MGFNL Season 2026 - Round 4 Preview

After three completed rounds of the MGFNL the ladder makes for some interesting viewing. Whilst the points and therefore final positions will always be slightly askew until everyone has had a bye it is worth noting the league has only two winless teams and the same number of undefeated teams, and one of those undefeated sides could easily be one and one if not zero and two.

So, what does all this mean? We have ourselves a mostly even competition that should throw up plenty of good footy over the coming months. This week looks to be a great example of that, particularly when you consider the most dominant side of the season thus far, Foster, has the week off.

Thorpdale v Mirboo North

Thorpdale Coach Daniel Taylor will know his opponents all too well heading into this week’s hit out against Mirboo North. Taylor spent many a year in the Tigers colours and played scores of games with his counterpart this week Damien Turner.

Taylor said when peaking about a Mirboo North side who walloped Boolarra last week that “they’re coming off a good win which will give their young side some confidence so we need to be at our best.” And a young side it will be with the whisper around the traps is that Turner will be coaching from the sidelines this week so whilst he might get a better view of the action his side will miss his drive and direction out on the park.

Mirboo North also won’t have access to Liam Nash who returning from whence he came after a hit and return last week meaning Hudson Kerr will again be left to carry the load in the middle. He has been in outstanding form this season Kerr, but shouldering the burden week in week out must surely ware him down eventually.

Turner will be filthy he is unavailable as aside from loving nothing more than beating old mate Taylor he was quick to point out after last week’s win how important this game was for his side and their finals chances.

Taylor has at his disposal several midfield weapons which will stretch Mirboo North and with Gavan Low likely to get first hand to it in the ruck the visiting Tigers appear up against it.

Even without full forward Matt Powell, who has threatened to make a senior return, I think Thorpy have the fire power in front of the big sticks to put this one beyond doubt early enough for Taylor to enjoy the last quarter. Assuming of course his recently retired brother and Mirboo North club legend Josh doesn’t turn up and hurl abuse at him from the crowd. 

MDU v Tarwin

Us footy nerds love a Thursday team reveal. Who is in? Who is out? IS it the “real side” or is the coach playing games??? Well, this week there will be an unfamiliar but very important name on the MDU team sheet, Dyson Heppell. Whenever a side gets access to a bona-fide former AFL star it helps but when that star is still playing footy at a high level and as recently as last year was BOG in a Premiership side a that level, well MDU has hit the jackpot!

MDU have had a convincing win over Newborough to start their season and then a close loss to powerhouse Yinnar in Round Two before the bye last week. All of that tells me they are ready to rock and roll this week and can only be buoyed by the addition of Heppell.

If we draw a line though Yinnar however Tarwin as recently as last week got within a straight kick of the Pies too. Coach Lachie Jones, ever upbeat, was mostly satisfied with his side last week post game and was quick to look forward when asked about this week’s match up, “MDU for us, we are looking forward to it as they are shaping up well.”

One wonders if he knew at the time that one D Heppell would be running around in the Demons kit?

Boolarra v Hill End

Two sides who were on the wrong side of the ledger in Boolarra and Hill End go head to head in a crucial game for both sides as the Rovers hit the road for the third time in four weeks on Saturday. With both sides losing it was interesting that one coach was somewhat positive about their outcome while one was rather despondent after last week’s matches.

For Hill End Tom Hallinan reflected that “rather than lay down, we essentially equalled the last quarter” which he felt was a “good sign, as opposed to a lay down approach”. He was quick to switch focus to this week when he quipped “onward to Boolarra next week with plenty of leanings in the bank.”

Those learnings may have included how dominant his ruckman Tom Johstone can be, how elusive Ashton Hermanus can be and how his warriors like Bayley Paul, Seth Calway and Justin Morrow compliment the kids like Darcy Paul and “he kid in the lid” Taylor Riley.

Boolarra coach, Brendan Mason will have rallied the troops this week. He and assistant coach Brett Sheriff both proud, fierce competitors will have called on leaders like Tristian Salerno, Joel Mason and skipper Mason Porykali to stand up and lead the way on the track and to make sure from the first bounce Saturday they provide 100% effort.

Mason noted he’d be competing against “a Hill End side who will be full of confidence after their start to the year” but I get the feeling this is where things could start to turn for the Demons. Tidying up some goal kicking woes, re-gaining the belief that saw them play finals last year and playing the style of footy they are capable of will see them right in this match until the final siren.

Fish Creek v Morwell East

On paper this looks like a tough day at the office for Ben Marks and the East boys as they head to Fish Creek. Fishy have been relentless since they dropped their opening round clash to Foster and racked up some big scores. They have dual marking forward threats in McTaggart and Mitchell, a wonderful mid-sized forward in Charlie Wilson and a midfield that runs seriously deep.

The Weidermann boys, new to Fish Creek this year, are jets and with Marks unable to call upon the likes of Patrick Quinn to run with them in the middle it is almost impossible to see how East can put the slows on Fishy.

Marks however will have a plan and some areas he feels he has the personal to take some wind out of the Fish Creek sails. Hearn and Field will need to have big days to keep the tall Fishy forwards off the scoreboard and the Hawks will need to orchestrate their share of offence to se some reward for their efforts.

Newborough v Toora

Inspired by their good win over Morwell East Toora make the trip to the kennel this week to take on Newborough. In the aftermath of their first win of the year coach Jake Smart noted his side “must take the momentum into this game”. For a side that was troubling to score they kicked ten of the finest last week while their defence held Morwell east to just half a dozen majors.

They key to the higher scoring might well be youngster Tex Dyson and his lucky wheelbarrow. If he is the superstitious type, and I for one hope he is, he may well roll up with his gear in the barrow and see if he can’t lead the goal scorers two weeks in a row.

Newborough too scraped in for their first win of the year in Round three with a two point result at Stony Creek. They are a different side on their own turf though the Dogs so this promises to be a cracking game.

Wade Anderson has been in excellent form for the Dogs and his run and carry across half back will go along way to ensuring his front half get enough of the ball to kick a wining score. With the ever green Peter Ainsworth still finding the big sticks the Dogs to get the job done for mine.

Yinnar v Stony Creek

Having been oh so close to a win last week Stony Creek face up to one of the leagues power houses this week when they travel to Yinnar. Whilst Yinnar are undefeated they have danced with defeat in both of their opening two games and feel like a side with some improvement to come. This is probably a natural state given they have only played the two games thus far and have a trio of forced changes from their first game to their second.

After last week’s effort to hold on with only seventeen players on the park coach Sam McCulloch said “we’re eager to return to our home ground” when asked about this week’s match.  He said the week will be about “aiming to deliver a consistent four quarter effort” against an opposition he said are “always a tough opponent”.

Whilst acknowledging Yinnar were “tipped to be there at the business end of the year” Stony Creek coach Troy Shepherdson said he and his lads “looked forward to the challenge” in a sign that despite the respective win loss ledgers his side won’t go down without a fight.

With midfield recruits James de Virgilio and James Jacobsen having a couple of games under their belts with their new teammates look for them to provide too much supply to a heavily weaponised Magpie front half for the home side not to get the result.

With Yinnar’s two wins coming by a combined ten-points and things likely to be tight for a top two spot at season’s end if things go right for the Pies this might a chance for them to add some weight to their percentage. 

And for one of only two times this year in the Home and Away season we won’t be tipping Foster, as they have the bye.