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Boolarra FNC

MGFNL Round 15

It was now or never for some, and the end of the line for others, round fifteen of the MGFNL league was destined to separate the contenders from the also rans and although there remains a couple pieces from the puzzle we can now start to make out pretty much all but one of the final six spots...;or can we? 


Boolarra v Hill End

The Demons just had to win this game and it really didn't matter how, the home side have been on the wrong side of far too many close results that had already ended any finals aspirations, but their clash against the visiting Hill End on the weekend was to be a reward for many weeks of fine efforts with no victories.

Boolarra 11-14-80 to Hill End 1-3-9.

The Demons really putting it altogether, it may be a little too late in the season, but also no doubt pleasing that what many thought was there was finally showcased for the entirety of a game.

Boolarra 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."

It was a rare disappointing day out for the Rovers, the Hillsmen may not have won many 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.  

 

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

With just a few more chances for another win available, coach Ambu will be keen to have his men bounce back quickly, the 2024 season not one of their best, but certainly one from which Hill End can build a foundation for the years ahead.

 


Foster v Mirboo North

With two of the top three sides of the league 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 securing both comfortably, with a better than seven goal win.

Foster 11-7-73 to Mirboo North 4-3-27.

The final scoreline indicated a one way affair, but it was far from that for the home side, who had to stand up to a very committed Mirboo North side.

Sam Davies, Foster coach “A really great day for the club with the reserves winning their first game in 2 years - we let mirboo 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, while for Mirboo North, every tough contest is a steep learning curve, not for this season but for the years ahead.  

Damian Turner, Mirboo North coach “Wet soggy day at Foster. Our boys' effort was really Pleasing against a more mature bodied outfit. 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."

Foster are certainly doing what they need to do at the right time of the season, the Tigers sitting fourth, but being just a win away from all of the top three sides they will also be ready to pounce further up the ladder given the smallest of opportunities., 


Stony Creek v Thorpdale

Thorpdale made the trip to Stony Creek under no illusions as to what was required given their precarious position on the MGFNL ladder, one game behind the sixth placed MDU, it was win or face the reality of the season being close enough to over, the Lions, at least pre game, giving themselves a genuine chance of an upset.

In reality however the task proved to be just a little too tough for the home side, with the Blues doing most of their damage in the first quarter.

Jason Winderlich Thorpdale coach “A fifteen minute blitz had us up seven goals to zip which was great as Stony have been very good in first quarters this year. 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, and in some ways that's how they treated their weekend clash with the Lions.

Chris VerBoon, Stony Creek coach “Thorpdale needed to win to stay in touch with finals so we knew they would come out strong, 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 that they will climb a few rungs up the ladder in 2025.


Tarwin v MDU

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

A win would keep Tarwins faint finals hopes alive, a victory by MDU would maintain their grip inside the top six , the Demons taking it one week at a time and doing the job that needed to be done, winning by ten points.

MDU 5-14-44 to Tarwin 5-4-34

Nathan Allen, MDU coach “Great win again on the weekend from the guys. 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, while for the Sharks, the chances of taking part in the business end of the season slipped away on the weekend, but there remains plenty to like about their year.

Jason Kennedy, Tarwin coach “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. We came in at half time 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, and in the makeup of the season that the difference between achieving pre season goals and falling just short.


Yinnar v Newborough

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

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

The Magpies up to the challenge, a fast start to assume control, the foundation of their twenty one point win. Yinnar 8-9-57 to Newborough 5-6-36 

Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “Our last home game for the season against Newborough. We knew it was going to be a hard 4 quarter slog coming up against a team full of confidence after their win over Fish Creek the week before. 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 5 goal lead at half time, 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 3 goal last quarter to see us home. Very pleased with the result against a good side."

The first quarter proved the difference, no one, or very few can give a good team a start and expect to be able to reel them back in.

Craig Skinner, Newborough coach “In slippery conditions Yinnar took advantage of it early and kicked five unanswered goals. Our best footy came in the second half when conditions got worse but it was not enough to secure a top six spot. 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 likely to 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. 






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