Round five

We are more than a quarter of the way through the MGFNL home and away season and already some sides have some work to do, some are about where they thought they might be and others feel as though they are ahead of their pre-season forecast.

Most clubs will set themselves a basic framework of what they wanted to achieve, this included, but was not limited to, NOT losing a home game, winning sufficient games to make the league's final six (in the last two completed season that means either nine or ten wins) 

NOT losing two games in a row, NOT losing to the same side twice, and the list goes on....

Boolara v Foster 

Boolarra found themselves in the enviable position of having to defend at least two of those previously mentioned goals, one being not losing two matches in succession and the other not losing on their home ground.

The biggest problem they had came in the shape of an in form and classy Foster football team that not only brought, but maintained their unbeaten season at the home of the Demons, winning 15-8-98 to 6-4-40.

Sam Davies, Foster coach “Our first half was really, really good - defensively we were the best we’ve been and really limited their ball movement and capitalised on turnovers. Our backline were our strongest group all game and our shape behind the ball has been fantastic. 

Second half Boolarra really brought an energy, we dropped away a bit and probably over corrected on a few things we’ve been working on.”

Make no mistake, Foster are a good side, better than 2024, and certainly in the very top few of the competition, but Boolarra too are slowly building a quality team and culture.

Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach “Another week where we welcomed two new players to the club as part of six changes made to the senior side. 

Foster played a clinical brand of high speed footy using the corridor well and switching the ball at every opportunity.

With a star studded from half the back six toiled manfully all day with Bailey Flanagan again to the fire down back and then up front.

Club president James Holmes wound back the clock and was terrific all day as an under sized centre half forward.

Simon Noy battled well all day but in the end the superior side walk away with the points and we take on board some lessons from the last two weeks. “

They say you only ever lose if you don’t learn and to that end the Demons are improving even in their losses.

Hill End v Newborough

The Hillsmen had no doubt set themselves for an almighty clash against a visiting Newborough side, that on paper at least, showed that they might be somewhat fragile and susceptible to a home ground team that desperately wanted their first win of the season. 

The pressure was on from the first bounce, but it was the visitors who slowly but surely did what they needed to do albeit with a little controversy, winning by just thirteen points

8-7-55 to 5-12-42.

Pat Frendo, Newborough coach “A real game of momentum swings for us up at the hill against the rovers today. We got out to an early lead despite minimal forward 50 entries. Hillend dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters around the ground and were able to claw their way back into the lead at 3 quarter time. Luckily they missed a few easy shots in front of goal so the difference was only 3 points going into the last.

They had the first goal of the last quarter but we responded immediately and eventually kicked another 2 to gain a little buffer. Managed to switch on and play a really good last quarter to get the win.”

HIll End are so close to their first win they can almost touch it, their performance on the weekend, honest and competitive.

Adrian Burns Hill End coach “we were well and truly in the game, even in front in the last quarter, but sometimes things just don’t go your way, and when that happens with such a young team, it can be pretty tough.

Certainly the crowd seemed confused, with what appeared to be a goal for the Hill End team, awarded a point and conversely for Newborough, claims that a point was awarded a goal.

Umpiring is a tough gig at times, but we certainly would welcome more umpires to get involved.

Mirboo North v Fish Creek

As good as Mirboo North were just seven days earlier against ladder leaders Yinnar, the test for the Tigers was always going to be whether they would be able to back up that sort of performance against the reigning premiers in Fish Creek.

The Kangaroos turned it on, in an impressive ten goal win.

15-11-101 to 6-5-41 victory.

Jarrod Walker, Fish Creek coach “A tough battle yesterday with Mirboo using the corridor really well in attack and keeping our defenders on there toes. It was good to see our guys dig in for the second half with a couple of rotations down we had to really grind the win out.”

The Tigers showed they were more than capable of matching with the Kangaroos at times, the secret now for Mirboo is to build on those glimpses of brilliance to be better for longer.

Damian Turner, Mirboo North. Coach “We faced a very sharp Fish Creek. They were especially clean in close around the contest and are definitely one of the yard sticks again this season! We showed some really strong patches of play but couldn’t maintain for long enough this week. We will review, and work hard on the track! 

Whilst Fish Creek look destined for a top three finish, the Tigers are desperately trying to put the pieces of the side together that can have them just within reach at the business end of the year.

Morwell East v Yinnar

There is an old saying that "whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't, you're probably right."

The problem with Morwell East just at the moment is you wonder whether they actually believe they can win games after such a disappointing start to the season.

The fact they had to face a real force in the shape of Yinnar on the weekend, probably didn't help their cause. 

The Magpies adding to the Hawks woes in a comprehensive win 25-13-163 to 7-4-46

Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “Very happy to come away with a percentage boosting win against an undermanned Morwell East. Pleased to have such an even spread for four quarters. We played our brand of footy for a majority of the day and finished the game out well.”

As pleasing as the performance was for Yinnar, the Hawks, well, they just don’t seem to be the same side as twelve months ago.

Paul Henry, Morwell East coach “Too fast, too good!! A day to forget and we move on to Fish Creek next week.”

The Hawks have injuries, so maybe deserve some slack, but those getting the opportunities need to do more, much more, as for the coach, and supporters, it appears as though it may be a long year.

Stony Creek v Toora

It seems really early to be calling a round five clash a "season defining game", but you can't help but feel the result of this one between two teams wanting to be part of the leagues top six, when there is a case to be made that there is possibly only room for just one, was a match that could have more to it than just the premiership points, with that in mind the opportunity was grabbed by the scruff of the neck by the Lions.

Stony Creek 15-16-106 to Toora 7-7-49

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek coach “Our boys played the footy I know they are capable of, and with getting a few key personnel back we're able to get on the winners list. Looking very forward to a bye, to freshen up.”

The Lions are looming as a “Smokey” to upset a few teams in the mid and late part of the season, their effort on the weekend even impressing the Sharks

Jai Acardi, Toora coach “We came up against a red hot Stony outfit and simply couldn’t go with them. We now reset and get back to work on the things we are good at..”

The Magpies themselves have been showing improved and more consistent performances this year, but were no match for the home side.

Tarwin v MDU

As happy as Tarwin were with their home ground success over Morwell East just seven days prior, the real test was their weekend match up with the might of a classy MDU.

The Demons arrived at Shark Park as one of the in-form teams of the competition, and one from which the home side could get a real good gauge of just where they are.the answer not far off!

MDU 16-5-101 to Tarwin 10-2-62.

Rhett Kelly, MDU coach “I knew from the first contest that it was going to be a great game of footy. Both teams going in hard at the footy with great intensity. It was a high-quality game with both teams making the most of their opportunities going forward, which meant for a close game on the scoreboard. We were able to continue with that in the last quarter and just got on top of Tarwin, who suffered a few late injuries. I am super proud of the boys for continuing to stick to our style of play even when we were challenged throughout the game.”

The Demons have been super impressive and appear to have no fear of any side in the competition.

Lachie Jones, Tarwin coach “A really tough contest today for both sides. I was very proud of our effort. We finished the game with 3 significant injuries and it was a pretty brutal game.  We were competitive for 3 quarters but ran out of gas but still I give full credit to Rhett and MDU, they play a strong brand and were the better side on the day.

There is no doubt the Sharks are starting to run a little thin due to injuries, and the "next man up" philosophy is noble 

, but at some stage the talent is tested and Tarwin would dearly love to have more players available than they currently have.

bye: Thorpdale