Sharks bite too much for Rovers
Round nine marked the halfway mark of the home and away season and gave some sort of indication where clubs could “hope” to be but with no guarantees. Tarwin v Hill End
After fending off all comers in the opening rounds of the season, Tarwin entered this game unbeaten and sitting on top of the league ladder. However, the Sharks were well aware Hill End would possibly provide their biggest challenge to date.
The Rovers, fresh from a week off, and with coach Mike Santo wanting to send a warning shot ahead of any likely meeting in the future, knew that this game was worth more than four points. It was also worth a mental edge to the victors, an edge that Tarwin wrestled away in no uncertain manner, winning 15.14-104 to 5.10-40.
“It was great that the boys stood up on the big stage,” Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said. “Really proud of the whole group. The boys are enjoying the footy and that’s all that matters.”
Life is good for the Sharks; a strong group, good depth and a game style that is yet to be broken by an opposition club.
“Tarwin were way too good for us on the day,” reflected Santo. “They set up really well behind the ball. Troy Hemming has a great group with plenty of size and zip on the outside. They link up tremendously well and work for each other.”
“We were sloppy with ball in hand and our depth is really becoming an issue, we have more issues now to add to the list,” Santo added.
If ever there was a season where a coach can impact a club’s season, it appears to be this one. You get the feeling Santo might be starting to feel the pressure, and that’s when he is at his most dangerous.
Fish Creek v Yinnar
It was D-Day for Fish Creek, sitting third to bottom on the ladder, three games from the league’s top six and three games behind their weekend opponent Yinnar.
The Magpies had both the opportunity to kill off Fish Creek’s final hopes and chance to climb tantalisingly close to the top sides in the competition.
In short, there was a lot to play for, for both sides. However, only one could be rewarded, and in this instance it was Yinnar with a comfortable 11.10-76 to 3.6-24 victory.
“We got a five goal jump in the first quarter with the help of a pretty strong breeze,” Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor reported. “The second and third quarters were a real arm wrestle, with Fish Creek having a lot of the momentum and territory, but not being able to hit the scoreboard which was a credit our back six. We managed to kick another three in the last to pull away for a comfortable win.”
“I’m really proud of the boys for digging in,” Taylor added. “It was a great win and a really important one for the group.”
An important win for Yinnar was a costly loss for Fish Creek.
“It was a bit of a reality check for us,” Fish Creek coach John Danckert said. “We got left in the barriers and were down five goals early. We fought back in the second and early in the third quarter, but Yinnar were too good in the end.”
The Kangaroos season is far from over, but winning and stringing wins together is now crucial, starting with their clash with Thorpdale this coming week.
Foster v Boolarra
This clash promised so much. The Tigers sat precariously in sixth spot with a handful of clubs desperate to reel them in if they faltered. The Demons sat third and within just percentage of moving into the coveted top two.
Both in sensation form, Foster proved too good, winning 8.10-58 to Boolarra 6.9-45 to start a move up the ladder.
Foster coach Sam Davies said it was a galvanising win for his group with some really special moments post game.
“We got our reward for efforts in the third term,” Davies said. “Boolarra are a really well structured team who are where they are on the ladder for a reason.”
It was possibly one that got away from Boolarra, the Demons seemingly in control early in the day.
After controlling most of the first half, Boolarra coach Tony Giardina was left to lament 15 minutes of football which cost the game.
Kicking the first goal of the third quarter against a strong breeze, Giardina said “the game turned on its head with Foster kicking the next seven goals.”
“It puts us right back in the pack with more big games to come,” he said of the result.
MDU v Morwell East
On their home ground and with everything to play for, MDU had prepared themselves for a “finals like” clash with the visiting Morwell East.
A win for the Hawks was a non negotiable for coach Devon Soutar, and his team delivered 15.16-106 to the Demons’ 7.5-47.
“We were outplayed all day by a better side,” MDU coach Peter Harris said. “We need to turn a few things around for next week now.”
Morwell East are slowly putting together the type of football that will trouble any side in the competition, and the team is also doing it for longer.
“We felt like we controlled the game across all quarters which is something we have struggled with so far this season,” Soutar said. “The connection and trust within the group is growing, and we are starting to all swim in the same direction.”
Mirboo North v Toora
A winless Toora turned up with the belief this weekend could deliver their first win.
Confidence in catching an out of sorts Mirboo North was blown as the Tigers refused to give up their season with a 14.9-93 to 8.10-58 win.
Mirboo North coach Josh Taylor said the tough conditions, with wind roaring to one end of the ground, made it a very defensive game with both playing loose backs.
“It was nice to break away in the last quarter and have a nice win,” Taylor said.
For Toora, players like Jack Weston, Peter Grant and Lukas Jenkins kept the Magpies in the game for much of the afternoon.
“The boys fought hard all day and made a comeback at the start of the last quarter to come within three points,” Toora coach Matthew Ponton said. “But that probably broke the legs on us, as we couldn’t keep up with them for the final 15 minutes. Mirboo North are a lot better than the ladder suggests.”
Stony Creek v Newborough
Just a game out of the top six and returning to their home ground, Stony Creek were as prepared as they could be for an in-form Newborough.
However, the Bulldogs are hungry and ran out comfortable winners, 10.14-74 to 4.8-32.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner was impressed with the ground which withstood 180mm of rain in a week and still had the ball bouncing by the final siren.
“We played an undermanned Stony Creek that turned on the South Gippsland weather,” Skinner said. “We did well into the wind to stop Stony from getting a head start and managed a small lead at half-time. It wasn’t worth the $12 entry but we got going after half-time with Josh Hecker in the midfield and Joel Mitchell marking everything in his area. Very happy to have driven home with the four points after nine games in a row.”
The effort from the Lions was genuine for most of the day, but the pressure is starting to build as each passes.
“Well, in tough weather conditions against a strong Newborough outfit, we didn’t get the result we were after,” Stony Creek coach Jai Acardi said. “But the boys cracked in all day, and that’s all we asked for.”
BYE: Thorpdale