FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By ROB POPPLESTONE

 

ONCE the last round of the home-and-away season was upon us and while five clubs were confident of playing a part in finals, and five clubs knew that their season would end.

There still remained three clubs that would not know their destiny until 5pm Saturday afternoon.

An even season has produced six clubs to showcase the high standard of MGFNL football through the upcoming finals.

A premiership awaits one of them.

In trying, winter conditions it was Boolarra that firmly grabbed their opportunity.

 

Boolarra 7.12 (54) def Mirboo North 4.7 (31)

FOR the home team Tigers, the math was simple, win by a little and Tarwin lose, they make the finals, win by a lot and even if the Sharks won, percentage might have Mirboo North fall over the line into the top six.

The stumbling however was their weekend opponent, the Demons, who, also with a victory, could steal a spot in the business end of the season at the very last moment.

Boolarra ultimately got the job done, winning 7.12 (54) to 4.7 (31) at Mirboo North Recreation Reserve.

Leading into finals, Demons coach Brendan Mason was impressed with the performance.

“Inspired by the reserves first win of the season, the senior Boolarra boys gave it their all in trying conditions against a gallant Mirboo North,” he said.

“With both sides aware MDU had done their job of beating Tarwin, the last quarter turned into a virtual elimination final.

Only one point separated the sides at last change but it was all in the visitors as we ran away near on four-goal winners.”

The excitement, relief and celebration of one club was in direct contrast to the emotions felt by the Mason’s opposition, Tigers coach Damian Turner.

“Shattering result. It was a classic mud run, with the scores in the balance at 3/4 time,” he said.

“To Boolarra’s credit they stood up in the last, came home with the wind and got the result they chased.

“Proud of where we have finished as a club from 12 months ago, but finals footy is where we aspire to be, so this one will burn for a while.

“Good luck to all the teams, footy and netball in their finals campaigns.”

The foundation for the Tigers has been set now for a further climb up the table next year, while for the Demons, the excitement of finals is to be embraced as they face a knock final against Yinnar in week one of the real stuff.

 

MDU 11.10 (76) def Tarwin 4.6 (30)

HOSTING a Tarwin side that could not accept anything less than a win or otherwise the Sharks would jeopardize their sixth-placed position just one week short of the finals.

Even with a win however, it was expected that percentage might also come into play as Thorpdale continued to be chased by two other contenders.

Meeniyan Dumbalk United were comprehensive victors, 11.10 (76) to 4.6 (30) at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve, sending the Sharks crashing out of finals contention.

 

Foster 7.4 (46) def 4.4 (28)

UNLIKE the pressure faced by those clubs fighting for a finals spot, these two teams sat first and second respectively, I guess the only item on offer was the bragging rights of finishing in top position.

That said, it was also a coincidental chance for each to have a close up look at the other, ahead of their inevitable first finals clash in a fortnight, where the winner of that match will be playing for a direct through to Grand Final day.

Foster were too good, winning 7.4 (46) to 4.4 (28) at Foster Showgrounds.

 

Stony Creek 6.12 (48) def Morwell East 5.7 (37)

TWO teams with some work to do in the months between now and the start of 2026, clashed in a game that was all about pride and effort.

For the home team Hawks, it was about grabbing premiership points that could get them off the bottom of the ladder.

However, Stony Creek pipped them right at the end, 6.12 (48) to 5.7 (37) at Ronald Reserve.

The Lions have been close so many times this season, only to fall short, too many times, those close losses the difference between playing in the weeks ahead or not.

For the Hawks, it’s been even more disappointing, probably not even too harsh to say it’s been a season to forget.

With the respected Paul Henry stepping down as coach, the Hawks quest to join rival league NGFNL denied a rare wooden spoon in 2025, it appears time for a complete reset for the one mighty Morwell East.

 

Newborough 12.12 (84) def Hill End 11.6 (72)

THE best that Newborough could have hoped for was a win, a seventh-placed finish and the end of a season that would also mark the starting point of some bigger and better days ahead.

The Bulldogs have not had the best of luck throughout the season, but have manfully turned up week in, week out laying out the best from what they had, and that was enough to get them over the line.

The Bulldogs defeated Hill End, 12.12 (84) to 11.6 (72) at Northern Reserve, to the pleasure of coach Pat Frendo.

“In what was essentially a dead rubber game we hit off against Hill End in a game of pride,” he said.

“No team was willing to take a backward step which resulted in consistent momentum swings all game.

We had a great start and went up three goals at the first break. Felt like they really got the better of us in the middle two quarters.

“Down two goals at one point in the last, we managed to swing things back in the right direction and get the ball rolling our way late. A close two-goal win to finish the season on a positive note.”

The Bulldogs got within a whisker of finals, but like their weekend opponents will look to a bigger and better 2026.

Hill End coach Adrian Burns is confident of what is to come in the near future.

“We will definitely be a better side next year than this, we had our chances on the weekend, but didn’t take them,” he said.

“It was a disappointing way to finish the year really, but I still believe we have some great young kids and importantly good people, so I’m remaining positive.”

As much as we applaud those that make the finals, as we should, applause too, to the clubs like Hill End and Stony Creek that keep showing up week in and week out, giving the best they can.

 

Yinnar 13.12 (90) def Thorpdale 3.1 (19)

THIS clash was yet another that might have also been a prequel to an upcoming final between the two sides the following week.

For this week, it was Yinnar who easily passed Thorpdale, 13.12 (90) to 3.1 (19) at Thorpdale Recreation Reserve.

Magpies coach Sam McCulloch is prepared for what’s to come.

“Good way to finish the home-and-away season. Another very even contribution right across the board and glad to be heading into the finals with momentum and good form,” he said.

Yinnar fell short by a very small margin last season, but they appear even better prepared this year.

Thorpdale on the surface might be cursing a disastrous loss a week prior to finals, but there is more to the story than meets the eye for coach Daniel Taylor.

“Outplayed by a very good side in Yinnar. Prior to Saturday we’ve had a really big 6-7 weeks of finals like footy just trying to make the finals,” he said.

“So once we locked that away after Round 17, we took the opportunity to rest anyone who wasn’t 100 percent fit, which meant we weren’t competitive unfortunately.

“It’s never ideal heading into a finals campaign coming off an 80-point loss but it is what it is, we’ve moved on and we will be a completely different team this week in our first final.”

 

BYE – Toora.

 

MGFNL Finals – Week 1

Elimination Finals

Meeniyan Recreation Reserve – Saturday, August 23

Seniors: Yinnar v Boolarra

Reserves: MDU v Stony Creek

Thirds: Hill End v Tarwin

 

Terrill Park, Fish Creek – Sunday, August 24

Seniors: MDU v Thorpdale

Reserves: Toora v Tarwin

Thirds: Yinnar v Mirboo North

 

Winners advance to sudden death semi-final