Round 18

The last round of the home and away season was upon us and while five clubs were confident of playing a part in finals, and five clubs knew that their season would end. There still remained three clubs that would not know their destiny until five pm Saturday afternoon.

In trying, winter conditions it was Boolarra that firmly grabbed their opportunity.

MDU v Tarwin

MDU hosted a Tarwin side that could not accept anything less than a win or otherwise the Sharks would jeopardize their sixth placed position just one week short of the finals.

Even with a win however it was expected that percentage might also come into play as the Blues continued to be chased by two other contenders.

The final scoreline, MDU 11-10-76 to Tarwin’s 4-6-30, the comprehensive victory sending the Sharks crashing out of finals contention.

Rhett Kelly, MDU coach “It was incredibly pleasing to get the win yesterday against Tarwin, especially as they were battling for the last spot in the top six. This wraps up our home and away season, which has certainly had its ups and downs but has been very rewarding overall.

On the weekend, I asked for plenty of energy, effort, and intent from the boys, knowing that Tarwin would come out with everything they had. We were able to absorb their pressure and then started to get to work.”

That energy and effort from the Demons is to be rewarded with a finals campaign that promises plenty for MDU, conversely it serves up an unwanted finish for the Sharks.

Lachie Jones, Tarwin coach “A bit of a disappointing end to the year. We had a chance to play finals and didn’t quite take that opportunity. The game itself was played on a heavy deck at Meeniyan and the contest was there from our guys at times and through passages but we just didn’t play four quarters. 

Credit to MDU, they work as a team and were too classy for us. Looking forward to 2026 down at Tarwin already.”

And while the Sharks are sure to be an even tougher proposition in 26, Demons coach Rhett Kelly is not only thankful for the support his team has had, but is calling for the community to join them on their finals quest.

Kelly “I also want to take this opportunity to thank our supporters for their commitment this year. Your presence, week in and week out, cheering us on at both the football ground and the netball courts, means the world to us. The games wouldn't be the same without you all there, and the playing group is incredibly thankful for your support. Let's keep the momentum going! Go Dee's!”

That momentum can last a week or a month, the pressure building with each week that passes, and what a privilege it is to be in the midst of that pressure.

Mirboo North v Boolarra

For the home team Tigers, the math was simple, win by a little and Tarwin lose, they make the finals, win by a lot and even if the Sharks won, percentage might have Mirboo North fall over the line into the top six.

The stumbling however was their weekend opponent, the Demons, who, also with a victory, could steal a spot in the business end of the season at the very last moment.

Boolarra always in control winning by 23 points

7-12-54 to Mirboo North 4-7-31

Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach “Inspired by the reserves first win of the season the senior Boolarra boys gave it their all in trying conditions against a gallant Mirboo North. With both sides aware MDU had done their job of beating Tarwin the last quarter turned into a virtual elimination final. Only one point separated the sides at last change but it was all in the visitors as we ran away near on four goal winners .”

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The excitement, relief and celebration of one club was in direct contrast to the emotions felt by the Demons opposition.

Damian Turner, Mirboo North coach “Shattering result. It was a classic mud run, with the scores in the balance at 3/4 time. To Boolarras credit they stood up in the last, came home with the wind and got the result they chased. 

Proud of where we have finished as a club from 12 months ago, but finals footy is where we aspire to be, so this one will burn for a while.

Good luck to all the teams, footy and netball in their finals campaigns.”

The foundation for the Tigers has been set now for a further climb up the table next year, while for the Demons, the excitement of finals is to be embraced as they face a knock final against Yinnar in week one of the real stuff.

Foster v Fish Creek

Unlike the pressure faced by those clubs fighting for a finals spot, these two teams sat first and second respectively, I guess the only item on offer was the bragging rights of finishing in top position at the end of the home and away, not that many will remember that after the upcoming MGFNL premiers are determined..

That said it was also a coincidental chance for each to have a close up look at the other, ahead of their inevitable first finals clash in a fortnight, where the winner of that match will be playing for a direct through to Grand Final day. 

The result, Foster too good, winning 7-4-46 to Fish Creek 4-4-28.

Sam Davies, Foster coach “Really tough game in conditions we haven’t really seen or played in this year - I thought they were on top in the first half, they applied great pressure and we panicked a lot with the footy. We didn’t adjust too much after half time but came out much more calm and got a lot more speed on the ball which created a lot of opportunities that we took. Both teams will have changes in a fortnight but we will definitely enjoy the week and appreciate the work put in to finish on top.”

The Tigers, like their weekend opponent has done earlier in the year, will enjoy their win for what the win is worth, both coaches knowing what matters in the immediate future takes place in a fortnight.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek coach “A solid hit out against Foster in an interesting weather day. The first half was relatively dry, although hard to score for both teams the ball was moving pretty quickly. With no team able to capitalise on opportunities in the first half, Foster definitely changed that in the third quarter, putting on 6 goals straight to our one. Something we have been pretty good at is stopping opposition momentum but we just weren’t able to in the third quarter, disappointing on our end but hats off to Foster. They were first in and out hunted us. By the end of the 3rd the rain and hail had set in and it was always going to be hard for us to claw them back. We showed a bit at the start of the last quarter for a potential comeback but unfortunately the damage was done. Well done to Foster finishing a year clear on top of the ladder, a very solid year. A week off and will see them again in a couple of weeks”

That first final between these two respected clubs will offer up the chance for a direct route to the 2026 MGFNL Grand Final.

The importance of that clash is obvious.

Morwell East v Stony Creek

Two teams with some work to do in the months between now and the start of 2026, clashed in a game that was all about pride and effort, but for the home team Hawks it was also about grabbing the premiership points that could have them climb from the bottom of the MGFNL ladder, and that, it was hoped might be enough for Morwell East to find that little bit extra, but it wasn’t to be.

Stony Creek 6-12-48 too good for Morwell East 5-7-37.

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek coach “Good way to finish the year with back to back wins, some reward for all the hard work that's being put In over the year.”

The Lions have been close so many times this season, only to fall short, too many times, those close losses the difference between playing in the weeks ahead or not.

For the Hawks, it’s been even more disappointing, probably not even too harsh to say it’s been a season to forget.

With the respected Paul Henry stepping down as coach, the Hawks quest to join rival league NGFNL denied a rare wooden spoon in 2025, it appears time for a complete reset for the once mighty Morwell East.

Newborough v Hill End

The best that Newborough could have hoped for was a win, a seventh placed finish and the end of a season that would also mark the starting point of some bigger and better days ahead.

The Bulldogs have not had the best of luck throughout the season but have manfully turned up week in week out laying out the best from what they had, and that was enough to get them over the line.

Newborough 12-12-84 too Hill End 11-6-72

Pat Frendo, Newborough coach “In what was essentially a dead rubber game we hit off against Hill End in a game of pride. No team was willing to take a backward step which resulted in consistent momentum swings all game. We had a great start and went up 3 goals at the first break. Felt like they really got the better of us in the middle 2 quarters. Down 2 goals at one point in the last, we managed to swing things back in the right direction and get the ball rolling our way late. A close 2 goal win to finish the season on a positive note.”

The Bulldogs got within a whisker of finals, but like their weekend opponents will look to a bigger and better 2026.

Adrian Burns, Hill End coach “We will definately be a better side next year, than this, we had our chances on the weekend, but didn't take them, it was a disappointing way to finish the year really, but I still believe we have some great young kids and importantly good people, so I'm remaining positive."

As much as we applaud those that make the finals, as we should, applause too, to the clubs like Hill End and Stony Creek that keep showing up week in and week out, giving the best they can. 

Thorpdale v Yinnar

This clash was yet another that might have also been a prequel to an upcoming final between the two sides the following week.

That said with no guarantee of how other results might fall, there would be no chance and probably no thought to flirting with ones form, rather do the things that needed to be done whilst trying as best as possible to have your soldiers ready and able to go when the pressure, intensity and consequences of a result were crucial.

For this week it was Yinnar, and easy 13-12-90 to a disappointing Thorpdale 3-1-19.

Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “Good way to finish the home & away season. Another very even contribution right across the board and glad to be heading into the finals with momentum and good form.”

Yinnar fell short by a very small margin last season, but they appear even better prepared this year.

Thorpdale on the surface might be cursing a disastrous loss a week prior to finals, but there is more to the story than meets the eye.

Daniel Taylor, Thorpdale coach “Outplayed by a very good side in yinnar. Prior to Saturday we've had a really big 6-7 weeks of finals like footy just trying to make the finals so once we locked that away after round seventeen we took the opportunity to rest anyone who wasn't 100 percent fit which meant we weren't competitive unfortunately. It's Never ideal heading into a finals campaign coming off an 80 point loss but it is what it is, we've moved on and we will be a completely different team this week in our first final.”

An even season has produced six clubs to showcase the high standard of MGFNL football through the upcoming finals.

A premiership awaits one of them.

BYE: Toora