Round three

An early season Easter break was a rare chance for a deep breath before a long season demands a physical and mental commitment that will soon start to separate the contenders from the rest of the pack.

At least that is what is supposed to happen, but you get the feeling this season, like last, will take a little longer to get some clarity as to who the major players might be.

Hill End v MDU

MDU arrived at the home of Hill End with every intention of building on their round two success.

and in doing so, starting to make up for some early ground lost in round one.

The Rovers had shown that they could be competitive, but had their work cut out from the very first bounce on the weekend, eventually going down  to an impressive and more complete outfit. 

MDU 23-9-147 to then Hillsmen 7-3-45. 

Rhett Kelly, MDU coach “Solid performance from our boys today. We played another 4 quarter-game, which was great to see. Hill End came out firing after halftime, and we were able to absorb the pressure and get it back on our terms for the remainder of the game. It's super positive to have all 21 players contributing and playing their roles.

The Demons certainly appear to have quickly progressed, and with each of the team contributing one can expect even bigger scalps to be taken in the weeks ahead.

As good as the win was for MDU, it was also a reality check for the valiant Hillsmen who, as much as they gave an honest performance, just found it hard to match it with the class and big bodies of their opponents.

Adrian Burns, Hill End coach “they are a good side, and yes they do have some big bodies all over the ground, we tried so hard and gave some really talented youngsters, and I need to make sure that even in losing these eighteen year olds keep positive.”

The testing winter months lay ahead for Hill End, but if the group can hang tough through the testing times, there will be no doubt they will come out the other end much stronger.

Mirboo North v Tarwin

The Tigers started the season with some mixed fortunes but were very much of the belief that their weekend clash against Tarwin was a most winnable game, even if their early matches had shown some areas of improvement were still needed.

The Tigers won by a solitary straight kick, in what was a thriller, albeit a low scoring game, 6-7-43 to 5-7-37. 

Damien Turner, Mirboo North coach “Great to get a win on the home deck. We really put a focus to bounce back after Boolarra, and work on some key areas.

The boys responded which was really pleasing. It wasn’t the prettiest affair, and Tarwin certainly didn’t go away!”

Winning ugly is fine, winning any way you can is a  must, as different opposition will throw up varying tests each week.

The Tigers hung tough and despite there being very little between the two teams, the Sharks will no doubt highlight a number of areas or instances that could have turned the game in their favour.

Lachie Jones, Tarwin coach “A tough day for us as Mirboo North were just a bit better when it mattered and executed some better fundamentals. I did feel our endeavour and intent was good all day.”

Its a fine balance each week to motivate players so that they are willing to put their bodies on the line, but at the same time, composed enough to execute as planned when in the midst of pressure, it’s never as perfect as you want it, but improvement each week is the key to turning “one kick losses” into “one kick wins.”

Stony Creek v Yinnar

Taking the scalp of a premiership contender is never an easy task and the Yinnar side had been the hunted for long enough in recent years to be well prepared for almost any encounter.

The Lions with a win under their belt prior to the Easter break were keen to secure a victory against the odds, but it wasn't to be on the weekend, as the visiting Magpies flexed and shook off comfortably the home side.

Yinnar 11-11-77 to Stony Creek 4-6-30.

Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “Very happy to come away with the four points. We’ve had trouble at Stony Creek in the past, so we were very conscious of that and put some time into making sure we started the game well. 

First half we played some good footy, but dropped off in the latter stages of the half. Was a bit of a scrappy second half, which we did not capitalise on our opportunities in front of goal. But overall, glad to get another win on the board.”

Yinnar are still a way from where they have planned to be from late last year, but already early in 2025, the signs are quite obvious that they are on track for bigger and better things.

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek coach, “Came up against a very well drilled Yinnar side who were much to good on the day, lads done very well to battle it out all day.”

The Lions are a good side, and the fact that the Magpies could do what they did, should send shivers down most other sides in the competition.

Last year’s runners up appear to be every bit as good as the season prior, but with an extra season of experience under their belt.

It is however a long season, and all sorts of things, good and bad can happen in the next four months.

Thorpdale v Foster

An interrupted start to the season for Foster had made it hard for the Tigers to gain any real momentum.

A round one bye, round two success, an Easter break and now Thorpdale on their home ground, was not an ideal way to start the year, but nevertheless the Tigers did what they needed to do,  and did it with class, 17-18-120, all over Thorpdale 7-3-45.

Sam Davies, Foster coach “Really strong performance, especially in the second half. Thorpdale have plenty of strengths and we were able to break even in a lot of those areas which really helped us get the game on our terms. Going 6/6 for the club across football and netball is the most pleasing thing for the club however.

Our man on the ground saw the match like this “Joel Monger was elite in the ruck and arguably best,  Mick Allott and the fleet of Tiger on-ballers headed by boom recruit and star player Angus Norton saw ample supply for the star studded Foster front half to kick a winning score. 

Whilst huge in his efforts Kayne OConnell was simply a victim of supply in his battle with Jake Best. Best finished with 4 majors but had at least twice as many gettable shots.

Toner was huge across half forward as was Morris across half back.

As if the new recruits weren’t enough the usual suspects in Rathjen, the medal recipient for BOG, Clark and the cast of Flavelkes will cause plenty of worry’s for opposition coaches across the season.

Non playing Thorpdale coach Daniel Taylor, forced to pull on the boots and didn’t shirk the issue playing at times, on the last line of defence.

Harrison Sinclair Stanley, Mitch Gorman and new recruit James De Virgilio have plenty but simply ran out of juice against a Foster midfield that runs at least 7 or 8 deep.

Cory Meloury, 3 goals, is a find for Thorpy but with so many of their best 21 missing the fact they kicked 3 last qtr goals after going scoreless in the third term is perhaps the biggest take away for the Blues

Daniel Taylor, Blue’s coach “Completely out worked and comprehensively beaten by a very good side in foster. We had too many lapses in concentration and too many basic skill errors which gifted foster easy goals which was disappointing. Credit where credits due though, I thought Foster were fantastic and if Jake Best had his kicking boots on we would have lost by a lot more. It's obviously only early but they'll take some beating in my opinion.”

In short, it’s safe to say Foster is no doubt a contender in 2025.

Toora v Fish Creek

As tough as Toora can sometimes be on their home deck, the opposition don't come much tougher than what the Magpies faced on the weekend, in Fish Creek.

The Kangaroos might not yet be playing at the level they plan to later in the season, but the quality of personnel means that they are a formidable opposition at any time of the year.

Fish Creek 14-6-90 to Toora 7-13-55.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek coach “A tight contest all day, a real arm wrestle. Toora moved the ball really well and made it hard for us to defend. We were able to get the game on our terms toward the end of the 3rd quarter and last quarter which was pleasing.”

The scoreline indicated the Kangaroos finishing in front of goal played a major part, but the effort, tenacity and pressure applied by the Magpies shouldn’t be overlooked.

Jai Acardi, Toora coach “We played really good high pressure football for a half against the competition's best side and really took it up to them unfortunately we couldn’t quite sustain this for the journey. To Fish Creeks credit they just kept a better tempo for longer in the match. Whilst not pleased with the end result by a long way we are seeing signs of the team starting to gel which is positive. We now have another bye which will give us a chance to tweak a few things before we take on Stony Creek at their home ground where they are tough to beat.”

Toora has already shown signs of significant improvement, even in losing.

The Magpies still have a way to go, but the journey has started.

Boolarra v Morwell East

A stand alone game built and planned for the Anzac Day long weekend was a just reward for two clubs that have recruited well and worked hard for a successful 2025.

Boolarra on their home deck had planned to have former AFL star Mitch Robinson in their line up but a suspension for him the week prior through a spanner into the works.

However former AFL Saint Stephen Milne was secured late in the week and the Demons looked to be about as good as they could hope to be as they welcomed the visiting Hawks to their round three blockbuster.

Early signs were that the clash was going to deliver as promised, a fiercely fought contest with both clubs going goal for goal in the first term, the home team Demons leading at the first break by just seven points four goals two to three goals one. 

What was a tight and tough first thirty minutes didn't change much for the next thirty, with goals becoming harder and harder to come by.

The half time margin favouring the home side by a solitary point.

The Premiership quarter was when the cream rose to the top with Boolarra really putting their foot on the throat of the visiting Hawks, opening them right up to a lead of better than three goals.

Brendan Mason, Boolarra Coach "Really happy to be 3-0 for the first time since 2008 after a spirited win against a tough opposition. With the game in the balance at half time it was a credit to the side to be able to win the second half ten goals to five and lock away four valuable points. 

Mitchell Robinson replacement, Stephen Milne, was made to earn his handful of goals from a resolute East defence while Robbo earnt his keep running a half time clinic for the kids.

At our defensive end Chris Wangman and Rob Micheledis provided plenty of headaches for us."

From there things got even worse for Morwell East as the Demons left Morwell East standing racing away to a comfortable thirty three  point win.

Paul Henry, Morwell East coach "Boolarra was better for longer. Their pressure was excellent and they used the ball better than we did. We were good in patches then a send off in the third quarter really did some damage.

Hopefully we can bounce back against Tarwin next week."

The victory for the Demons continues the perfect start to the season for Boolarra and raises some serious concerns for Morwell East's aspirations in 2025.

Bye: Newborough