Yinnar v Morwell East.
You could have been forgiven for thinking that Morwell East's loss to reigning premiers Fish Creek just a week earlier was one that they were due to have, but arriving at the home ground of Yinnar the Hawks were absolutely committed to not losing two in a row.
The Magpies, with the Hawks already somewhat wounded from their first and only loss, took no prisoners, slowly wearing the visitors down to secure perhaps their most impressive win of the year.
Yinnar 12-10-82 defeated Morwell East 9-16–70
Morwell East despite leading for most of the day, paid the price for inaccurate kicking in front of goal and in doing so leaving the door ajar for a Magpies team ready to pounce.
Paul Henry, Morwell East coach “We were out worked and outclassed in the last quarter. Inaccurate kicking and poor skill execution was a huge contributor to the outcome. Another disappointing loss!!”
The loss has contrasting outcomes for each side, the Hawks now falling back to the pack, whilst for Yinnar, top spot is now only percentage away.
Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach "Was a tale of two halves. Morwell East were on top in the first half and we were second to the ball. We worked our way back into the game and managed to play our brand of footy in the second half. Was a real character building win in front of a strong home crowd. Another challenge this week facing Mirboo North who are always a different team at home.
Yinnar have themselves well placed as we start to close in on the halfway mark of the season and certainly have the attention of all the big players in the MGFNL competition.
MDU v Stony Creek
It had come to that stage of the year where the jostling for the all important ladder positions was starting to intensify as clubs looked to firm up a grip on a position further up the leader than not.
MDU, although seventh on the MGFNL ladder prior to their weekend clash, and unbelievably just a game off top position, knew they were in for a challenge from the visiting Stony Creek, who themselves were just a game behind the home side.
Needless to say, a win for both was crucial and in the early part of the game it was the Lions that appeared to want it more.
Leading by nearly five goals at quarter time, Stony Creek still led the way until the final break before the Demons really put the heat on, eventually rolling on to a comfortable win..
MDU 12-9-81 getting the better of Stony Creek 7-8–50
Nathan Allen, MDU coach “Stony got a hold of us early with some slick footy. We were able to hold them up late in the first and early in the second as we started to get our game going. Was a big day for the club and great to celebrate with a win."
The victory has MDU, right where they need to be, inside the League's top six, while for the Lions it was one that appeared to get away.
Chris VerBoon, Stony Creek coach "We started the game doing everything right, kicking the first 6 goals. We knew Meeniyan would keep coming and it was always going to be tough to maintain a lead. Meeniyan used the space well which opened up the middle for them. Hit ups and overlap run were hard to stop. We had our chances in the last quarter to put scoreboard pressure on but couldn’t convert the goals. I was really happy with our backline who did a great job all day. There’s positives to take from the game but In the end it’s another one that got away."
The Lions will not be able and cannot afford to let many more get away as they did on the weekend, or their season will quickly slip away, and the quality that they have and the way that they are led demands more than that.
Fish Creek v Mirboo North.
The Lions having produced one of their better performances of 2024, now had to bring the same sort of intensity for the winless Tigers as they produced the week prior against the then unbeaten Morwell East.
The Kangaroos were never in any real danger of losing the game, but a coach is always interested in how his team wins as well.
Jarrod Walker, Fish Creek coach “Solid win on the weekend, it was good to get the game on our terms for most of the day and start playing to our system. Still a work in progress but some good signs. Starting to develop some good synergy which is pleasing"
Fish Creek 22-10-142 to Mirboo North 2-2-14
The margin a concern, but far from a disaster for the Tigers, who are well aware of where they sit at the moment.
Damian Turner, Mirboo North coach “It was a similar story again and although there was many forced changes to our senior side which made it a little harder. it is always a tough trip down to Fish Creek and they were brilliant. They have some great talent and will go deep again. Our boys really rallied at half time and pulled back what looked like could have been an even tougher day. I’m proud of how the boys continue to stick at it in the tough days, this will build some real Resilience in the future!
The weeknd loss was not about 2024, it was, and is about the seasons ahead, which can be testing for clubs on the journey, but a genuine belief in reaching the destination is the key to future success.
Tarwin v Toora
Tarwin were well aware of just what was on the end of this game and it was so much more than just the four premiership points, a win would keep them in touch with the very top of the table, whilst a loss would see them fall back to the trailing pack with still plenty of work to do in the back half of the season.
That pressure to win was enough to see the Sharks fight their way into, and inevitably run away with, a contest that no doubt could have gone either way..
Tarwin 11-13-79 to Toora 9-6-60.
Jack Weston, Toora coach “A half of footy at Tarwin wasn’t enough to get the job done, eighteen fit players after half time meant we just ran out of gas. It was a disappointing result, but credit to Tarwin for hanging on and running out the game better."
The home side looked in trouble early, trailing by four points at the first break and falling to ten points behind at the main break, before starting to work into the game through the efforts of Ricky O'loughlin, Ben Chalmers and Ben Allen.
Jason Kennedy, Tarwin Coach "It was a solid day for the club, our new group are starting to see the reward for effort. It's great to have our first win at home and also now two on the trot.
The Sharks may not be inside the League's top six, but given the evenness of the competition, they find themselves just one win from the top of the table and reigning premiers Fish Creek,.
Newborough v Thorpdale
There was to be no room for the faint hearted as these two talented and physical teams clashed at the Kennels.
The Blues were conscious of the opportunity that they had against the 2023 Grand Finalists, a win was to give Thorpdale two games break on Newborough that would leave the home side with a mountain to climb in the months ahead.
That mountain, for the time being, can remain in the distance, the Bulldogs 18-10-118 to the Blues 11-8-74 too strong for a visiting Blues team.
Craig Skinner, Newborough coach "In front of another big Home crowd made up of past players and breast cancer awareness supporters we took on Thorpdale wearing Pink jumpers and socks. Was pleasing for us to get off to a good start kicking five first quarter goals. As expected Thorpdale playing their tough contested brand of Footy got back into the game and it was a close contest . Kicking towards the bar in the last quarter with over 100 past plays watching on was enough for us to finish the game with plenty of run, putting that on the scoreboard with Josh Hecker being the difference kicking seven goals. Like all clubs injuries are taking their toll and depth will be tested over the next few weeks as we prepare to play Tarwin in what will be another tough contest to get the valuable four points.
Premiership points are indeed like gold, and the four that the Bulldogs earned on the weekend, now has them right amongst the top of the table action.
Ray Pickering, Thorpdale coach “It was a really good effort for three quarters from our boys, just running out of steam late in the game against a fit and skilful Newborough on their turf !!"
The Blues were just a little off on the weekend, but anybody involved in this competition knows that being a little bit off can leave you a long way from where you need to be.
Boolarra v Foster,
A week off with a bye, the return of several first choice players and a home ground contest had the Demons fully prepared for a talented and in form Foster.
Boolarra had produced some patches of very good football but were under no illusions that it would take all of one hundred minutes of their very best to get the better of the visiting Tigers
At half time, it appeared that a major upset might well be on the cards, the Demons not only in the game, but leading it, before the Tigers really got their teeth into the contest, running away to a twenty five point win.
Foster 14-5-89 to Boolarra 8-16-64
Sam Davies, Foster coach "Hard fought win against a very persistent Boolarra side - we turned it on in the third quarter and that was the difference. They’re a better team than the ladder suggests. Bye week - can’t wait."
For the Tigers, a week's rest could not have come at a better time, Foster are perfectly positioned for a continued assault on the top of the ladder, as their weekend opponents just desperately need a win..
Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach "It was a really good game of football. Foster just came out after half time and played the better footy. Disappointing to once again fall short."
There has been very little difference between sides in more games than not, but it is slowly becoming evident that if sides do not make the most of their opportunities, even if they are just half chances, they will quickly fall out of contention.
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