Sweet taste of victory for Blues
Thorpdale v Tarwin
They say every loss you have, you are closer to your next win, and for Thorpdale that elusive win has been coming for a long time now, a very long time.
Hosting Tarwin was another chance to secure victory against a side whose confidence had been shaken in recent weeks after some indifferent form and finally after more than 1000 days the Blues tasted victory, defeating the Sharks 12-11-83 to 8-18-66.
A fast start for Thorpdale, had the home side in the right frame of mind, sometimes believing you can do something is half the battle and with an early 28 point lead the Thorpdale unit started to believe.
Blues coach Ray Pickering was elated with the super effort from all 21 players. “Finally after 1001 days we have a win.
“Last week really stung the group into action bringing the right attitude, energy and commitment, a great day for the club and our members and supporters,” he said.
It was the sort of day that makes playing the game, even watching the game worthwhile, seeing the genuine happiness in achieving something special by a tight group of players, of mates, it may have been just one victory that by many more successful clubs, might go unappreciated, but not for the Blues.
With all that said, there was also a losing team, and Tarwin would have been disappointed that with more scoring shots than their opposition, they couldn't have made more of their afternoon.
Hill End v MDU
As the injury list builds for Hill End so does the pressure to find a 20 that can and will continue the Rovers winning streak.
MDU came to play but as they have done in recent years the Rovers found a way to win, it wasn't pretty, but it was a win and it kept the Hill End sides unblemished record intact, 616-52 to 5-10-40.
The match was as fierce and as tough as any you are likely to see in the 2021 season, and also an indication that there is likely to be more sides than just the six that will be worthy of making up the finals.
Hill End coach Mike Santo described it as a battle. “MDU are a very well organised side, we found it hard to pierce the zone on many occasions, we had to take some risks, which provided us with some scoring chances, which we squandered.
“Our lack of forward pressure on the scoreboard and tackle was the worst for the year, they did an amazing job on Amburupa, but that allowed Jack Hudson to have a big impact."
That is the Rovers strength, the "next man up" mentality that coach Santo is only possible when the depth is available, and that depth makes them very hard to beat.
MDU coach Peter Harris said it was a tough high pressure game from both sides. “Hill End just had the poise to kick goals at critical times, always maintaining a slender lead. Our boys improved on last week and played out all four quarters, however strong efforts against top sides isn't acceptable, we are demanding more, the boys are already setting themselves on a big effort next week."
The "Clash of the Demons", MDU v Boolarra, looms as a must win for both sides, but it probably isn't as big as the top of the table match between the unbeaten Hill End and Mirboo North.
Mirboo North v Fish Creek
The outcome of this match was always going to give a strong push as to who might be staking their claim for a top of the ladder position.
Both sides unbeaten, with some respectable scalps to their credit, but the task in lining up their respective form to determine a winner prior to the match was a difficult one.
Mirboo North won 11-15-81 to 10-8-68.
The Tigers had most of the ball early but 10 shots on goal only produced two goals in the first 30 minutes, and that inaccuracy didn't improve before half time with their three goals and 11 points giving the home side just a fivepoint lead.
Mirboo North coach Josh Taylor said it was a tough game “We knew it would be, apart from 10 minutes towards the end of the second, I felt we controlled the game and realistically if we had of kicked straight we would have been up by five or six goals at quarter and half time.
“Can't give opportunities like that to quality outfits like Fish Creek but to my boys credit, they stuck their nose over the ball and got it done."
Fish Creek have already shown they will be a contender come September, but there is still a little work to be done.
Another big test test looms however this week, when they take on the only other unbeaten side in the competition, Hill End.
Morwell East v Stony Creek
How a side responds from defeat can always give you an indication of the quality of a team, not so much their talent, but more the intangible quality of mental toughness, and after embarrassing performances a week earlier, both of these teams were desperate to grit their teeth and do what needed to be done to get the job done.
In the end it was a strong win to Morwell East 15-11-101 to 3-4-22.
Stony Creek, at this stage are the only side who are yet to win a game but will have Thorpdale in their sights next weekend. Newborough v Boolarra
Boolarra entered this clash as favourites on the back of their strong win over Thorpdale last week, but it was always going to be a test for the Demons, who have been guilty of losing focus at the most inopportune times, this was one of those times.
Newborough, securing their first win of 2021 with an impressive 15-17-107 to 14-7-91 victory.
Yinnar v Foster
Anticipated to be a clash of two finals contenders, the outcome was going to go a long way to determining who might be on the right track and who still had some work to do.
It was an almighty contest with both sides having their chances, but it was Foster who did the job with a narrow 7-11-53 to 7-8-50 victory.
The Tigers probably won the match in a second quarter burst that had them leading by 20 points at half time, Yinnar doing everything possible to reel the visiting side in for the next sixty minutes, only to fall short by a kick for the second time in just three weeks.
The win has Foster, breathing down the necks of the top few sides and ready to pounce on any stumble that they might have, in the meantime they also need to keep winning themselves.