Another win has Blues in top six
Thorpdale delivered its most convincing win of the season on Saturday to climb into the top six on the Mid Gippsland football ladder.
The Blues have momentum, confidence and showed no mercy for the opposition, winning 19.15-129 to Toora’s 4.2-26.
Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich described the win as a solid effort after quarter time against an undermanned Toora.
“Undisciplined play cost us a few goals early, which was disappointing,” Winderlicj said. “Our talls all over the ground led the way with some solid contested marking and spoiling.”
As good as Thorpdale were, Toora was a little off its best. With Magpies coach Jack Weston unable to be a part of the action, it was always going to be a tough task.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t there so I really can’t offer anything from the game,” Weston said. “But hopefully we can give something to cheer about next week.”
Hill End v Foster
As much as we focus on the winners each week, credit should also be given to those clubs and players who roll up their sleeves on a weekly basis, do all the hard work but do not walk away with a win.
The Rovers came with good intentions against Foster but failed to really threaten in any way after quarter time. Foster won the game, 17.15-117 to 4.6-30.
Foster coach Sam Davies said he was happy enough with the result on a heavy deck.
“After quarter time we really defended well as a group and only allowed one goal through, which was a massive effort,” Davies said. “That included none in the second half.”
“The last two weeks has seen us get into our groove a little bit more,” he added. “To Hill End’s credit, they fought the game out. Mike (Santo) still has them playing for him.”
The Hill End coach said Foster played well, with great size and strength over the ground.
“We were on top in the clearances for a large part of the day, but couldn’t maintain that pressure in all parts of the ground,” Santo said. “Some encouraging signs from our young players again, which was good.”
Fish Creek v Boolarra
It was fourth versus 11th, but was always thought to be a much closer clash than what the ladder suggested.
The Demons had been on the wrong side of too many matches that could have gone either way and were desperate to turn their season around against the home ground Kangaroos.
What unfolded, however, was Boolarra’s biggest loss of the season and perhaps Fish Creek’s most impressive win, kicking 15.13103 to Boolarra’s 2.8-20.
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said it was a really positive performance from the team.
“A solid four quarter effort with everyone playing their role,” Walker reflected.
As Fish Creek have impressed, slowly building a formidable team likely to match any in the competition, the “mojo” just hasn’t been there for the Demons.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said nothing had changed from their previous four games.
“We keep giving opposition starts and have been getting ourselves back in the game,” Giardina said. “But, eventually, a side is going to take advantage and Fishy did. Winning is like a habit, unfortunately losing is as well.”
MDU v Morwell East
This clash might not have been season defining, but it certainly had the possibility of being season altering.
It was fifth (MDU) at home to third (Morwell East), both teams aware of the importance of a win.
The Hawks, desperate to stop a potential three-game losing streak, now face building pressure after falling short to an impressive MDU, 5.11-41 to 8.13-61.
“Today was a really hard fought win,” MDU coach Nathan Allen. “Morwell came at us all day, but we were able to put four quarters together and come away with the four points.”
They say you only really lose, if you walk away from the contest having not learnt. For Morwell East, they certainly feel the loss has them well placed to be better in the weeks ahead.
Morwell East coach Paul Henry said MDU had a strong side in and made a few structural changes.
“I really thought we played our best game,” Henry said. “It was a great game to watch, both sides moved the ball really well. We kicked a goal late to bring the scores even but MDU had the answers when they kicked the next three.”
“It was a loss, but there were some really good signs shown compared to the last couple of weeks,” he added.
Mirboo North v Tarwin
Touted as the match of the round, this home ground clash for the Tigers was an opportunity to put the Sharks’ season in jeopardy.
Tarwin promised plenty in 2023, but had delivered well short of expectations.
Put simply, it was a win or nothing for the visitors, and they played it as such with a 50-point win, 17.5-107 to 8.9-57.
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said it was a great effort from the boys on a heavy deck.
“Our mids were really good in the contest and we used our kicking skills this week, which was nice to see,” Hemming said. “Mirboo has some good young kids coming through and they will compete against every team every week.”
A Tarwin win would have many wondering whether it might be the start of a run of Sharks form as showcased last year.
Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta said Tarwin’s accurate goal kicking - 17.5 - was a clear highlight of the game.
“It was the third quarter which broke the game open for Tarwin,” Mongta reflected. “The midfield got on top and we had to battle on with 17 men due to a send off rule late in the second quarter. Tarwin was too good for longer.”
Newborough v Stony Creek
The Newborough train continues to roll along, picking up wins, learning about opposition and improving form along the way.
The Bulldogs are good, are likely to be better and that in itself is sure to be daunting for any opposition.
Make no mistake, they were tested on the weekend. But, as good sides do, they found a way to win, 20.5-125 to Fish Creek 15.11-101.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner said Stony Creek brought everything Saturday, “then threw it at us with force”.
“A 10-goal first quarter in perfect conditions for football set the scene for the day, which saw 35 goals kicked,” Skinner said. “After we kicked the first six goals of the third quarter, Chris and his men got their hands on the ball and, after hitting the front halfway through the last quarter, had kicked nine unanswered goals.”
“We found a spark in the midfield through Jake Bowden and Pat Charles, allowing Wade Anderson to light the forward line up to give us a great hard fought win,” Skinner added.
Stony Creek coach Chris VerBoon said it was high scoring from the start.
“We had a really good chance to win the game, and managed to get in front in the last quarter,” VerBoon said. “Newbourgh were able to score quickly when they went forward and it was hard to delay that run. I couldn’t be happier with how we moved the footy.”
Yinnar.