Rovers show killer instinct
Hill End showed they have the killer instinct required for finals, showing no mercy for Thorpdale in a devastating 2815183 to 2-7-19 win.
The Rovers have, in many ways, been the story of the 2019 season. Their rise from cellar dweller to premiership contender has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Within 30 minutes the home side bounced out of the blocks and to a better than eight goal lead at quarter time over the bottom team.
That impressive first quarter, was backed up with another in the second term, the Rovers adding a further nine goals and keeping the Blues to just the one goal at half time.
Hill End coach Mike Santo said “it was a solid win for the boys as we try and fine tune a few things before finals, and an 18 goal first half set up the win and was highlighted by some high skill level and brilliant passages of team footy.”
Another 10 goals were added to the tally by game’s end, which in itself is still impressive given the game was well and truly won, but it also proved that the Rovers are ready for their first taste of finals footy in more than a decade.
Thorpdale on the other hand have done it tough in 2019, but at least they’ve done it.
Coach Ray Pickering said “the boys toughed it out against much bigger and stronger opposition, credit to the boys for fighting out the year and turning up every Saturday with a smile and an upbeat attitude.”
Their season will end next week, while Hill End’s will start with dreams of a premiership that has avoided them for almost a lifetime.
Yallourn-Yallourn North v Trafalgar
It was workman like, nothing really dazzling, but effective nonetheless as Yallourn-Yallourn North accounted for Trafalgar 13-6-84 to 2-719.
This was always about the Bombers’ fine tuning what is already regarded as a well oiled machine ahead of finals.
Trafalgar would have liked to claim a significant scalp in a season in which the reigning premiers have had very little to celebrate, and there is no more significant scalp than that of the unbeaten Yallourn-Yallourn North.
However, it was evident very early on that the Bombers wouldn’t be the Blood’s bunny as they quickly assumed control of the game and turned what was an 11 point quarter time lead to a match winning eight goal margin by half time.
YYN coach Barrie Burnett said “it was a very scrappy game in poor conditions.”
For Trafalgar the end is near, and the season hasn’t delivered anything close to what was hoped, but coach Clint Eisendel remains positive about his team’s efforts.
“I was pleased with our application again, we got really good numbers in contested footy and tackle count. We had trouble scoring with a lack of fire power up forward.
“Yallourn-Yallourn North were just a little cleaner and probably kicked six goals in ten minutes, which killed the contest,” he said.
It’s a trait that has become common with the top of the table Bombers, putting a game to bed in a short space of time, but as the finals loom, the premiership favourites will be well aware that there is still work to be done.
Newborough v Morwell East
It took Morwell East little time to shake off a determined Newborough side, but when they did, they looked the goods in their 13-13-91 to 4-9-39 win.
With the slimmest of chances that a top three spot might show its head for the Hawks, the fourth placed visitors were super ready to stamp their authority on the game early.
The Bulldogs had prepared for the contest and dreamed of an unlikely win that would make it three wins in a row on the back of a very testing 2019 season. For the first hour it appeared that there was a chance that it may in fact may happen, just five points separating the two sides at half time.
The Hawks were desperate to run out the game with power and confidence after their last quarter fade out against YYN.
Morwell East currently sit in fourth spot on the MGFL ladder, just percentage short of Hill End, a position they are likely to maintain given the opposition both teams face in the last round, it will mean an elimination final and a lot more pressure than they faced on the weekend.
The Bulldogs fell short, but gave the Hawks a contest they needed and half a scare they didn’t expect, that won’t hurt as they get to finals football.
Yinnar v Boolarra
Yinnar won the match in a fashion that indicated they might may be hitting form at the right time of the year with a dominating 20-29149 to 6-4-40 victory over Boolarra.
Yinnar was always going to win the match, but now more than ever it was crucial that the Magpies started to put together a convincing team performance that was four quarter strong.
Injuries and availability had meant that for many weeks of the home and away season, the 2018 grand finalists had battled to showcase their best football.
It was only inaccuracy that put a blemish on the Magpies first quarter performance, with just four goals from 13 shots on goal at the first break.
At half time they had straightened themselves up and put the Demons away, adding another nine goals and holding a better than 10 goal lead.
The Demons might be at the wrong end, but they have battled for most of the season, while Yinnar have had their share of issues as well, but you get the feeling their best might actually shine through under the spotlight of finals, which doesn’t bode well for their likely opponent in Morwell East.
The weekend win of more than 20 goals and nearly 50 scoring shots on goal indicates the Magpies are ready for the next step.