Blues take hold on four
Thorpdale’s hold on a top four spot became somewhat firmer after accounting for Morwell East 13-12 (90) to 11-8 (74).
Even with a lot of footy yet to be played, it was games like this one that Morwell East needed to win in order to take that next step out of the bottom half of the ladder and into the top five when it counts, at the business end of the season.
The Hawks jumped out of the blocks early too, making the most of every opportunity and converting five goals from six opportunities in the first quarter, leading the home side by 11 points and giving the visitors every reason to believe they could claim the scalp of a top of the table side.
Rob Michaelides up forward was at his best, making the most of every opportunity and proving to be a great go to forward for his running midfield teammates..
Thorpdale’s Greene boys, Ed and Hugh were also busy up forward, and well supported by the likes of Brad Atkinson, Gavin Low, Corey Celima, Brett Gatehouse and Phil Bennet.
The Blues wrestling back the lead by half time to the tune of 16 points.
The visitor had to dig desperately deep to stop the home sides’ momentum in the third quarter, so as to keep in touch and give themselves a chance to steal the game late, which they managed to do.
The East well served by Frank Marks, Matt Brown, Brandon Francis, Zach Mangion and Matt Cunningham, while Michaeleidis continued to give his all and would eventually finish the day best for the Hawks and with six goals to his name.
The margin was just 15 points at the last break and the game was there for either side to take, but Thorpdale proved the steadier.
Both teams attacked and added four goals each in the final term, but it was Thorpdale that proved to be the steadier of the two sides with Ed Greene finishing the day with four goals, and supported by the likes of Mitchell Gorman, Brad Atkinson and Chris Redl, all with two each.
The Blues solid winners in the end by 16 points. Mirboo North v Hill End The Tigers made it three in a row with their 13-19 (97) to 5-3 (33) win over the Rovers.
The Tigers are coming, make no mistake about it, another convincing win nurturing the growing confidence within the reigning premiers football club, that they will be there when it really counts.
The signs were not really that obvious early in the game an innocuous start by both teams with very few opportunities taken, the home side registering the only goal of the quarter and leading by that margin after the visitors could only manage two points themselves.
It was in the second quarter however that the Tigers really started to find their way to goals, only inaccurate kicking not blowing the game completely out of reach by half time. Mirboo adding five goals and nine behinds, a total of 14 scoring shots insuring a healthy lead of 32-points at half time.
Playing coach Josh Taylor is looking more and more comfortable each week in his new role and he was being well supported by the likes of Jake Nash, Zac Kilgower, Joe Brooks and Daniel Taylor.
The Rovers seemed to have really lost their way in recent weeks, injuries to the coach Mike Santo and others is proving to be all too much, some splashes of fine play all to few, and now left to just a handful in the team. Yarragon v Yinnar It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing, but it was a win as Yinnar held Yarragon at arm’s length for most of the day, winning 8-10 (58) to 6-11 (47).
Too many times this year, lapses for periods of the game have cost Yarragon and this was to be no different.
Hosting one of the benchmark sides in the competition means you have to be ready to play from the first bounce, and the Panthers unfortunately were not.
Yarragon to their credit however didn’t give it up, and that 26-point margin was back to 15 at quarter time and then just seven at the major break.
The Panthers with some momentum and capable of causing one of the major upsets of the season.
Thomas Follet, Joe Kilday, Dean Fitzgerald, Devin Pollock Rob Wallace and Michael Whyte, were showing they could match it with the leagues’ best players.
The Panthers are a side that continues to improve, but as yet is not getting the reward it deserves. Boolarra v Newborough A change of game plan and a change of result for Newborough, comfortable winners over Boolarra 14-15 (99) to 3-6 (24).
Michael Gelagotis was awarded the inaugural Rod Taylor medal for best on ground.
The late Rod Taylor was this year inducted into the MGFL hall of fame and a medal struck in his honour, supported by the Maryvale hospital, to be awarded to the best player each year in the match between Boolarra and Newborough.