Blues still have work to do
The wet might not have arrived, but the windy and wintry conditions came in strong for the first weekend of the new season.
The conditions gave coaches and players some tricky conditions in which to work their magic.
Handling the ball less, being more direct, running in straight lines and numbers to the contest were all more important than ever.
Thorpdale v Foster
It’s been a very tough month for the Thorpdale team. The Blues have been on the end of some terrible beatings; losses that would have tested the resolve of the entire playing group.
Coach Ray Pickering has continued to be a pillar of strength, carefully highlighting the “good” within those defeats. It’s also provided the coach some clarity as to the type of people he has around him, beyond their obvious footballing ability.
The answer is clear, there is still work to do after Foster won by more than 10 goals, 18.13121 to 8.7-55.
Foster coach Sam Davies said “it was nice to get consecutive wins.”
However, he also wants improvement, with too many lapses from his players.
“We just need a lot more touch and game play.”
For Thorpdale, everything needs to go right and a slow start to the games was not and part of the plan.
“We didn’t show up in the first quarter and the game was essentially gone,” Pickering said. “After quarter time, we were much better, showing some real strong patches of good footy. We just need to start sustaining it for longer to give ourselves a chance of winning.”
A bye might be just what Thorpdale need at this stage of the season. On the other hand, the Tigers are slowly putting it together and on their day have proven to be capable of matching it with any team, spelling danger for many in the league in the second half of the year.
Boolarra v Stony Creek
There was so much on offer to both of these clubs, with Boolarra having the opportunity to start to “firm up” their position in the top six and Stony Creek needing a win to stay in touch with the top portion of the ladder.
In front of a home crowd, the Demons delivered a comeback win that had to be seen to be believed, 11.16-82 to 9.5-59.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina was happy to get the points.
“It’s the worst start to a game yet this year. Credit to Stony Creek, they were first to the ball and were playing great footy to be up by 44 points just before half time. But to our boys credit and quite a few changes, it was an awesome comeback, and to keep them scoreless for the second half was great.”
The loss was a tough one for Stony Creek coach Jai Acardi after a game of two halves.
“We got off to a really good start and in the first half played some of our best football of the season to date. Enter the second half, and Boolarra came out full of running and we came out polar opposite. To not register a score in a half of football raises plenty of questions for us.”
MDU v Yinnar
It was always going to take the very best that MDU had to fend off a rampaging Yinnar side.
After displaying rare form in the past fortnight, it took time for the visitors to get some sort of control in this contest. But once they did, Yinnar strolled to a comfortable 10.12-72 to 4.11-35 victory.
MDU coach Peter Harris reflected the first half was tough contested footy but they missed chances and Yinnar took their opportunities in the second half.
Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said it was a real arm wrestle early, with the game played on MDU’s terms.
“We had to change things up at the main break by putting our bigger bodied players around the contest, which swung the game our way,” Taylor said. “Kane Grinstead Jones and Cal Sheils were fantastic and really set the tone in the second half. We managed to get the game on our terms by gaining territory, which allowed us to hit the scoreboard. Really proud of the boys, it was a great win.”
You get the feeling, even better wins are in store for Yinnar.
Morwell East v Toora
There would have been some sleepless nights for Morwell East coach Devon Soutar in the days leading up to his side’s clash with the visiting Magpies.
As it turned out, Soutar could have spelt well as his side won 17.13-115 to Toora’s 2.4-16.
“We knew if we jumped out and took control early, it would reduce the belief and resistance from a proud but severely undermanned Toora,” Soutar said. “It was a sharp first half that put the game to bed, but our squandered opportunities in the second prevented the margin stretching any further. Despite some sloppy execution, our desire to pressure and compete never waned.”
Toora coach Matt Ponton said his side got off to a slow start with a number of injuries impacting his side.
“Two goals to three in the second half showed we can play, it just needs to come earlier,” Ponton said. “Hopefully the injury bug goes away and we come next week with our first win.” Newborough v Fish Creek
Newborough have quickly reached a standard of performance that has been missing at the kennel for a number of years.
This newly formed team of talented youngsters came up against a Fish Creek side with their backs to the wall, and rose to the challenge, winning 16.12-108 to the Kangaroos’ 6.5-41.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner said it was a cracking start to the game with fast ball movement and precise kicking in windy conditions.
“After a reminder what Fish Creek did to the boys last year, they stepped forward not backwards, and went to another level in the second quarter playing a great brand of footy in front of the club’s members and sponsors,” Skinner said. “Our midfield, led by Mikey Rosato, was the difference.”
The Bulldogs have the privilege of depth and that also demands performance from those given opportunity, something that is being delivered more often than not.
Fish Creek coach John Danckert said it was a good game of footy and was proud of his boys for having a dip.
“We matched motors early in the first quarter, the second we were blown away,” Danckert said. “Momentum is massive and they took that away from us in the second quarter.”
Tarwin v Mirboo North
With an unbeaten record of six from six and facing out of form Mirboo North, it was hard to see the Sharks faltering.
The visiting Tigers, however, have always been at their most dangerous when they are on the edge of failure. But, on this weekend, the magic was gone as they visitors were overrun 5.9-39 to the Sharks’ 14.8-92.
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming praised Mirboo North’s work around the stoppages, the Tigers on top for most of the first half.
“But my boys came out in the third quarter and played our way,” Hemming said. “It was a hard fought win as we know Mirboo North have been a successful team for a long period of time.”
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Tigers coach Josh Taylor who is desperate to have his best 18 on the park.
“It was a tough day,” he said. “We had the bye last week and was expecting seven, maybe eight, guys back in the side. Unfortunately that didn’t work out, COVID snuck through the squad and we had 12 out of the seniors. Satisfied as a club we were able to get two sides up with nine under 18s filling out the reserves to make sure we got a game for all players. As a coach, I couldn’t have asked for more from the players, everyone had a go and tried their hearts out.”
That result surely spells the end of finals hopes for the Tigers.