Round 14

Heading into the fourteenth round of the MGFNL home and away season, it seemed fair and reasonable to assume the top four positions were locked away, with Foster Fish Creek, Yinnar and MDU all looking to have done enough to secure a finals position, well at least it appeared that way.

Where it really gets interesting however is with the six teams still fighting for the two available spots that will be available, it seems, right up until the final round, in just a month's time.

MDU v Newborough

MDU were perfectly placed in fourth position prior to their clash with Newborough, the Bulldogs tenth, but just one game from fifth, and knowing that anything short of a win would likely end their hopes of finals given the strength of opposition that still awaited them.

The final score, a fifteen point win for the Bulldogs 12-5-77 to 9-8-62, the victory against the odds and keeping the dream alive, and destroying the notion that MDU have fourth position locked away!

Rhett Kelly, MDU coach “The weeknd's performance has got us asking questions about where we stand as a team. There are still plenty of positives. We need to look at tidying up a few areas of our game, which will put us back on track. Credit to Newbrough, who came to play and has now beaten us twice this year.

One huge positive to take away is our younger players stepping up and playing their roles well for the team. They have shown plenty of promise and are looking to cement their spots as senior players.”

The Demons loss has them just a game ahead of chasing teams, the Bulldogs win has them within a win of breaking into the top six.

Pat Frendo, Newborough coach “Really good win against a top 4 team in MDU. Having played them in round 1 we had a bit of an understanding of their game plan and worked hard during the week to negate their foot skills and run and carry game. There was essentially a kick in it the entire game until we slotted the first couple of the last to give us a 20 point barrier. Extremely proud of the boys now they’ve managed to string together a couple of close wins in a row.

Well earned bye next week which gives the boys a chance to get some rest before we face last year's grand finalists in back to back weeks.”

With Fish Creek and Yinnar to come in the last month of the home and away season, the Bulldogs will need to find yet another level to keep on winning, but if they can their finals position would well and truly be deserved.

Stony Creek v Boolarra

Two sides who have been on the wrong sides of close finishes more than they would like to admit, met with the knowledge that this clash would be their best chance of victory in many weeks.

The Demons, desperate to keep their season and finals hopes alive, did just that. Boolarra 5-9-39 defeating Stony Creek 3-5-23

Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach “After a week of significant reflection on a horror loss last week the focus was on a fast start for us. We were welcomed by conditions that would’ve seen kite flyers being plucked from Bass Strait. 

So with a fast start in mind Aiden Sheers jagged the opener inside a minute to set the scene.

But Stony Creeks vice skipper Cody Loughridge stepped up with a huge tackle and goal to wrest momentum back for the home side.

So after a focus on a strong start confidence was high at the quarter time siren which gave us a 2 goal lead.

Throwing Bailey Flanagan into the ruck it was hoped the Demons could dominate to the scoring end in the second term but it was Stony Creeks who managed a pair of goals to peg the margin back to ten points at the main change.

After a goalless third quarter that those in attendance will do well to forget Stony Creek got back to an even goal difference on the scoreboard at the last change.

With four players injured it was club president James Holmes that stood up and played out the last quarter on one leg to give us the full compliment.

In an arm wrestle of a last quarter that saw more stoppages than kicks that hit targets it took eleven minutes for the first, and only goal to be kicked. And it was Boolarras Lachy Smith who kicked truly after a sizzler of a pass from his skipper Joel Mason.”

The review from coach Mason gives a great insight into the game, for his opposition, it is short and sweet.

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek coach “Boys dug deep in very trying conditions & missing a number of key players. But unfortunately fell short again. Looking forward to a week off and hopefully reset for last three games of the year”

That’s the key now for the Lions, 2025 didn’t turn out the way they hoped it might, but preparing now for the year ahead gives them a head start on most other clubs.

Tarwin v Toora

The result was always going to offer contrasting fortunes to these two clubs, and that it did.

Toora in a thriller 10-10-70 to Tarwin 9-9-63.

The Magpies win against the odds has them now just a game from the top six, the loss for Tarwin sees them dropping to seventh on the MGFNL ladder.

Lachie Jones, Tarwin coach “A really tough game and loss at the hands of Toora on Saturday. It was a really physical game and credit too then they just wanted the contest more. We were down two key players from the quarter time break onwards which didn't help the cause and our guys fought it out to the siren but we fell away in some basic fundamentals that proved costly.

We will reset and go again next week against Thorpdale where our season likely hangs in the balance.”

The Toora train has really been chugging along in the past month or so, and from nowhere the Magpies now find themselves very much in the thick of the action.

Jay Acardi, Toora coach “Ripping match down at Tarwin in really tough conditions.

It took nothing less than a huge team effort to get points and once again the boys stood tall when it mattered most.

The job now definitely doesn’t get any easier as we take on Foster in what will be another chance to see where we are in terms of the better teams in the competition.”

The odds might be well and truly against them to knock off the league leaders in Foster, but the fact is that the odds have been against them to get where they sit right now, yet here we are.

Thorpdale v Morwell East

The Blues just need to do what was needed to get the premiership points, it didn’t need to be pretty, but it did need to be a win, and a win it was

Thorpdale 12-8-80 too good for Morwell East 6-4-40

Daniel Taylor, Thorpdale coach “After a disappointing loss last week against Mirboo North it was great to get a response from the boys this week in what was probably one of the few times we've put together 4 quarters of footy. Our pressure was good, we were more disciplined and we used the ball a lot better which was pleasing. It was also Great to get a win In front of our 1985 seniors and reserve premiership sides in what was a big day for the club.”

The Blues can be sometimes hard to gauge as far as performance, what cannot be questioned is their effort, and that what in many ways got them over the line on the weekend.

Paul Henry, Morwell East coach “Not a very good game to watch. The rain held off but was cold and windy.

I thought we had control right from the start but again our fundamental skill errors just kept on providing an opportunity for scoring from turnovers. We kicked the first two of the 

Last to get within 14 points but then it was all Thorpy after that, running out victors by 40 points."

The Hawks will no doubt be looking to season 2026, and refreshing their playing list so as to inject a little bit of everything, so that they can climb back to where the club expects it to be and that's planning for finals. 

Yinnar v Fish Creek

Last years grand finalists had met in round one, the clash to kick off the season had last year's runners up, Yinnar, get one up on the reigning premiers

Fish Creek making it one a piece in the home and away season on the weekend 9-7-61 to 5-6-36.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek coach “Really happy with the team yesterday. We spoke pre game about wanting to have 4 quarters of effort and pressure and I feel we gave that. Solid contributors all over the ground with everyone prepared to get their hands dirty. As always Yinnar spread the ground really well when they had the ball and made us defend really hard. A great atmosphere as well with a big turnout in the crowd from both teams.

We now look forward to a week off to recharge the batteries and hit the last few games of the season.”

The Kangaroos over the moon with their efforts, the Magpies crushed, given what the likely result will be in a month's time come finals time.

Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “Disappointing loss and to miss out on the opportunity to get the double chance. 

Fish creek got on top through the middle and were a lot cleaner with ball use. Certainly couldn’t fault our effort, but turnovers and decision making cost us dearly. A couple of missed opportunities to gain some momentum at important stages didn’t help.

The loss gives us the chance to narrow our focus and get to work on some areas of our game which we need to sharpen up on.”

That’s the key now for Yinnar, as it is for a few finals contenders as they reflect on results, be it a win or loss, to walk away learning a little more about their opposition, and importantly a little more about themselves.

BYE: Hill End, Foster & Mirboo North.