Thorpdale finding form
Thorpdale finally found some form just a fortnight out from finals by beating Hill End 22-18 (150) to 8-4 (52).
The Blues had not managed to win a game for more than a month and with a fortnight to play were hanging by a thread in fifth position on the Mid Gippsland Football League ladder.
Securing a win was just as much about survival as it was confidence as they prepare to have an impact when it really matters.
Finally the form we saw in the early part of the season bobbed its head back up to not only all but secure themselves a top five and therefore finals position, but also, have the Thorpdale side back in a positive frame of mind ahead of the real stuff.
A five goal lead at quarter time was quickly turned into nine goals by the major break.
The Blues had plenty of goalkickers too, with almost half the side contributing, of which the major players were Brad Atkinson with seven and Ed Green with five.
Atkinson was also judged best on ground, and was well supported by Gavin Low, Jake Atkinson, Kanye O'Connell, Ray Pickering, and E Parker.
In the second half Hill End managed to put up a fight of sorts, adding six goals to the two they had at half time.
The problem however was that Thorpdale added a further 12 to the 10 they had.
The Rovers Gerhard Egerer, Clay Ketchen, Matt Moseley, Rob Fiddelaers, Dylan Brooks and J Hammond were better players, but unfortunately even their best efforts couldn’t stop an impressive Thorpdale side.
The win was really what Thorpdale needed, given their losing stretch had hit five and the players themselves might have been questioning whether or not they deserved their spot in the five.
With fifth spot all but tied up, they can look ahead and start to plan for their inevitable elimination final clash with Mirboo North in a fortnights time, and an opportunity to make good for their quick exit from the finals of 2017. Mirboo North v Newborough Mirboo North continued their surge towards the finals with a comfortable win over Newborough 12-16 (88) to 4-6 (30).
The Bulldogs and Tigers have a recent history of meeting in crucial games in the finals weeks of the season.
This clash was about pride and disruption for Newborough, the Doggies keen to play out the season and steal as many wins as possible while also taking the opportunity of throwing some doubt into the Mirboo North camp as they prepare to enter an elimination final.
The Tigers put their foot to the throat of the Bulldogs very early in the game and really never looked back from that time.
At quarter time the margin was just 15 points, but it was the shots on goal that provided a better indication of just had one sided this match up was.
The two goals and five behinds to no score at quarter time, had been extended by the home side to seven goals and six to a solitary behind by the major break.
Newborough actually outscored the Tigers in the final term, but the damage was well and truly done, the Tigers now firmly placed in fourth position and focusing in on finals.
Mirboo North will have a better indication of where they sit as a side when they take on Yallourn-Yallourn North, and it will be the perfect hit out prior to their elimination final against Thorpdale. Boolarra v Yallourn-Yallourn North The result was never in doubt, just the margin, and the margin was 153 points as Yallourn-Yallourn North did it easy 21-29 (155) to Boolarra’s 0-2 (2).
As much as this match was important for the Bombers to bounce back from last weeks loss to Trafalgar and fine tune ahead of finals, it was also a perfect opportunity for Yallourn’s key forward Dean McDonald to close in on the magical 100 goals in a season.
The leagues leading goalkicker has clear air between himself and all behind him, but had 20 to get to reach the elusive target.
For this to be achieved it would mean making the most of every opportunity and unfortunately that was not to be the case.
MacDonald finished the day with 10 goals, five less than he achieved against the same side earlier in the year, when he actually had 10 to half time.
It also meant he would have to wait at least another week for the individual milestone to be achieved.