As we roll into the second half of the season, I don't think we could have wished for a more competitive round of football, where in every single clash the result could conceivably go either way, and whichever way it was to go, it is was sure to have an impact on the season.
Stony Creek v Toora
It was surely the last roll of the dice for Stony Creek, three wins in the first half of the season was never going to cut it for finals football, sure there has been a number of the Lion's losses which have been by just single figure margins which has not helped their cause, but hosting Toora on the weekend, is one the home side could not let slip through their fingers, as they may as well be letting what slim hope they had of a finals berth be doing the same.
With that in mind the Lions did the job 15-6-96 to the Magpies 11-10-76.
The result, one the Stony Creekside desperately needed and one that has been a long time coming.
Chris Verboon, Stony Creek coach “We managed to start the game well again. Toora changed a few things up in the second quarter and played some good footy to get back into the game. It was a tight contest until the end. We have struggled throughout the year to finish games but I was really happy with our last quarter. We had blokes stand up when it counted."
It may well be the confidence building win the LIons needed to take them to the next step in believing they are capable of much greater things
Toora too, even in losing can take plenty of positives from the result. .
Jack Weston, Toora coach “Twenty one scoring shots all. If we had a coach that could kick straight and not give the opposition a six goal head start who knows. That’s footy though, credit to Chris and Stony who took their chances when we let them turn the ball over high up the ground. Bye next week will hopefully give us some chance to freshen up and look to take some scalps of finals contenders in the back end. Newborough first up after the bye.”
A coach can always feel they could do more, especially in reflection, but the Magpies coach has the support of the team, the club and the community, which in itself is a win on the way to securing premiership points in the future.
Morwell East v Thorpdale
Morwell East gave Thorpdale some real concerns on the weekend, their 10-12-72 to the Blues 8-5-53 victory has Thorpdale sitting in seventh position, out of the MGFNL top six, and now confronted with the reality that another loss will have them in a position of quiet desperation as they not only need to find a way to win a few in succession, but also rely on those above them to lose, and that's the worst possible place to be.
Thorpdale co-coach, Ray Pickering "the game played out just like we thought , a tough , tight grind against a good hardened side. Couldn’t knock our boy's heart and endeavour for four quarters but need to start turning close losses into wins!"
No one would question how dangerous the Blues side can and will be, their honesty and physicality on the field, likely to have them climbing a few slots up the MGFNL ladder.
For the Hawks, they are right where they need to be, seemingly safe inside the top six, and only one win from the top of the table, the win on the weekend against a respected opponent, an important one.
Paul Henry, Morwell East coach “We had a massive challenge ahead of us on the weekend, after a couple of comfortable wins and back to back byes. Thorpy were always going to be a challenge and they are whenever we play each other. It was a tight game all the way to the end. Great effort again by our boys."
The strong Morwell East community is starting to build around the football club again and like the players and coaches are starting to get more excited about the greater challenges and possibilities that lay ahead.
Foster v Newborough
It is one of the hottest rivalries in the MGFNL, the hostility on field sometimes spilling over the fence to supporters, volunteers and even coaches, mind you, all in fairplay and all within the fierce spirit of the game.
The Tigers had not been beaten at home by the Bulldogs, since their entry into the MGFNL and they had their heart and minds set on that trend continuing, something they achieved with their 11-15-81 to Newborough 7-7-49 win.
Sam Davies, Foster coach “It was a dominant display from the boys on the weekend, really proud of the group for our four quarter effort.”
Davie's summary was short but to the point but masking much of the very good work done over four quarters of the clash, The Tigers jumped out to a sixteen point quarter time lead, before really applying the pressure in the second half, a twenty one point three quarter time buffer, driven home in the final thirty minutes.
Craig Skinner, Newborough coach “We got beaten in a lot of areas by a better team on the weekend, We brought effort but couldn’t execute."
Last year's grand finalists remain confident that they have what it takes to play the style of football to right a few wrongs, but like many others they also remain under pressure with so many teams clawing at them from below.
The Bulldogs sit in fifth, but have three teams behind them by just the one victory, that pressure alone, should be enough to have Newborough reach another level in the weeks ahead.
Hill End v Tarwin
One half of the season gone and still searching for a win, Hill End on their home deck approached the weekend clash against Tarwin like it was a final, like it was there last chance to earn some premiership points,
No one doubts the Hillsmen' desire and commitment and many hoped that this round ten meeting against the Sharks could be the Rover's turning point, however the visitors who were still very much in touch with the leagues top six, refused to let the home side and their loyal supporters have too much to get excited about.
Tarwin 17-11-113 defeated Hill End 8-9-57.
Jason Kennedy, Tarwin coach, "It’s a lot better waking up Sunday morning with a win. We made the trip over the hill to hill end and we knew that they would be up for this game on their home deck. After a tough couple of weeks we were also keen to get back on the winners list. The first half was reasonably close. In the second half we tightened up a few things and in the end, we ran the game out really well and we were also able to hit the scoreboard,"
The Sharks are currently in eighth position, but just one win away from fifth position, chances have come and gone for Tarwin already this season, but they will not be able to let too many more slip.
The Rovers, are yet to taste success more than halfway through the season, but their desire to do so has not diminished which gives them hope in the future.
Ambu Uliando, Hill End coach “we were with them up to half time, they ran away with it in the second half. They were just too fit for us."
Fitness is one element coach Uliando identified even before the season started and this deep into the year, it is very hard to play catch up, but there remains a positive frame of mind within the Hillsmen that that elusive victory will be theirs soon.
Boolarra v Fish Creek
Boolarra have gone from having to confront last year's Grand Finalists in Newborough to the reigning premiers Fish Creek, in the space of seven days, it is without question the toughest fortnight in MGFNL football, and if nothing else the Demons are now under no illusions as to what is required to mix it with the leagues very best.
Fish Creek on the weekend 9-4-58 to Boolarra 5-7-37
Jarrod Walker, Fish Creek “A bit of an ugly win for us yesterday, couldn’t really get the game on our terms for most of the game. A lot of credit to Boolarra who really came to play and had great intensity all day. Still pleased that we were able to walk away with the win, and grind it out."
The Demons efforts have not gone unnoticed by opposition clubs and certainly have not been missed by the coaching staff either.
Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach "Really happy with our effort, we took it right up to the best side in the competition for most of the day. A poor third quarter just let us down and Fish Creek was good enough to capitalise."
The Demons actually won both first and last quarters, it was just the middle of the match in which the reigning premiers did enough to run away with a win of just better than three goals.
The effort from Boolarra, would have them winning more games than not.
These two teams have had some memorable clashes over the years, and although falling short on the Magpie's home turf prior, the Demons arrived ready to rumble their way to a victory and a slow climb further up the league ladder.
What the confronted however was a rock solid Yinnar doing what they have done for much of 2024, The Magpies 10-12-72 too strong for the Demons 6-12-49
Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “It was a pretty hot start to the game. We played some of our best footy of the day in the first quarter and capitalised on our inside 50’s. Due to a number of skill errors we made in the second quarter, MDU got back into the game, but didn’t capitalize, possibly due to our pressure. It was a pretty even second half and managed to hold onto our lead and come away with a hard fought win against a well structured and quality team."
The Demon's had their chances, and are so close to taking that next step of defeating a top tier side it's not funny, but it can be frustrating, and if it continues also very costly.
Nathan Allen, MDU coach “Yinnar started really well and we were never able to get close enough. They moved the ball really well and converted when they got a chance. Felt we owned field position for most of the game but poor skill errors and missed chances cost us in the end.”
The reality is there are probably up to ten, maybe even eleven sides capable and deserving of working their way into the final six, the reality is many will not make it, every round now is a final.
Bye: Mirboo North.
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