2026 MGFNL Senior Football Review - Round 1

Any doubts anyone had it was footy season were surely dispelled the instant the curtains were opened Saturday morning. Rain, wind, clouds and the anticipation of getting a kick greeted us all regardless of where we call home across Gippsland. And if you were at Foster on Saturday afternoon for the Grand Final replay as I was you were even treated to the odd burst of sunshine amongst the downpours and gusts of wind that might well have blown a dog off a chain.

Foster v Fish Creek

But before the season could commence a quick glimpse in the rear-view mirror, to the most recent game played in the MGFNL was in order. And as they say to the victors go the spoils and so it was that Foster had the opportunity to unfurl the premiership pennant they won in season 2025, before setting about winning another for season 2026.

Both sides, Fish Creek last years vanquished, and Foster the home team had a handful of recruits to welcome to their clubs and what a welcome it was. The first quarter was a cracker for the home side. Aided by kicking to the scoring end they piled on five majors to a solitary Fish Creek goal by the time we took a pause for quarter time.

Whilst the two glamour forwards for Foster, coach Jake Best and Brett Eddy (who just happen have over two thousand career goals between them) were the centre of attention it was the less heralded Shaun Chaseling who did the damage with a pair of goals in the first term. Some crafty small forward work saw him bob up in the right spot at the right time and unlike many who tried through out the course of the day he was able to capitalise by finding the big sticks.   

The midfield battle was worth the price of entry alone with Mitch Allot, as per usual, doing his thing for the Tigers up against soon to be cult hero Will McTaggart in the ruck. The two man-mountains battled it out nearly all day with declaring a winner being unfair on one over the other.

At ground level Jackson and Rhett Weidemann were joined by Luke Williams for Fish Creek and made every contest a hard fought one. Williams ran in straight lines all day while both Jack and Rhett did their thing inside and outside of the stoppages with both using their penetrating left feet to great effect.

Foster had Tom Schnieder join league medal winner Angus Norton in the middle with Bailey Angwin amongst a crew of others who ran through the Tiger midfield over the course of the day. A second quarter injury to Dylan Williams left them short a rotation but they kept on keeping on as they do.

Fish Creek settled after the first break but couldn’t convert their ascendency around the ground to the score board. As Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker noted “not only did Foster take full advantage of the wind in the first stanza but they defended really well in the second quarter” holding his side to a solitary major in what was becoming a hard fought battle. Each and every tackle, each bump and every marking contest seemed to contain a little bit extra as the second term played out. All of which would have made the sanctuary of the change rooms rather appealing. That and the sleeting rain and 50 knot winds that hit their peak just as the hooter sounded……

After the break the arm wrestle predicted by Foster coach Jake Best the day before continued with his counterpart Jarrod Walker sliding some magnets around to try and work his way back into the match. A fine balancing act it was too that Walker faced as coughing up a few goals in pursuit of the several his side needed would have left Fish Creek too far from Foster despite having the scoring end in the last term.

With McTaggart going forward, Brody Mitchell and Rhett Wiedemann tag teamed in the ruck and provided more than enough chances for their side to score into the breeze. Alas their four scoring shots amounted to only a single major which was off set by a goal to Foster.

Walker noted the continuing wind and rain after the main break made it hard for his team to claw back the scoreboard deficit but felt his side “had a small pulse” coming into the last where they would be kicking to the scoring end.

While enjoying the majority of play in the front half Walker again acknowledged Foster’s ability to defend for large periods. Fishy were able to get within 11 points during the last quarte but late goals to Best and Angwin sealed the deal and Foster were deserved winners. In having said that the twenty-two point margin in a low scoring clash probably doesn’t reflect how close the game actually was.

Post game Walker said “it was good to see the majority of our new players feature amongst the best” and with Foster too welcoming in both a new coach and several recruits you suspect both sides will improve after the hit out, which really is worrying news for the rest of the competition.

For what it’s worth I found a spot in the best for Foster’s Angus Norton even though he wasn’t referenced as such by his club but I’d also struggle to say who on the official list he could have replaced.

But as winning coach Jake Best said in the post-game it was simply “a good, hard-fought win in really wet and windy conditions.”

And in a game where you play for team success who really cares who is in the best when you get the win, especially when it is against your nearest and fiercest rival.

MDU V Newborough

After pulling off a Round One upset last year Newborough made the trip to Meeniyan this week in the hope of again toppling the more fancied Demons. It was a case of once bitten, twice shy though for the Demons who were ready to go from the first bounce. Newborough certainly provided much more than nuisance value right up until the third term when the class of MDU took over to see hoe team record a thirty-eight point win.

MDU coach Rhett Kelly noted that the Dogs “made it a very tight contest, winning a lot of stoppages and ground balls.” He continued that whilst he felt his side controlled the game early that they allowed too many easy scores for the visitors which kept things closer than he would have liked on the scoreboard.

Kelly and his leadership group addressed this at half time with a focus on communication and connection for his side after the main break. The net outcome of this according to the coach was that the Demons “played more forward half football in the second half and managed to get on top on the scoreboard”.

It was Nick Nagel in particular who did the most damage to the scoreboard slotting five majors and setting up several others for his team-mates. On a wet and windy day he provided a real focal point around which the Demons could attack. In addition to Nagle’s handywork Kelly said he was “pleased with his new recruits and what they added to the system.” Based on their best players list one can safely assume it was the likes of Zak Carroll and Jamie Youle to whom he was referring with the duo noted as best afield for their week one performances.

Kelly also noted the performances of defenders Jarvis Lacy and Jacob Whiteside noting both were “strong in the backline all day” with Lacy playing an “excellent defensive role on the Dogs dangerous small forwards”. With Mitch De Kleuve leading the way in terms of effort Kelly walks away “happy to get the win over a side that had his teams measure twice last year.”

For Newborough it was Nathan Whieldon, the playing assistant coach returning after a missing last season with a horror injury that led the way. That he was noted as best on for the Borough and didn’t kick a goal is telling. Goal kicking honours went to Ben Van Dyk and Kyle Jennings with three and two respectively.     

Mirboo North v Toora

After coming so close to a finals berth las year Mirboo North hit the ground running for season 2026 with a comprehensive win over Toora. Undoubtedly happy with the ten goal plus win Mirboo North coach Damo Turner was equally impressed with his sides defence as attack. Restricting any opposition to just two goals speaks volumes for the defensive system and mind set his troops applied.

Goals were spread among a trio of forwards for Mirboo North with new-comers Hayden Potts and Thomas Campbell slotting three each along with skipper and best on ground Hudson Kerr. Turner noted it was “a fantastic start to the season” while giving credit to Toora for “making us earn every contest in the windy and wet conditions.”

He was particularly enthused with his sides ability to “work hard, deep into the quarters and trust the set-ups and structures put in place across the pre-season”. He went on to praise his younger players and new recruits highlighting the “hunger” they showed as a group.

For Toora it was a goal apiece to Pintus and Grift with Jordan French and Lachi Smart their best duo. Coach Jake Smart noting Lachi “worked hard all day” along with Nathan Nicholson who did some good things down back. While conceding Mirboo North out-performed his side on the day Smart felt the scoreboard was not necessarily reflective of where his side is at as a football club noting “improvement is expected” in coming weeks.

Stony Creek v Hill End

When the first thing both coaches mention is the conditions it is no surprise when you check the scores that you see it was one behind each of two at the first break when Hill End make the trek to Stony Creek. To be fair Hill End coach Tom Hallinan also noted the terrific condition of the ground at Stony Creek before adding that was until “we literally watched the weather roll in.” And when the home side coach, Troy Shepardson says the game was played in “one of the worst weather days you will ever get” it is hardly a shock only seven goals were kicked for the day.

With his side only able to muster one of the seven goals kicked Shepardson lauded Hill End saying “they bought great energy” and had an “ability to pressure the ball carrier” which they kept at all day, negating Stony Creeks desire to play a more free flowing game. With only Matt Portelli troubling the scorers it was a result that matched the weather for the home side.

Hill End on the other hand enjoyed multiple successes on the day with only their A Grade Netball not tasting victory according to Hallinan. When asked to focus in on his senior side he went on to say it was the first time in many a year the Hill Men had enjoyed a Round One win in what was a “great start” for the side.

He spoke glowingly of Tom Johnstone and Sam Hanson who Hallinan said “were able to get us some first use of the ball” and set up his side’s forward forays. The main beneficiary of this was Luke Summersgill who was the only multiple goal scorer on the park and found himself listed in the best along side the afore mentioned Johnstone and Seth Calway.

Tarwin v Morwell East

Tarwin entered the season with the thought of finals footy at the forefront. A pragmatic Morwell East however more inclined to use the year to develop and rebuild a club that went from Premiership contender to wooden spooners in the space of just two seasons. And at half time of their Round One clash his year it looked as though incoming Hawk coach Ben Marks might have been able to get the boys from Vary Street on the winners list first up.

In a low scoring contest East made the most of their opportunities to manage two goals, two behinds from four shots on goal while a wasteful Tarwin sat at one goal five behinds as the sides retreated to the rooms at the main break.

East coach Ben Marks reflected that “a fifteen-minute lapse in the third quarter let Tarwin take control of the game.” Marks sad his young group continued to play an “exciting brand” but as the game wore on and conditions worsened Tarwin slotted five second half gaols to Easts one and took an important home ground win by twenty-two points.

Lachie Jones, the Tarwin coach labelled his victory as “tough and gritty” saving particular praise for recruit Kyle Yann. “He was a real highlight for us, playing his role and hitting the scoreboard as a midfielder.” He also referenced the efforts of Troy Harley and Ben Ellen who “were terrific in the conditions” and used their experience to advantage.

Echoing the thoughts of Marks Jones also said the difference in the game was a patch of footy in the third term that saw his side slot three goals to none and effectively end the game in such trying conditions.

Thorpdale v Boolarra

Not quite the Hatfields and the McCoys but it is fair to say, on the field at least, these two clubs aren’t the greatest of mates. And so it came to pass again Saturday, a fierce contest with no quarter given and certainly none asked for was played out with the home side, Thorpdale, claiming the win with a late surge.

In a game that Boolarra coach Brendan Mason said saw both sides with momentum at times and chances to put the other side away it was Thorpy who did so when it mattered most. With scores level at the last change it was as simple as win the quarter, win the game. A pragmatic Mason acknowledged after the final hooter it was Thorpy who deserved the result.

For Boolarra the two skippers, Mason Porykali and Joel Mason were joined in the best by second year midfield warrior Tim Potter. And with only four goals kicked it was one each to coach Brendan Mason, Joel Mason, Mat Devon and Timmy Dye for the Dees.

Winning coach Daniel Taylor was happy to see his preseasons efforts play out with a Round One victory. Taylor felt his side was perhaps the better team “the majority of the day, with a lot of front half territory that the side couldn’t convert to the scoreboard.”

The early hard work paid off handsomely however in the last term. Taylor described his side as relentless but was only able to take a breath on the sidelines after “the boys kicked a couple of late goals which resulted in a comfortable win in a low scoring game”. Thorpdale were best served by new recruit Ayden Ramm and the evergreen ruckman Gavan Low with Mitch Gorman slotting a pair of majors.

Yinnar- The Pies, who were oh so close to making last year’s premiership decider, had the bye this week and will kick off their title chase next Saturday against MDU in Gippsland FM’s Match of the Day.

And given the weather over the weekend it might just have been the perfect round to have a day off!