MGFNL Season 2026 - Round 10 Review

In a round where it finally felt like “footy season” the wet weather settled in across Gippsland and made for some combative, competitive footy. Interestingly in a round where sides won by 100 points and by twelve goals the biggest winner of all was, arguably, Thorpdale who scored a fourteen point result over Tarwin.

 And if you think in terms of the ladder and the final series that lay ahead you will know exactly why the win was so big for Thorpy. And speaking of the ladder didn’t Hill End and Newborough do their level best to make something moderately complicated all the more confusing with their result.

 But more on that later. Firstly, to the big winners, Thorpdale. 

Tarwin v Thorpdale

Thorpy came into their season defining Round Ten away clash with Tarwin on the back of a run of losses. They needed the win as much to shake the losing vibe as to climb the ladder. But as the kid who sells us Taco shells says; “why not have both?” 

And both they did have.

It was a win set up in the first term where Thorpy answered Tarwin’s three goals that opened the game with four of their own. It was a lead they not give up the lead until the final siren which sounded with the score reading Thorpdale 11-11-77 to Tarwin 9-9-63. 

The win gives Thorpy some much needed separation from Tarwin and the remaining chasing pack, which, when combined with their healthy percentage gives the ‘Dales somewhat of a toe hold on another finals berth.

 In conditions perfectly suited to his style of game Anthony “Tank” Rosato was best on for the winners. Mitch Gorman, who slotted two for the day, and the “hyphen” James Hollands-Birch rounded out the best three players for the winners.

 Reserves coach, James Durkin, delivered every Thorpdale player and supporters worst nightmare by being equal top goal scorer with two for himself. Singles to six others was enough to secure the win.

 For Tarwin Troy Harley was in everything and managed to kick a goal to wrap up best on ground honours for the vanquished. He was joined by Louis Armstong and ruckman Harrison Cumming as the best three for Tarwin. 

In terms of goal kickers Rem Dal pozzo booted a match high four majors with Jordan Bertacco and Toby Mahoney kicking a pair each in a loss that is sure to hurt in the immediate aftermath but that may also sting at seasons end if Tarwin are to miss the post season. 

After the match Tarwin coach Lachie Jones reflected on a “tough loss” against a Thorpdale side that “play a strong brand of football”. Jones said he thought “it was close for the majority of the game” but conceded his side had “chances to get in front late but couldn’t capitalise”. 

Jones noted the tough conditions and said he spoke pre-game to the playing group about “doing the basics right” and that he was “pleased with his sides approach and build up”. 

Before speaking of his own better players Jones was at pains to point out the efforts of Rosato for Thorpy who he said was “very important for them all day”. 

On his own team Jones highlighted the efforts of Harley, dal Pozzo and Bertacco before adding “Louis Armstrong was steady as always at full back”.

Hill End v Newborough

Celebrating their centenary Hill End had a clutch game coming up against Newborough. Both sides had recruited heavily in the off season and both sides have their eyes rightfully on a finals spot at seasons end. So this game was huge for a number of reasons, and the result was one that won’t be forgotten any time soon with literally nothing separating the two sides at the final siren, Hill End 3-3-21 drawing with a wasteful Newborough 2-9-21.

In a game where only five goals were kicked highlights were few and far between but the game was packed full of effort and endeavour.

After an even first term Hill End managed to get themselves the best part of two goals up at the main break. If at half time anyone tried to tell you they’d only score one more point for the rest of the day they’d have been laughed out of town but that is exactly what happened. A single point in the third term as the weather really closed in was all the home side could muster. 

Not that their opponents were going much better. Newborough only managing two points themselves for the quarter to reduce the half time margin from eleven points to ten. 

So with a quarter to play the Dogs came out barking. They did enough to generate five scoring shots while keeping the Hillmen off the scoreboard. You might think that this meant the visitors dominated the quarter but according to Gippsland FMs stats man Sam Crane Newborough only won the final term inside fifty count by one, leading the key indicator sixteen to fifteen. Sadly though for the Dogs the five shots they were able to get on goal amounted to only one major, that coming from the boot of regular defender Wade Anderson who the coach said after the match “found himself having a set shot with about three minutes to go in the last to get us back to within a point”.

And when he kicked truly and the Dogs followed up with what was to be the last score of the game, yet another point, the siren sounded and the scores were tied. Asked about the draw Frendo said “splitting the points is always a weird feeling, but for us, two points are better than none, so will take it in our stride and move on”. 

Ambu Uliando, who battled it out with Kyle Jennings for most of the day, Brendan Clark and Aaron Fawcett were the best three for Hill End. Bailey Sword also warranted a mention for his work on Newborough’s star Matt Heywood. 

In terms of goal kickers new-recruit Kade Perkins endeared himself to the local faithful by booting two of their three goals. Andy Daly managed the other. 

For Newborough it was Pat Charles, Macally Bronsan- who tussled with Liam Cumnsky for the best part of the afternoon- and the ever-reliable Liam Fitzpartick amongst their best players. 

Post game Newborough coach Pat Frendo lamented his sides slow start, commenting that “we knew going in that they (Hill End) would come out red hot being the occasion that it was for the club, and they did exactly that”. He continued that he felt his side “were outworked and had frequent lapses of accountability throughout the first half”. 

The draw throws the mid-section of the ladder into chaos, like it needed any more complexity than it already had! With wins, losses and now draws as well percentage likely to be a factor in who does and doesn’t play finals we might need to take a calculator to round 18!

Foster v MDU

The league leaders continued doing what they tend to do each Saturday afternoon- win games of footy. This time it was a fifty-one point win over MDU 11-17-83 to 4-8-32. 

Whilst we regularly marvel at the huge scores the Tigers have been kicking their defence too is as good as any. This week they kept a top four side to a single point in the second term to set up their win. 

A couple of the smaller Foster mids, in Tom Schnieder and Angus Norton joined defender James Morris in the winners best three players while, surprise, surprise, Brett Eddy led the way for the goal kickers with another bag of five, in conditions coach Jake Best described post-game as simply “wet and muddy”.

Best himself slotted two as did Jack Flavelle with coach Best summing up the result by saying “I was very happy with our four quarter effort today”. 

For MDU Jaymie Youle and Thomas Corry were the prime movers in the middle of the park and were recognised as the best two afield the Demons. It was all singles for MDU with Youle joined by Pat Kerr, Trent McRae and Shaye Walsh on the goal kickers list. 

The loss sees MDU in a real dog fight now with a handful of other sides for a spot in the six.

Mirboo North v Yinnar

Yinnar went to Mirboo North with a real sting in their tail after last week’s narrow loss to Foster and ran away commanding victors14-9-93 to 3-2-20. Celebrating Bobby Linon’s 200^th match the Pies had the game parcelled up by the main break where they led by eight goals. 

After Hudson Kerr kicked the opening goal of the game for Mirboo North in the first minute Yinnar kicked eleven goals in a row before Andrew Campbell broke the home side drought half-way through the third term. 

Young gun Harvey McKay helped himself to four goals in a best afield performance. He was joined by skipper Blake Van Der Meer and the stoic Mark Stolk in the best for the visitors. 

Lachlan Pratt was the only other multiple goal scorer with four for the pies while half a dozen others, including Ben Skinner back for his first senior game after injury, kicked a single. 

For Mirboo North Riley Oddy was listed as best along with Jesse Chilla and Beau Peters. In a sign there are still plenty of green shots for the Tigers another younger player in Archie Woodall made the best players list before Hudson Kerr was named, as you knew he would be. 

In terms of goal kickers Tim McCallister joined Kerr and Campbell as the only three home team players to trouble the scorers. 

From the comparative comfort of the change rooms, after a game played in “challenging conditions” Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said he was “pleased to come away with a strong win”. He continued that it was “encouraging to see several key areas we focused on during the week implemented effectively”. When asked about his better players McCulloch added “we had an even contribution across the group that adapted well to the wet and slippery conditions”.

 Stony Creek v Boolarra

Football-Netball clubs are great places to be when things are going well but equally in tough times, they can offer a unique brand of love and support that only comes with being a part of the broader group. And after a really rough week the Stony Creek Football Netball Club came together to play for something way more important than the four points on Saturday when the seniors registered their third win of the season. 

With a little extra something driving them at the last break the lads on the park dug deep and gave a huge last quarter effort to overcome Boolarra winning 7-7-49 to 4-10-34. 

With scores locked together at thirty-three each of two as the last quarter commenced it was a real arm wrestle for the first ten minutes with each side adding only a single point to their tally. 

From this point on though Boolarra failed to trouble the scorers while Stony Creek kicked the games last two goals to get the result. 

Luke Firth managed two for the Creek along with Cameron Stone while Brown, McInnes and Michael managed singles. 

Jacob Stickland was named best on for the winners with Tyler Neal and Stone joining him among the better contributors.

For Boolarra inaccuracy in front of gaol again proved costly with Mitch Lovison, playing his first game for the year, skipper Joel Mason, ageless warrior Glen Richards and sixteen year old debutant Cooper Stanton the only ones able to find the big sticks from north of a dozen scoring shots. 

Key defender Tom Rieske and co-captains Mason Porykali and Joel Mason were the best trio for Boolarra. 

Stony Creek coach Troy Shepherdson was reflective after the game acknowledging that “today was bigger than four points after a very tough week for the club” and that he was “proud to put on a good show”. 

Shepherdson continued that “having Boolarra coming off a great result we knew it would be a battle, but everyone dug deep and pulled off a victory in what were very trying conditions”. 

Boolarra coach Brendan Mason was matter of fact in saying “not the game we would of hoped for after last week”. He continued that “having to make four changes on Thursday night and then losing two guys on Saturday morning didn’t help the cause.” 

When asked about his opponents Mason said “we couldn’t stop Cam Stone and Cody Loughridge who were two names we identified we needed to negate and our failure to do so arguably won them the game”.

Toora v Fish Creek

Fish Creek wound up neat 100 point winners over Toora kicking 17-11-113 to the home sides 2-1-13. The visitors didn’t have it all their own way early though with Toora still within a single goal well into the first term. From this point onward however Fish Creek’s power and class prevailed and they went on an irrepressible run that saw them kick fifteen unanswered goals. 

The Toora drought saw them kick just a single point across the second and third terms while Fishy seemingly scored at will. 

Jacko Weidemann slotted four with Thomas Cameron kicking three for the Kangaroos. Kairon Dorling was again best on for Fishy with Rhett and Jaco Wiedemann finishing beside Dorling on the podium. 

For Toora Josh Halsall, Lachlan Marr and Johnathon Pintus were best with goal kickers Ben East and Jordan Knox getting one each. 

Coach Jake Smart, who always fronts up win, lose or draw after each game said of this week “it was a very wet game today and we went down to a strong Fish Creek side”. He said his side “fought hard in the contest but Fish Creek were too strong.” 

In terms of better contributors Smart praised Johno Pintus who he said “led from the front all day” and was “in and under the packs.” Smart also noted Josh Halsall and Lachlan Marr who according to the coach “played good games providing some run and composure”. 

Morwell East had the bye.