FOOTBALL/NETBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THOSE who arrived at Yinnar Recreation Reserve for the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League Grand Final were treated to a perfect day on the field and on the court.
In a stark difference to last year’s decider held at Meeniyan Rec Reserve, which featured heavy rain throughout, warm conditions led into a slight overcast once the afternoon arrived.
The deck was also pristine to say the least.
Yinnar hadn’t hosted a Grand Final since 2004, after doing so plenty of times before the turn of the century.
Perhaps it’s best to keep the Mid Gippsland decider in the Latrobe Valley for more years to come?
Speaking of, the Valley had quite a strong representation, especially in the morning, with junior netball and football.
Magpies black and white, and Bulldogs red, white and blue could be spotted everywhere to begin the day’s proceedings, with Yinnar and Newborough starting things off in the 13 and Under Grand Final.
Boolarra then arrived for the 17 and Under decider, where the Demons have featured prominently in the last two years.
Duel identities did battle in the 17s and 15 and Under grand finals, with Toora and Yinnar Magpies, and Boolarra and Meeniyan Dumbalk United Demons facing off.
Morwell East and Yinnar matched up in the Reserves Grand Final, and to rival the home crowd, the Hawks had quite the following once it was time for the lunchtime decider.
South Gippsland clubs were also heavily represented, with the reserves and 13s netball the only two games that didn’t feature the newer members of Mid Gippsland.
It would also be the first time that the Grand Final would not feature one of the traditional clubs in the main game.
Foster and Fish Creek doubled up in senior football and B Grade netball, while the Tigers also made the A Grade decider.
RESERVES GRAND FINAL
Morwell East 5.11 (41) def Yinnar 3.7 (25)
IT still means a hell of a lot.
Morwell East brought home its first football flag in 14 years, winning the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League Reserves Grand Final by 16 points over Yinnar.
Despite the home ground advantage for the Magpies, the brown and gold couldn’t be topped, reversing a goalless first quarter to run past clear victors 5.11 (41) to 3.7 (25).
Hawks supporters came out in full force for the seconds game, with many senior footballers, netballers, family and friends racing out onto the oval once the final siren sounded.
To accompany the jubilation and glee of the result, it was also seen beyond that.
One Morwell East onlooker was even seen wiping back tears watching the mass gathering from the side lines, exclaiming “finally!”
The crowd mauled the trophy presentations, once again reinforcing the community dying for success and so happy for their boys.
Brad Atkinson was awarded the Trevor Caldow best-on-ground Medal, while Hawks legend and Mid Gippsland life member Charlie Cauchi did the honours of presenting the premiership cup to reserves coach, Ben Marks.
Given how Morwell East seniors slumped this season to a wooden spoon after returning to finals last year, Marks made certain to shoot down any notions that players fluctuating between grades somehow lessened its value.
Outgoing senior coach, Paul Henry even got in on the celebrations as reserves full forward on the day.
Having served many years at the helm for the Hawks, premiership glory at any level is something any footballer would welcome.
THIRDS GRAND FINAL
Newborough 9.12 (66) def MDU 9.9 (63)
THEY came out snarling and ended up grinning.
Newborough Under 18s began the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League Grand Final with a thrilling finish.
The young Bulldogs claimed the thirds premiership over Meeniyan Dumbalk United by three points, 9.12 (66) to 9.9 (63), capping a brilliant return to form in the junior grade.
The two sides played each other three times previously this season, all resulting in margins under nine points in favour of Newborough.
The Bulldogs controlled the game throughout, and held a 28-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Supporters and those on the bench held their breath, as the Demons came storming home, booting the last five goals to almost pip back-to-back thirds flags.
The Rod Lucas Best on Ground Medal was presented to Newborough vice-skipper Harry Gallagher, while the AFL Victoria Medal was awarded to teammate Mac Brosnan.
Winning captain Zach Daley and coach Rod Peatey made their way to the dais to throw the premiership cup high, with the rest of the side running in.
Peatey acknowledged that this was a three-year journey for the group, taking them back to the mountaintop.
After many years as a powerhouse in juniors, Newborough hadn’t saluted in the under 18s since 2017.
They’d previously won 13 thirds and fourths flags before that, dating back to 2000.
In his first year as thirds coach, Peatey brought a wealth of experience to the kids, with time spent on Frankston’s VFL Reserves list and years at Moe, Morwell, Traralgon and Thorpdale during his playing days.
The side had a plethora of talent, with a handful returning come finals after a majority of the year in the seniors.
Due to both open-age sides struggling for numbers thanks to injuries and the like, the Bulldogs exposed their juniors to the top level all season long.
This is also award for that, with the club suffering a tough year higher up, the future is beaming at The Kennel.
The game itself was also a reward, with Mid Gippsland making an effort to focus heavily on its sole junior football competition entering this season.
Due to mountains of work done by all clubs involved and league junior development officer, Ken Hutchinson, the thirds had its most teams competing since 2017 (discounting the incomplete 2021 season).
