FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By ROB POPPLESTONE
AS important as winning is at any time in sport, there comes a time when ‘how’ you win starts to play a far more important role.
That time of how is starting to edge closer as the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League approaches the last handful of games in the home-and-away season.
Just five games remain until finals start, and eight of the 13 competing teams still remain alive as far as the post-regular season is concerned.
Boolarra 6.8 (44) def by Morwell East 7.8 (50)
BOOLARRA was desperate to bounce back with some semblance of the form they had shown in the early part of the year, hosting a powerful Morwell East that had some KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) to tick off in their Round 13 clash.
The first was to secure the points, and the second was to do it in a fashion that showed their best football was still ahead of them.
In the end, Morwell East would be pretty happy just to get the premiership points, after falling in by only a kick, 7.8 (50) to 6.8 (44).
Hawks coach, Paul Henry said it was a dour struggle, but a memorable day nonetheless.
“We were out at Boolarra celebrating Brendan Evans’ record of 255 senior games at Morwell East. Huge achievement! Boolarra on their home turf has always been a hard match up for us, but we finally got the monkey off our back in a tight, hard-fought win,” he said.
All clubs like to win milestone matches for their most loyal players, but there is never a guarantee. The Demons did everything they could to ruin the party, only to fall agonisingly short.
“There is no question the boys responded from the past fortnight, but to not get the result again is disappointing,” Demons coach, Brendan Mason said.
They are so close the Demons it isn’t funny, but with a win-loss record of 3-9, it’s a season in which Boolarra will reflect on opportunities lost.
Hill End 3.5 (23) def by Foster 23.14 (152)
AS happy as the Hillmen had been, and deserved to be after their season breaking win just seven days earlier, there was always the ominous feeling that Foster was going to send the mood crashing back to earth at the weekend.
That is pretty much what happened at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers, workmanlike in their performance, blew the margin out to the best part of 130 points, winning 23.14 (152) to 3.5 (23).
Jake Best, the former Traralgon playing-coach was a standout for the Tigers with 15 goals.
His effort beat his dad, Rob Best’s personal best of 14 for Foster.
As if to cheekily make his mark, Jake was taken from the field in the final term once he slotted his 15th.
Foster coach, Sam Davies was pleased with a good job all round.
“A special day for a few of our guys who had been battling away in the ressies all year giving them a senior opportunity and getting them a win. They stepped up to the level and all contributed,” he said.
Foster are doing everything they can, as good sides do, to have themselves ready for the deeper water they must venture into against the bigger fish in the competition.
The Rovers were acutely aware of what they were up against, playing a side starting to surge at around the right time of year.
“It was a disappointing effort against Foster. Didn’t have our best team in. Foster are a top quality outfit. Looking forward to the week off,” Hill End coach, Ambu Uliando said.
Hill End will be one of three teams that have a weekend off this coming round; a late season freshen up before a month more of home-and-away football.
Tarwin 11.11 (77) def by Thorpdale 12.17 (89)
TARWIN’S chips had to be ‘all in’ at the weekend as they welcomed Thorpdale for what loomed as a last chance showdown for both clubs.
A win would enable a coach to continue to tell the story of finals, while a loss meant he would have to try and sell the story.
Thorpdale get to tell the story, after winning 12.17 (89) to 11.11 (77).
Blues coach, Jason Winderlich said his team got what they wanted.
“Four points was what we wanted and that’s what we got,” he said.
“Played some really good patches of footy, just couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard. Tarwin played some great footy rebounding from halfback as they were trying to keep their finals hopes alive.”
The Sharks started their day well, with a win in the early game, but unfortunately for them, this did not transpire into senior success, as coach, Jason Kennedy explained.
“Our day started off well with the reserves coming home with their second win in a row with a mixture of experienced and young players having a crack, followed by our senior/junior buddy day,” he said.
“This was a rewarding way to kickstart our day and all involved really enjoyed it.
“We also had a few good wins in netball which was great to see.
“For the seniors it was a huge game for us in regard to continuing our pursuit of the top six.
“Thorpdale ended the first quarter with a two goal lead and in the end this was the difference that we couldn’t peg them back.
“All in all I can’t fault our effort and we battled hard all day and also played some good football.
“We have the bye this week so it’s a good chance to freshen up and finish off the year strong.”
The year is not over for Tarwin, but at 5-7, the challenge becomes much greater.
Yinnar 7.11 (53) def Stony Creek 5.7 (37)
GOOD sides don’t lose two in a row, and good sides don’t get beaten on their home ground.
Yinnar proved they are very much a side that will need to be reckoned with, after bouncing back from what could have been a demoralising loss to Foster a week ago, taking care of a potentially dangerous Stony Creek by 16 points, 7.11 (53) to 5.7 (37).
The margin was not huge, but the result was enormous in the scheme of the season, as it keeps the Magpies equal-second.
“Wet weather conditions greeted us as we welcomed Stony Creek to the Yinnar mud. The boys were keen to respond after a loss last week and started really well, applying pressure around the ball and taking our opportunities going forward,” Yinnar coach, Sam McCulloch said.
“The game itself became an old fashioned slog as both teams were looking to gain territory at all costs.
“We felt we controlled most of the day but the Lions made a charge in the last. We held strong and finished well with a good win in the mud.”
Winning ugly is always a rewarding result for a coach that has a team full of talent, but knows his men don’t mind rolling up their sleeves as well.
Despite the result, Stony Creek coach, Chris Verboon was pleased with the effort his troops showed.
“I was really happy with our effort in tough conditions,” he said.
“We were down to one on the bench by halftime. We had a lot of the play down our end of the ground but couldn’t capitalise on the forward entries.
“Yinnar rebounded really well off half back and scored through clean entries.
“We get to rest the bodies this week with a week off. Couldn’t of come at a better time with the injuries from Saturday’s game.”
MDU 19.6 (120) def Mirboo North 2.2 (14)
IN normal circumstances, Meeniyan Dumbalk United would have hit their home turf at the weekend with a certain degree of confidence, knowing that their overall form would have them deserved favourites.
However, there was also a certain apprehension starting to build around the Demons, knowing that in reality, a loss could also derail their season in just two hours.
In the end, MDU got it done as a finals aspirant should, confidently demolishing Mirboo North 19.6 (120) to 2.2 (14).
MDU coach, Nathan Allen said all went to plan, highlighted by full forward Darren Sheen kicking 11 goals to bring up his career tally of 1200.
“We had a really good win today. We were able to put a four quarter performance together and convert when we had momentum,” he said.
“Mirboo (North) ran really hard all day and possessed the ball well at times. Even contributions from our guys all over the ground made us really hard to play against.”
It’s possibly a coach’s greatest satisfaction, having a team effort, and the ‘all did their part’ reflection of the game. As the bar gets lifted higher, having such contributions becomes more and more crucial.
For the Tigers, there remains those ‘moments’ in games to recognise, but team success still appears a little way off.
“Tough day. We showed some good signs in the first half, within striking distance again, but after halftime MDU were far too classy,” Mirboo North coach, Damien Turner said.
“Their ball use and spread was very sharp, and Sheen (was) on song. (Congrats on goal 1200).
“Again, consistency hurts us. We move on quickly from this one, continue to work hard.”
The Tigers have a big club day planned this weekend, welcoming past players and one of the games greats in Gary Ablett Junior, the sort of attendance that can and is likely to lift a side.
Fish Creek 10.10 (70) def Toora 3.9 (27)
FISH Creek have been around long enough and won far more than their share of flags by knowing when and how to be at their very best.
Nurturing the players that need some in-season rest, developing those in games that won’t compromise results, and testing others in unfamiliar roles to have in the back pocket for a rainy (or finals) day.
Having the depth and talent to do all of these things is a big part of what makes this great Victorian country team so good, and visiting Toora was the most recent team to witness this first hand, as the Kangaroos won 10.10 (70) to 3.9 (27).
Fish Creek coach, Jarrod Walker was happy with how things played out.
“A strong performance from us, Toora came to play and made it a strong contest all day,” he said.
“Pleasing to see us getting the game on our terms at times and moving the ball the way we want to.”
It was more of the same for Fish Creek, the league leaders have some breathing space between themselves and a few teams just below, but there is no doubt the pressure remains to perform.
Toora coach, Jack Weston meanwhile said it was frustrating to keep showing glimpses of good play.
“The competitor in us all is getting tired of being in games against good sides for long periods of time. We perhaps addressed our slow starts to be even at quarter time, but fell away for 15 minutes in the second and credit to Fish Creek, they put on a match winning burst,” he said.
The Magpies will get another chance, yet again against another quality opponent in Yinnar this weekend, welcoming former Carlton and GWS player, and popular podcaster Dylan Buckley for a one-off game as part of the Carlton Draft promotion.
BYE – Newborough
