Bloods come out on top

It was perfect conditions for the second round clash between the Bloods and the Tigers in the Mid Gippsland Football League on Saturday.

The Tigers were the favourites going into the game and they started off well with a great clearance from Jake Nash, who was up and about early in the first quarter. The first goal of the game went to Luke Palmer in the opening minutes.

It all looked like it might go the Tigers way at the start of each quarter but with some fantastic defensive work and great forward pressure, the Bloods secured a victory and came out on top 16-14 (110) to 10-6 (66).

There were lots of contested football taking place in the first quarter.

Although Mirboo North did a lot of attacking, Trafalgar just kept up the forward pressure.

The stand out player for Mirboo North was Nash. Hines, Mann and Schajik stood out for Trafalgar with Trafalgar leading 27 to 14.

Having put themselves under pressure, the Tigers started out well again in the second quarter. The Bloods seemed to have the advantage of the breeze during the first quarter so tht Tigers felt that this might give them an advantage.

But after kicking a quick goal in the first few seconds, the wind did nothing to help the Tigers. The Bloods continued applying the pressure and played a beautiful quarter winning most of the stoppages.

Ridgway kicked a much needed goal for the Tigers but the Bloods ended the seconded quarter in front four goals up at 55 to 26.

Trafalgar were certainly looking a different side from last season and were playing with a great deal of passion.

Giardina and Wilson for Mirboo North were not being allowed an easy run at the footy and delivery just wasn’t coming to them.

Goodman started really coming into the game and Hines was taking the ball in his hands, exploiting it and moving the ball for Trafalgar.

With Mirboo North needing a big third quarter, they put Taylor into the middle. Mirboo North missed a kick at goal early in the quarter and Trafalgar responded by maintaining possession with pressure at the other end and a goal from 50 metres out from young Schajik, making that his third.

The game was then really in Trafalgar’s control with Farrell kicking his second and Schajik getting a fourth. Trafalgar won all three quarters easily, heading into the fourth quarter 89 to 34.

The Tigers picked it up a pace during the last quarter but it was pretty even, with what seemed like a goal each end throughout the play for both sides.

Schajik was all over the front line for the Demons but missed two of his three chances at goal and Farrell kicked his fourth.

The Tigers kicked five in this quarter but it was all too late.

Trafalagar’s Matthew Van Schajik kicked five and Lochlan Farrell four.

Almost all of the Mirboo North players kicked a goal with 10 players scoring a goal each.

Trafalgar coach Clint Einsiedel was very pleased with his team’s performance overall.

“It was a bit of a poor start, but we weathered the storm early and things picked up in the midfield, then everything seemed to click in for us after that,” he said.

Mirboo North playing coach Clancey Bennett said it was a disappointing result.

“Trafalgar worked harder and they looked a lot hungrier,” he said.