf 17.6 (108) to 4.6 (30).
With Fish Creek expected to be one of the big improvers of the MGFNL this season, their performance against a Newborough side right in the premiership window showed just how much work they have to do.
The Bulldogs broke away after quarter time, adding eight goals to one in the second term to take a commanding 57-point lead into the sheds.
It was more of the same in the third, with Newborough kicking five goals to one, before parking the bus at three quarter time.
The Bulldogs played for time in the last, only adding a single goal, but smartly getting through with one eye turned to what is looming as a huge game at home this Saturday against Mirboo North.
Left-footer Nathan Wheildon proved a handful up forward, kicking four goals, while close mate Jack van den Dolder also played well on senior debut.
Fellow left-footer Wade Anderson was in the best, along with Josh Pearce, Josh Hecker and Patrick Charles.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner praised his side’s effort.
“To travel to Fish Creek and come home with four points is a victory, to do it with good players missing is a win for the club,” he said.
“Was very impressed with how we moved the ball and the attitude we took into the game.”
“We are now looking forward to our first home game against Mirboo North. Shotty (Peter) Mongta has his team two from two, so we look forward to a fierce battle against a proud club at the Kennel for the Ron Skinner Cup”
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker lamented the performance.
“Tough day at the office for us, showed glimpses of what we can do, but a well-drilled Newborough proved too strong,” he said.
“Thorpdale next week will be another good test. They’ve recruited really well so will be a good hit out. Ray Pickering always seems (to have) something up his sleeve to keep us on our toes.”
Best for the Kangaroos were Tom Cameron, Will Voorham, Brad Pulham, Lachlan Gale, Jack Hayes and Stewart McCooke, whose dad Steven played first class cricket for Victoria.
With a Bulldogs victory assured by three quarter time, the last quarter gave people the chance to reflect on something truly astonishing: A Burgess and a Holdsworth are playing for Newborough.
That belongs in the ‘something you never thought you’d see’ category.
YINNAR got the job done over Thorpdale.
While the Magpies win was expected, the score line again gave reason for people to sit up and take notice of the Blues.
For the second week in a row, Thorpdale took it right up to a finalist from 2022.
In Round 1, the Blues lost narrowly to Boolarra, while last Saturday, they looked more than competitive against the reigning premier, in a final scoreboard reading 9.11 (65) to 7.5 (47).
Yinnar kicked four goals to one in the second term to set-up a 24-point lead at the main break, which they extended to 29 at the last change of ends.
Thorpdale however showed some great signs at home, scoring two final quarter goals while keeping their opponents goalless.
Returning Blues forward Matt Powell kicked five goals, and received good support from Mark Graeme, Shannon Pickering, Paul Mackenzie, Mitch Chopping and Travis Patten.
Powell’s bag added to the four he kicked in the first game. Newborough captain and key defender Alex Skinner has rated Powell one of the more difficult forwards in Mid Gippsland to play on.
Yinnar found good service from Nathan Rowley, Ben Cheffers, Adam Bailey, Mark Stolk, Clancy Mills and Ethan Sultana.
Seeing Adam Bailey’s name on the team sheet may have caught a few local football followers by surprise.
The two-time Morwell premiership player and Gippsland League best and fairest winner comes highly regarded.
Yallourn Yallourn North officials, and even current senior coach Barrie Burnett, has attributed much of the Jets’ success in recent years to the groundwork Bailey put in as senior coach from 2015 to 2017.
Despite not having played since 2018, when he was at Traralgon Tyers United under Morwell premiership teammate Michael Duncan, the Magpies would have been licking their lips when someone of Bailey’s calibre literally landed on their doorstep.
With family now involved at Yinnar, it is understood Bailey wondered down with intentions of having a social kick in the seconds, before being lured into a senior comeback.
Magpies coach Daniel Taylor said it was good to bank the four points.
“Wasn’t the prettiest game of football but happy to walk away with the win,” he said.
“Our effort and intent was there but we lacked polish and fumbled a lot.
“Thorpy got some early injuries which meant they were up against it for the majority of the day but managed to fight it out and stay in the game which is a credit to them.
“MDU next week will be another challenge, both teams will be looking to get their second win for the season and start building some momentum, it’s another big game which we’re looking forward to.”
Despite the result, signs appear promising for Thorpdale in the early part of the season.
“Always a big challenge against last years premier. Fantastic effort from the group to stick with them with only 17 fit players for the last three quarters,” Blues coach Jason Winderlich said.
“Another tough challenge this week as we head over to Fish Creek. With seven/eight players from our first choice 18 missing, it will be an opportunity to give some more guys senior experience.”
Adding to the intrigue surrounding Thorpdale this season is the fact improvement seems to have come mainly from within.
For all the talk of new recruits, 13 of the players last Saturday were listed as one-pointers, and only four were worth more than two.
MIRBOO NORTH broke away from Stony Creek.
The Tigers led by 18 points at the main break, but blew that out to eventually win 15.8 (98) to 7.11 (53) at home.
The Lions’ scoring dried right up in the second half, as they kicked just three goals.
Conversely, Mirboo North more than doubled the seven they had on the board at halftime.
Ben Campbell kicked four goals for the winners in a best on ground display. Others to play well were Jesse Chila, Jake Nash, Julian Blackford, local bowls president Hudson Kerr (that story is coming) and recent Mirboo North cricket premiership hero Max Woodall.
Tigers coach Peter Mongta labelled it a good performance.
“It really was a great day for our club. Was good to come away with another four points in the bank,” he said.
“The result probably didn’t reflect the way the game was played. Our recovery will be really important for next week. Round 3 against Newbouragh is an exciting challenge and (we) look forward to another good hit out.”
Tully Bernaldo played well for Stony Creek, as did Troy Sinclair, Mitchell Rowe, Jack Stuart, Hayden Funnell and the man who got better as he got older in the Gippsland League, Chris Verboon.
“We got off to a great start, just couldn’t match Mirboo North’s spread and run forward,” coach Verboon said.
“They have a young side and just out ran us in the end. We had a few injuries after the game so hopefully those boys get up for Hill End at home next week.”
BOOLARRA had a day to forget.
The Demons of Boolarra butchered the ball something chronic in front of goal, going down to their Demon counterparts Meeniyan Dumbalk United 12.11 (83) to 6.16 (52).
Boolarra kicked just one goal either side of halftime, but registered 12 scoring shots in the same time.
This lack of conversion meant the visitors were always playing catch-up, and trailed in the vicinity of 30 points for most of the day.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina did not mince words.
“We were smashed from the first bounce, MDU looked a very good side,” he said.
“When we did have an opportunity to put some scoreboard pressure on our skills let us down.
“We now have a big game next week against Foster, who look to have improved from their first game.”
Journeyman local footballer Simon Noy was best for Boolarra, followed by Brendan Mason, Luke Marriott, Aidyn Sheers, Jayden McCormack and Nic Dowse.
MDU coach Nathan Allen was pleased with the result.
“First win as a new group will do wonders for our confidence. Boolarra run in numbers and challenged us defensively. Our back six held up, and we were then able to counterattack and convert our chances,” he said.
“Doesn’t get any easier next week with last year premiers away. We hope to put together four quarters of our footy and see how it stacks up.”
Allen was best on for MDU. Captain Fraser Kelly also played well, as did Tom Harris, Sam Wilson, Shaye Walsh and Jayden Deas.
THE season could go down vastly different paths for Hill End and Toora after their meeting last Saturday.
Season 2022 wooden spooners Toora, defeated a team that played finals, Hill End, 11.9 (75) to 9.6 (60).
The Magpies made the long journey over various hills, and had the better of the Rovers in the final term.
Up until then, it had been a neck-and-neck battle, with only four, one and eight points the difference at each of the breaks.
Aaron Fawcett was best for the home side, while man mountain forward Jamie Somers kicked seven.
There is still a place in Mid Gippy for a bear in the square.
Calvin Rees, Harry Moore, Josh Fairfull and Seth Calway were others to do a good job.
Toora coach Jack Weston led from the front, and was ably assisted by Jon Pintus, Peter Grant, Jean Bezzene, Colomen Jal and Luke Andedda.
“Nice to travel to Hill End for the first time since joining the Mid Gippsland League,” Weston said.
“After a few blokes worked out how far the drive was, we had seven changes from last week to the senior side to take on the Hill Men.
“The 21 players who pulled on a Toora jumper provided a hugely improved effort from last week.
“The game ebbed and flowed with both sides having their patches of control. We struggled to convert at times which kept Hill End in the game.
“To their credit, Hill End hung around and in a marathon last quarter, kept coming to tighten it up late. A relief to break the duck early in the year and looking forward to this group continuing to improve.”
Understandably, Hill End coach Mike Santo expressed differing feelings.
“Toora (are) very well coached and organised, they clearly play for each other. Credit to Jack on his personal performance and leading his team,” he said.
“Great effort from our boys all day but skill errors cost us in crucial stages of the game, our skipper Aaron Fawcett was inspirational and Jamie Sommers was unstoppable down forward, just couldn’t give him enough chances.
“Stony Creek will be a tough ask next week down there.”
Those beforementioned paths could see a team on the rise, alongside one possibly on the decline.
FOSTER got up in a thriller.
The Tigers held on against Tarwin to win by three points, 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72).
Travelling to Tarwin Lower, the visitors held a 22-point lead at three quarter time, before the Sharks slammed on four goals to almost snatch victory.
The sound of the final siren however was music to Foster’s ears, as they defeated the 2022 minor premier.
Best for the winners was Brendan Neville, Tom Littore, Michael Howell, Will Duursma, Oliver Callcott and Jake Thornell.
Foster coach Sam Davies was ecstatic, amid the euphoria that goes with a close win.
“Tarwin on their home deck is one of the hardest games in our league and today was no different,” he said.
“Troy (Tarwin coach Troy Hemming) always has his boys flying early and playing an aggressive game of run and linking.
“Our tackling pressure was where we needed it all day and we got the result we deserved in the end. Every player had a moment, so I’m really pleased for the group to celebrate an early win.
“Boolarra next week away will be tough again. Tony (Boolarra coach Tony Giardina) plans very well and will be keen to bounce back.”
Hemming was circumspect in defeat.
“Foster played a very contested game led by (Brendan) Neville. I thought he set the game up for them in the first half,” he said.
“Our lads were up against it all day with not much going our way, but for them to stay in the fight till the last second.”
Nathan McRae, Tyson Hanegraaf, Jason Kennedy, Kaj Patterson, Fergus Warren and Jordan Hill were best for Tarwin.
MORWELL EAST had the bye.
