MGFNL Season 2026 - Round 7 Review

The big winners, not in terms of margins but in terms of significance, after Round Seven of the MGFNL were Newborough and Hill End. With an ever-widening gap between the Top Four sides and the rest the Dogs and the Hillmen both had crucial wins over sides they are likely to be competing with for positions five and six come seasons end.

But don’t worry there were still some big winners in terms of scores with Foster continuing on their merry way and Yinnar putting Boolarra to the sword in a clinical and efficient game despite being without several first choice players.

Boolarra v Yinnar

A classy, and ruthless, Yinnar were 151 point winners over Boolarra kicking 26-17-173 to the home sides 3-4-22. Making the score even more dramatic was the fact Boolarra were able to hold out the Pies for the best part of twenty to start the second half.

But back to the start where the scene was set early for the visitors. Despite neither skipper being available Yinnar had leaders and winners all over the park and the writing was on the wall early when centre half forward Will Robinson opened proceedings two minutes in after defensive fifty turnover from a kick in by Boolarra. And when his Kane Grinstead Jones kicked his first after roving a ball that carried the charging pack and snapping over his shoulder the scene was well and truly set for what was to follow.

While Boolarra continued to move the ball forward Yinnar was able to slingshot from halfback far too easily and turned defence into attack at will. Best on ground, in my view, Sam Walsh kicked a great long range goal after a characteristic dash from the back half and then it was the turn of the ever maturing Harvey McKay to hit the scoreboard. And by the time Robinson marked in the goal square and goaled it was five goals to zip and the Demons were looking for the siren.

Before the respite of the quarter time huddle though Harry McColl took a leaf from Walsh’s book by running from half back to set up a goal. His strong mark was followed up by a lace out pass to Nixon Hall twenty out who became the Pies sixth goal kicker for the quarter before Pratt sharked the ball from the ruck to make it seven for the visitors as the siren sounded.

Coach Brendan Mason was relatively calm at the huddle and asked for his half forward to put some pressure on the Yinnar ball carriers and demanded his forwards in general play in front and take advantage of their forward fifty entries.

While Tim Dowe had done the bulk of the ruck work for Boolarra and done it well up against Yinnar’s Bobby Linon and Jesse Bowe it was back up ruck Matt Windsor who set up the Dees first goal. His tap found Mason who booted the ball forward to find Matt devon, playing in front, who marked and goaled. It was the first of three for the smooth moving small forward who earnt his spot amongst the Dees better players.

From the next centre clearance, in a case of the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese, will Robertson stays behind his opponent and as the ball trickled out the back of the contest he went off the ground kick Yinnar’s first of the second term.

To the home sides credit they fought on well and maintained the rage for as long as possible and after the ball had spent so long in the Yinnar forward 50 it could’ve claimed squatters rights the Demons transitioned the ball from coach Mason to skipper Mason Porykali. His kick found Devon who was interfered with the marking contest. He went back and slotted his second and as of the thirteen-minute mark the home side fans would have to have been happy with how the lads responded to their first quarter drubbing.

Shortly thereafter however normal services were resumed and the Pies slotted the next six majors over the course of the next 12 minutes. 

Tom Robertson found Walsh who passed to MacKay and when his kick found Geary the Pies had the immediate reply and the tone was set for the remainder of the quarter.

As if to prove his versatility Geary then turned provider finding Pratt hard up against the boundary line. His set shot from forty-five out never looked like missing.

Walsh again the playmaker set up Geary’s next which saw the wily veteran kick another before his regular partner in crime Grinstead-Jones taking a mark in the goal square whilst flat on his back. Grinny doesn’t miss those and at the main break it was all over with Yinnar leading by a neat dozen goals.

Again Boolarra rose to the challenge and this time managed to keep Yinnar goalless for the best part of twenty minutes to start the third term.

With Tim Dowe taking a breather Jesse Bowe stepped up and served the ball on a player to James DeVigilio who cruised into the open goal and with the drought broken Flynn Schill swooped on a loose ball in front of goal and the man they call Meatball snapped around the corner and slotted his first of the day and the Pies were all of a sudden up and about.

Pratt slotted another from a set shot on the boundary and Will Robertson followed that after a strong mark. And with Dowe still on the pine Jesse Bowe snuck forward and helped himself to one to finish up the scoring for the term. At the last change The Pies lead had blown out to over three figures.

There was no waiting twenty minutes for the first goal of the last term with Will Roberston kicking one inside the first minute and when Matt Devon kicked his and Boolarra’s third for the day it was goal for goal inside two minutes and those in attendance were left wondering how come it too so long in the previous term for either side to register a major.

From here on though it was all the Pies. Patt Kearns came into the game, Clancy Mills kicked a goal and decided he liked it so much he’d do it again and Tom and Will Robertson swapped ends of the ground allowing Tom to also hit the scoreboard. When Notman kicked a goal it was a dozen goal kickers for Yinnar, twenty six goals on the scoreboard and a comprehensive win.

Walsh was clearly best afield for the winners with other strong contributions from Pratt, who booted eight, McColl, DeVirgilio and Nixon Hall.

For Boolarra the coach toiled hard, he co-captains in Porykali and Joel Mason were good and the ruck work of Tim Dowe was noteworthy. Matt Devon who kicked all of the Demons goals was also effective and Nick Miller cracked in off his wing all day.

Post game Boolarra coach spoke at length with his players with words like disappointed and embarrassed used frequently. Not that he was referring to effort but to the outcome of the game, however as he conceded later on it was always going to be hard up against such a strong side minus so many first choice players.

On the other hand Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch was much more effusive saying he was “very pleased to come away with a strong win.” McCulloch continued “we set the game up early with some good ball movement and were able to capitalise on the scoreboard. It was an even contribution right across the board, which was great to see” before adding “there’s still plenty to work on during the week.”

Fish Creek v MDU

A fast start from Fish Creek saw them lead all day over an MDU side that worked hard to get back into the contest but couldn’t quiet claw their way back into the game on the scoreboard. With Fish Creek leading 5-5-35 to a single behind at the first break a seven goal to three second half by MDU saw the final score a much more respectable 11-13-79 to 9-5-59 in the battle between second and fourth.

Best afield Blaine Coates was amongst the early goal kickers along with Charlie Wilson. In the absence of Will McTaggart, who again missed, the Kangaroos shared the load with seven goal kickers, four of them- Cameron, Lamers, Mitchell and Wilson managing two each.

For MDU, who have now lost two of their last three, it was Mitch De Kleuver, Kieran Bohn and Connor Krohn who led the way. Paddy Kerr managed four to go with his twelve last week but it was a case of too little too late. Winning the last half against the comps second best side is all fine and well but giving up a thirty-eight point half time lead against a quality side was always going to be a bridge too far. 

Post game MDU coach Rhett Kelly lamented his sides slow start suggesting “we were caught still in the change rooms when Fishy came out with high intensity in the first quarter and scored five unanswered goals” which as it turned out was the difference in the game

Kelly noted that even after “a few positional and matchup changes” at the first break he felt his side “still looked off”. The longer break at half time allowed for “a good chat” with Kelly feeling his side “adjusted our ball movement while lifting our effort and intent across the board, allowing us to control a large part of the third quarter.” Whist it was “great to see the team work their way back into the game” Kelly continued “full credit to Fishy. The reality is that you cannot give a top team a five-goal head start” before adding the slow start was “something we will focus on as we continue to improve.”

Hill End v Mirboo North

Hill End moved to within a game of sixth spot after a strong win over Mirboo North. After the visitors slotted the first goal of the game Andy Darcy and Darcy Paul replied for the home side to see them lead by a straight kick at the first change.

Hill End coach tom Hallinan said post-game “we made some positional adjustments for the second and third quarters and we started to see better flow of ball through our wings” nominating Seth Calway as a key part of this. The scoreboard reflected these moves as Hill End went on a run that saw them kick eight of the next nine goals to ice the contest.

When Bailey Paul slotted his first of the game at the twenty minute mark of the third term the Hillmen lead by forty-nine points and the contest was over.

Hallinan was particularly impressed with his small forwards who he felt “applied inside fifty 50 pressure that created repeat stoppages.” He also felt his midfielders “provided better movement at stoppages” before referencing his sides eleven goal scorers who “showed how even a contribution there was”. 

As they do the Tigers rallied to the call to arms by coach Damien Turner at the final change to win the quarter but with so much at stake, against a side that they will be fighting with for a finals berth it was a disappointing outcome for the visiting team.

Hill End were best served by Dstin Blackshaw, Aaron Fawcett and Seth Calway with Calway being the only multiple goal kicker from the eleven Hill End players to get their name on the score sheet.

For Mirboo North it was the ever reliable Joe Brooks leading the way along with Nathan Skewes and Ethan Woodall. Hayden Potts managed to kick a coupe in an otherwise dim day for his team.

After the loss 350 gamer Damian Turner noted that it is “always a tough contest up at Willow Grove, and they came to play” Of his own side he felt “we showed patches of good footy, but at the end of the day, they were cleaner for longer and made the big moments count!”

Morwell East v Foster

Morwell East may have been forgiven for taking a sigh of relief when the team sheets were handed in and showed Jake Best as non-playing coach for the day. The problem is though when it comes to Foster if Best doesn’t get you Brett Eddy does, and if he doesn’t Shaun Chaseling probably will. And so, it proved on Saturday with Eddy and Chaseling kicking fifteen between them with an eight, seven split. For good measure the jet, Jack Weston chimed in with two as well.

Tom Schnieder was in everything for the visitors and was best on with Cody Banbury joining him and Chaseling among the best few for the winners as they ran out winners 22-19-151 to Morwell East 4-3-27.

With the score reading ninety-nine to twenty at the half East have done well to contain the damage in the second half.

Eric Semmler, Zac Mangion and Dechlan Morrison were best for the East with Brandon Francis playing a lone hand in the front half with three goals. Franics has bene amongst the goals in every game and has fifteen for the year which is a decent effort in a side that has sonly had the one victory.

Post game Jake Best noted his side “came out of the blocks fast” which has been a focus of his of late. He was also pleased that “some guys got some opportunities today” before adding he felt his boys “played some good footy.”

Newborough v Thorpdale

Newborough got the better of their more highly rated opponents and came away with a crucial win at the kennel on Saturday. They got the job done 9-9-63 to Thorpdale’s 8-9-57 thanks to a Jack Robinson Masterclass.

In a tight first quarter the home side had a seven point lead at the first break. This was bought back to just the five points at the main break and those in attendance knew they were in for an enthralling finish to this all important with clash.

With Thorpdale having played finals last year and only dropping a single game to Foster this year Newborough had to know the Dales would come out swinging in the third term and that is exactly what they did. They led the inside fifty count seventeen to twelve for the quarter and laid eighteen tackles to twelve in a sure sign their effort was up from the first half.

They put this dominance onto the scoreboard and as the final term commenced the visitors led by five points.

Strap yourself in, this is going to be a wild ride!

The final term gets underway with Newborough goaling as good as instantly with the home side regaining the lead by a point in under ten seconds.

The two teams exchanged minor scores for the next ten minutes until Shannon Pickering, the heartbeat of the Thorpdale side, kicked a terrific goal to give his side an even one goal lead. Crucially it also allowed both sides to re-set and make the changes they need with the game looking every bit like it would go right down to the wire.

Simply put the home side needed their own Shannon Pickering. Someone who would pick the side up, throw them over their shoulder and take them to victory. Enter Jack Robinson. The little bloke in number six went on a five minute rampage that saw him kick three of the games last four goals and get the tri-colours over the line, including the winner which he slotted with just a handful of seconds left on the clock.

The five minute spurt saw him take his tally for the day to seven goals and assured him of best on ground honours. Wade Anderson and Josh Pearce were the only Bulldogs to hit the scoreboard with Nathan Whieldon and Anthony Daley joining Robinson in the best.

After the match Newborough coach Pat Frendo referenced the crucial nature of the game saying Thorpdale were “a team we knew we’d need to beat if we were any chance of sticking with the top half of the ladder”.

Frendo whilst unimpressed with “another slow start” was pleased that his side “managed to fight our way back to go into the first break up”. He was less impressed with his side’s goal kicking accuracy in the second term noting “we let ourselves down by missing opportunities in front of goal kicking five behinds in the second quarter”.

Asked about the enthralling last term Frendo said “the last quarter was essentially goal for goal but thanks to a Jack Robinson goal with 10 seconds to go, we managed to come away with the win”.

In terms of better players Frendo nominated his defenders. He said he was “really happy with our back six” who he felt “held up under some immense pressure, especially our trio of Liam’s (Cordner, Fitzpatrick, Charles) who were instrumental across half back.”

But as seemed appropriate he saved the best for last finishing off with “Jack Robinson presented all day and was rewarded with a bag of seven”, including of course the crucial winner which sees Newborough’s finals hopes remain alive and kicking. 

For Thorpdale the loss sees them drop to fifth on the ladder and sit amongst a group of five teams trying to get into the last two spots in the finals. Their better players on Saturday were Jacob Patullo, Anthony Rosatto and Ayden Ramm with Pickering and Rosatto their only multiple goal kickers.

Toora v Tarwin

Tarwin were too strong for Toora on Saturday running out winners 14-16-100 to 4-7-31. The visiting Sharks didn’t have it all their own way with Toora only four points in arrears at the first break.

Post game Tarwin coach Lachie Jones noted “The first quarter was rather close and we had to adjust a few things at the first break”. Whatever they were seemed to work as from here on though it was all Tarwin who kicked (insert Anthony Hudson’s voice ) thirteen goals to the home sides three.

Toby Mahoney kicked his second bag of five goals in three weeks while skipper Ben Ellen slotted four. Troy Harley and the hyphen, Brodie Senior-Gibson helped themselves to two apiece. Harrison Cumming was best on with Jones saying of his game “Cumming gave us first use all day in the ruck” with Kyle Yann and Jordan Bertacco also featuring on the best players list.

In terms of areas for improvement Jones quipped “we were a little inaccurate in front of goals which we will look to put some work into at training.”

For Toora it was all singles with Dyson, Gritt, Pintus and Jake Smart kicking truly. Josh Hallsall continued his excellent form with another best on performance for Toora with Lachi Smart and Jordyn Coulthard joining him on the podium.

After “a pretty disappointing loss” Toora coach Jake Smart said “despite controlling the game in patches, they (Tarwin) were too strong”. The coach added “Josh Halsall and Lachi Smart continue to get a lot of the football but was keen to note “Jordyn Coulthard and Jordy Knox had their best games”.

Stony Creek had the bye