FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT and ROB POPPLESTONE
THERE has been a building expectation that one week would soon determine a number of Mid Gippsland clubs’ seasons.
Not many however believed that Round 13 might be it.
There remains very little between many of the sides in the competition, and just when you think you may have things worked out, the unexpected shows up and slaps you in the face.
The moral to the MGFNL story: expect the unexpected.
Hill End 19.5 (119) def Stony Creek 11.11 (77)
SCENES of pure football beauty played out at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve at the weekend, as Hill End sang their song for the first time this season after a 19.5 (119) to 11.11 (77) finish over Stony Creek.
The developing, young Rovers added veteran leadership of the highest order, for both on-field and off-field performance, with the arrival of retired West Coast premiership defender Will Schofield via the Carlton Draft.
Schofield had got off to a flying start with the Mid Gippsland club when a majority of the senior group arrived in Melbourne a few months ago for ‘draft night’, giving the former Eagles backman the chance to build rapport with the Hill End boys and don the Rovers green and gold a while in advance.
By the time it got to the weekend, which played out in picturesque form with great conditions and weather on the day for Round 13, Schofield was primed and ready for all that unfolded.
Talking to the Express in the week leading up to his arrival, Schofield admitted he wasn’t going to be playing in his natural position, instead electing to fill ruck duties.
“I’ve made some decisions around my playing position, I didn’t want to play at full back because basically I feel like I’d just cop the next Nate Caddy, sort of just jump on my head and kick 10 on me,” he said.
“I didn’t want to play full forward, because I would’ve had a big gorilla on me in the goal square, and so I’ve put my hand up to go in the ruck, so I’ll be around the footy and be trying my best to get the win for the lads.”
Not only did that play out, but Schofield even divulged that he had some pre-game speeches prepared for the team on the day, making sure all was ready for the occasion that brought plenty of attention and cameras to the small town.
Bringing the team in before heading out, Schofield addressed them, saying how he saw Hill End as more a football club than any he’s been around, including over in Perth, with perhaps the most successful club in the land, given how tight-knit he saw the group being and all around the club.
As the side ran out onto the ground, with Schofield wearing the number 32 on his back, they were treated to a bumper crowd anticipating a great contest.
The effort and belief that Schofield also discussed in his speech was displayed early from the Hill End outfit, as the Rovers banged home six goals straight in the first quarter.
The home team’s lead extended even further through to halftime, with multiple players rising to the occasion, including young Darcy Paul with three goals in the first half alone.
Schofield also produced some magic, showing signs that perhaps all was meant to be for
Hill End, as the big man grabbed the ball out of a boundary throw-in and snapped truly from 40 metres out from goal, electrifying not only the ground, but the entire playing group as well, rushing to celebrate and almost in awe.
Hill End went into the rooms with the scoreboard reading 64-37 their way.
The travelling Lions (who agreed to swap home games between the two earlier in the season to ensure the Hill End faithful got to watch Schofield on their own deck) came out of the main break with their eyes fixed.
With a win, Stony Creek would only be two games back of playing finals with a further four matches to go, they too had as much pressure on them as anything.
The Lions held the Rovers scoreless throughout the third quarter, while booting three goals themselves, bringing the margin back to eight points with half-an-hour left.
Hill End, realising this was perhaps their one and only chance of victory for the year, returned knowing they had to get back to their ways from the first half.
That arrived as quickly as they returned for the fourth term, with Schofield winning the first bounce as the Rovers sent the ball into their forward line, ending with Andrew Daly booting his first goal for the season, fresh out of the under 18s.
That all happened over the course of the opening 30 seconds.
Despite Stony Creek mounting goals to keep it close within the first 10 minutes of the last quarter, Hill End rode a wave insurmountable for most, with the entire community on their back on the day, as the Rovers kicked the last five goals all the way through to the final siren.
Hill End coach Adrian Burns said it was a collective effort from his side.
“We all played well, but big Will Schofield got us plenty of the ball and lifted the whole side,” he said.
“Stony Creek came back in the third quarter, but we kept them at arm’s length.
“I’ve been waiting for them to do what I knew they could, it was just great to see the boys get a reward and for the whole community to enjoy it.”
It truly was a whole team effort as stated by Burns, with the young Paul producing a five-goal best-on-ground performance with the entire football world watching. The lad is still in thirds!
Aaron Fawcett, skipper Seth Calway (three goals), Amburupa Uliando, Liam Cumiskey (three), and Kyan Mulley were others to stand tall on the day for the Rovers.
Not only did Hill End get to sing the song loudly and proudly for the first time this year, for which Schofield let out with great gusto being of similar ilk to Carlton’s theme, the Rovers also ended the Lions chances of extending their season in 2025.
Stony Creek had Julian Stone, Jayden Battersby, Callum Carter, Cameron Stone, Hayden Bull and Jack Stuart play well.
In talking earlier in the week with the Express, and also noted during his post-draft interview back in April, mocking media personality and former Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes for only mustering a mere nine touches and one mark during his Carlton Draft appearance in Moyston Willaura’s 119-point loss to Hawkesdale Macarthur in a Mininera and District 2023 match.
Schofield boasted that if he could not surpass those numbers set by the famed football shock jock, he would cease all of his own media commitments with Perth’s Fox Footy coverage and his BackChat Podcast with former Eagles teammate Hamish Brayshaw and journalist Dan Const, as well as ending any other future sporting ventures.
It’s safe to say Schofield served up much greater impact during his Carlton Draft match, not just on the field, but deep into the night, with Hill End also holding their sportsman’s night the same day.
Newborough 13.11 (89) def Morwell East 11.10 (76)
MORE to this game than met the eye, Morwell East had the chance to claw back some much needed respect after a disappointing season to date, but equally, Newborough needed to win to keep their finals chances alive.
That dream remained alive for the Bulldogs, after their home ground success by 13 points.
Newborough held off the Hawks 13.11 (89) 11.10 (76).
Bulldogs coach, Pat Frendo afforded the chance to breath easier.
“Really solid bounce back after a super disappointing outing last week (against Mirboo North),” he said.
“The boys got off to a really good start which set us up with a two goal lead at the first break.
“In a game that had quite a few momentum swings we managed to hold a two-three goal buffer for the rest of the game.
“Hoping this win builds a bit of confidence heading into next week when we head to MDU to play them for the second time.
“We managed to knock them off in Round 1, but that seems like an eternity ago and both teams have gone on to have very different seasons since. Will be a tough challenge as our next three opponents (MDU, Fish Creek, Yinnar) are all gunning for a top two spot.”
There is no questioning the high bar that neds to be overcome by the Bulldogs, while for the Hawks, what has been a disappointing year continued.
“The trip to Newborough proved disappointing. We both have struggled this season with not many wins on the board between us. Our inability to execute simple skills has been a common factor in our losses this year. It’s not at the level it needs to be,” Morwell East Coach, Paul Henry said.
The Hawks have shown in recent seasons they are more than capable of competing with the very best.
This season has fallen well short of expectations, but with a sharper focus at the tail end of the year and a new opportunity in 2026, better days are no doubt ahead.
Mirboo North 9.7 (61) def Thorpdale 7.15 (57)
TWO weeks ago, Thorpdale would have entered this clash against Mirboo North as hot favourites.
But with the Tigers coming off an impressive and comprehensive win over Newborough, many were unsure just how this clash at Thorpdale would unfold.
The Tigers found a way to win in the most memorable of victories, getting up over an inaccurate Blues 9.7 (61) to 7.15 (57).
Mirboo North Coach, Damien Turner said it was a hard-fought win.
“Huge result for our season and this group,” he said.
“Thorpy are a strong, hard contested team and that’s exactly what they brought.
“They had a lot of the early play and fortunately let us off with some wayward kicking. But the grit, run and determination of my boys got us there. Seventeen-year-old Jono Conlan kicking a huge goal in the last quarter in his fifth senior game, these moments can make players. Proud coach!
“We roll into the bye now, rest up, reset and hope to keep the momentum up for the last month of footy – one week at a time for us!”
The Tigers are now seventh on the ladder, just percentage from the top six, and a game from jumping two spots further, while the Blues, who could have secured a finals spot with a win, now face a nervous five weeks to the finish.
Thorpdale Coach, Daniel Taylor lamented a wasted opportunity.
“Frustrating day. Inaccurate kicking and undisciplined play right throughout the day proved to be costly in the end,” he said.
“After a pretty dominate third quarter we had our chances early in the last to put it to bed but didn’t convert.
“Full credit to Mirboo North, they finished off strong and were running on top of the ground to pinch it late.”
Toora 9.10 (64) def Boolarra 8.12 (60)
ALL that stood between Toora and an unlikely late season surge towards finals was a Boolarra team that pretty much wanted the exact same thing.
Victory, four premiership points and continued contact with the top six sides in the competition was on the line out at Toora.
Toora took their chances, claiming victory in yet another nail biting victory not without some controversy, 9.10 (64) to 8.12 (60).
Magpies coach, Jay Acardi happy to accept the four points.
“A tough contest against Boolarra, we came out firing in the first quarter and controlled the majority with good ball use which gave our forwards good looks at goal,” he said.
“But as Boolarra do so often they got the game on their terms and out-played us for the majority of the last three quarters.
“Was great to see the boys stand up when it counted in some big moments in the last quarter to get the victory – one that could have gone either way.”
The Demons, now seemingly on the wrong side of too many that could have gone either way.
Each week there are patches of play that indicate the can and possibly even should be further up the ladder.
The weekend gone was no exception as the Boolarra coaching panel indicated.
“A lightning fast start saw the Toora side lead five goals three behinds to one goal three at the first break,” they said.
“We were the victim of self-inflicted wounds with some poor ball use from the halfback line through the middle of the ground gifting three of Toora’s five goals.
“Then Magpies star Jack Weston injected himself into the middle and started to influence the flow of play.
In the last quarter and after a tug of war saw a scoreless five minutes, Joel Mason kicked the ultimate skippers goal to get the lead back for the Demons with 19 minutes played.
With 24 minutes gone a Toora free kick found their gun forward Leigh Craig free in the forward 50, and when he kicked truly the home side led by four points, with that being the ultimate margin.
There were so many passages of play, decisions made that the Demons could reflect on and say ‘what if’, but with the premiership points missing from their bank, Boolarra appear just one more loss away from looking at their season and saying the same thing .
Foster 23.9 (147) def MDU 10.6 (66)
MEENIYAN DUMBALK UNITED was under no illusions as to the enormity of the task as they ventured Foster Showgrounds to take on the top-of-the-table team.
Foster had only tasted defeat once in season 2025, and was determined that their second would not be against the Demons.
Foster ensued the good times rolled along, winning 23.9 (147) to 10.6 (66).
The Tigers comprehensive victory now sets a high benchmark for the rest of the competition.
The win was much more impressive given the coach was actually in another country at the time.
“Unfortunately I was away at a funeral in New Zealand on the weekend, but luckily we have such a strong club and message across the group we could still go to work,” Foster Coach, Sam Davies said.
“Besty (Foster boy and former Traralgon senior coach, Jake Best) took over, but our first half was filled with undisciplined acts and giving away goals. We were on top but the scoreboard may not have reflected that.
“The second half showcased the way we wanted to play and our ability to score and defend as a group. The midfield dominated and our forwards got really good looks. We’ll enjoy the week off before our last four games.”
As the Tigers get to rest before returning in Round 15, the Demons cannot wait to redeem themselves after the disappointment of such a devastating loss.
“There’s no easy way to say this, but yesterday’s performance was poor and extremely disappointing,” MDU coach, Rhett Kelly said.
Fish Creek 9.12 (66) def Tarwin 6.3 (39)
FISH CREEK had the opportunity to not only secure four more valuable premiership points, but also send Tarwin spiralling back down towards a pack of teams all clamouring for the Sharks’ current position in the league’s top six.
It was an opportunity the Kangaroos gladly took with both hands, winning by 27 points at home.
Final scores were Fish Creek 9.12 (66) to 6.3 (39).
Kangaroos coach, Jarrad Walker said the opposition made his side work hard for the win.
“A pleasing win. We knew Tarwin would come out firing after the previous week and it proved to be a tough arm wrestle for the first half,” he said.
“Always a tough ask playing Fish Creek as they have quality across every line. I was happy with our response this week as opposed to last week,” Tarwin Coach, Lachie Jones said referencing the 110 point loss to Yinnar.
“The guys gave effort and we held one another accountable. A really pleasing aspect was our second quarter response. We had some of our players do some selfless roles and some things worked which we will take away as a positive.
“We took the contest up to them but did drop away in the last quarter.”
YINNAR had the bye.
