FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By ROB POPPLESTONE

 

ROUND 15 of the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League presented the time where it was now or never for some teams.

The round was destined to separate the contenders from the also rans, and although there remains a couple pieces left in the puzzle, pundits can now start to make out pretty much all but one of the final six spots… or can we?

 

Boolarra 11.14 (80) def Hill End 1.3 (9)

THE Demons just had to win this game and it really didn’t matter how.

The home side has been on the wrong side of far too many close results this season that had ended finals aspirations.

Their clash against the visiting Hill End on the weekend was to be some reward for effort, with the Demons winning 11.14 (80) to 1.3 (9).

Boolarra really put it altogether, much to the delight of coach Brendan Mason.

“Nice to be back on the winners list. Really happy with our defensive efforts keeping them to one goal for the game,” he said.

It was a rare disappointing day out for the Rovers. The Hillmen may not have won many games this season, but they have been competitive many more times than not; but as the home-and-away season starts to come to an end, keeping the team motivated through winter is a tough job to do.

“It was a really disappointing performance by us. Credit to Boolara, they outplayed us and wanted it more,” Hill End coach, Ambu Uliando said.

 

Yinnar 8.9 (57) def Newborough 5.6 (36)

YINNAR had been doing the job in recent weeks, but not with the same authority that many had witnessed in a mid season patch of pretty impressive football.

Last weekend however presented an opposition that would require the Magpies to be as close to their best as possible, or risk giving up third position on the ladder.

The Magpies were up to the challenge. A fast start assumed control, which laid the foundation for 21 point win 8.9 (57) to 5.6 (36).

“Our last home game for the season against Newborough. We knew it was going to be a hard four quarter slog coming up against a team full of confidence after their win over Fish Creek the week before,” Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said.

“The first quarter was even, both teams having opportunities to hit the scoreboard and we managed to get a handy lead at quarter time, then we broke the game open in the second quarter.

“The boys were tough at the contest and willed the ball forward at every opportunity. A handy five goal lead at halftime, but there was still plenty of work to be done. Newborough came hard in the third, getting themselves back in it but the response was a three goal last quarter to see us home.

“Very pleased with the result against a good side.”

The first half proved the difference. No one, or very few, can give up five goals to none and expect to be able to reel it back in.

“In slippery conditions Yinnar took advantage of it early and kicked five unanswered goals,” Newborough coach Craig Skinner said.

“Our best footy came in the second half when conditions got worse but it was not enough.

“We look to take on another top three side after the bye. Looking forward to seeing what we bring to that party.”

Newborough sit in fifth position but only a game clear of the seventh-placed Thorpdale.

The Bulldogs will likely hang tough and keep their spot in the league’s top half dozen, but in a close competition, one thing is for certain, and that is that nothing is certain.

 

Foster 11.7 (73) def Mirboo North 4.3 (27)

WITH two of the top three sides having a bye, this was Foster’s chance to throw themselves into the conversation, but to do so, it needed two things, a victory, and a big margin.

The Tigers of the Foster variety secured both comfortably, winning 11.7 (73) to 4.3 (27) at home.

While the final score line indicated a one way affair, it was far from that in reality, as Foster had to stand up to a very committed Mirboo North.

Foster coach Sam Davies said there was reason to be pleased all round.

“A really great day for the club with the reserves winning their first game in two years,” he said.

“We let Mirboo North play their footy in the first quarter and conceded goals we shouldn’t have.

“It was a tough day for footy with the constant rain but we did enough to win. We will enjoy the bye this weekend.”

Foster will now prepare for a successful finals campaign, which is only weeks away.

For Mirboo North, every tough contest is a steep learning curve, not for this season but for the years ahead.

“Wet soggy day at Foster. Our boys’ effort was really pleasing against a more mature bodied outfit,” Mirboo North coach Damien Turner said.

“We hit bodies all day and I feel we didn’t go away. Foster was better on the outside especially, for the majority of the day and took their chances.”

 

Stony Creek 8.6 (54) def by Thorpdale 12.7 (79)

THORPDALE made the trip to Stony Creek under no illusions as to what was required given their precarious position on the MGFNL ladder.

The Blues were one game behind sixth-placed MDU, meaning it was win or face the reality of the season being close enough to over.

The visitors achieved the result they desired, winning 12.7 (79) to 8.6 (54).

“A 15 minute blitz had us up seven goals to zip which was great as Stony have been very good in first quarters this year,” Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said.

“From there the game never reached great heights due to the weather but I was really happy to come away with the four points.

“All we can do is keep winning to give ourselves a chance.”

That chance is sure to present itself, and if the Blues are ready to take it, they will no doubt be a tough side to meet come the high pressure and physicality of finals football.

Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon said his side played catch-up.

“Thorpdale needed to win to stay in touch with finals so we knew they would come out strong,” he said.

“Something we have been good at all year is starting well, but Thorpdale jumped us early kicking eight goals in the first quarter. As the rain set in, the game became a hard slog.”

Stony Creek might not have reached the heights they wanted in 2024, but lessons have been learned and it can be expected they will climb a few rungs up the ladder in 2025.

 

Tarwin 5.4 (34) def by MDU 5.14 (44)

BASICALLY a final a month before the finals, the Sharks versus Demons clash had so much more riding on it than the four premiership points.

A win would keep Tarwin’s faint finals hopes alive, while victory by MDU would maintain their grip inside the top six.

The Demons, taking it one week at a time, did what needed to be done, winning by 10 points 5.14 (44) to 5.4 (34) away from home.

MDU coach Nathan Allen said it was a gutsy performance.

“Great win again on the weekend from the guys,” he said.

“Trying conditions and a hard, tough Tarwin team spurred on by their crowd (they had a premiership reunion) made things tough.

“My guys have had a really good month and now we get a week off to recover before hopefully a big run to the end of the year.”

The Demons are well placed to keep their top six spot, their destiny very much in their own hands.

For the Sharks, the chances of taking part in the business end of the season slipped away at the weekend, but there remains plenty to like about their season.

“Our day started off with the under 18s playing a great game of footy and winning against an undefeated MDU, it was always going to be a tough day for us against an in-form team, especially in such testing conditions,” Tarwin coach Jason Kennedy said.

“We came in at halftime with a two point lead. Then in the third quarter they kicked a couple that we weren’t able to get back.

“It was a solid effort from all but in the end we didn’t maximise our chances and time in the forward as well as Meeniyan did, which hurts you in such a close competition.”

In some ways that is the story for Tawin, one or two games, probably even more, that could have gone either way falling the wrong way for them, and in the makeup of the season, that is the difference between achieving preseason goals and falling just short.

 

MORWELL East, Fish Creek and Toora had the bye.