Rovers stand up to pressure
One less match in round 14 of Mid Gippsland football, but it didn’t mean the results were any less important. In fact, far from it, given so much rides on the back of a win or loss for many sides.
With just a handful of matches to go in the home and away season, some coaches will be building towards being the very best they can be before the finals, while others will try to take a brag worthy scalp before their season ends.
Hill End v MDU
The pressure has been building on Hill End for more than a month and, if anything, only intensified on the weekend.
Sitting precariously in fifth position, the Rovers faced the proposition of falling out of the top six given they are being hotly pursued by two teams within a game.
The Demons made the journey to Willow Grove hoping to cause a headache for the home team, but the visitors never really got warm, Hill End winning 12.10-82 to MDU 3.6-24.
With Luke Mulqueen out, Hill End coach Mike Santo was ready for a challenge against an MDU side who defeated them earlier this season.
“We really jumped out of the blocks and controlled the play for most of the match,” Santo said. “Our tackle pressure and accountability is right where it needed to be and needs to stay over the next few weeks.”
MDU coach Peter Davies reflected his team’s tackle pressure was the lowest it had been all year.
“Hill End structured up really well behind the footy and comfortably won the clearances, which made it difficult for us all day,” Davies said.
Santo has his boys going as well as he can in what has been a season of frustrations caused by COVID, injury and the ire of all coaches, player availability.
However, if the Rovers can manage to get everything to click at the most crucial time in just a few weeks, there is no question they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Hill End have faced some adversity this year and one can be sure there will be more to come. However, they have managed to maintain ladder position, and will be ready to strike if the opportunity arises.
Boolarra v Thorpdale
Boolarra have exceeded most expert’s expectations for season 2022 already, sitting third prior to the weekend.
This gave provided an opportunity to climb a spot to second and be in prime position for a short cut through to the grand final. All that stood in their way was Thorpdale, but not for long. The Demons cruised through to a comfortable 15.17-107 to 6.3-39 victory.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said it was good to get another four points after a consistent four quarter effort.
“The only thing keeping us from having a big win was our bad kicking for goal,” Giardina said. “To Thorpy’s credit, they kept going all day.”
The Demons are answering every challenge presented, and the prospect of them further improving will be daunting for those teams that lay ahead.
For Thorpdale, improvement is also needed, but it will need to be complemented by patience.
“The first quarter was a good response to our woeful effort last week, really taking it to a strong Boolara side,” Thorpdale coach Ray Pickering said. “But, unfortunately, as is the same most weeks, we couldn’t sustain it and by half-time the game was essentially over. We fought the second half out well, but Boolara were just too strong all over the park.”
This was a tale of two sides at very different stages of their development. What the Blues might be happy to hear is that, like Boolarra, their fortunes can change very quickly.
Tarwin v Newborough
The unusual layout of the fixture meant these two teams faced each other for the second time inside a month.
After Tarwin grabbed the points on the first occasion, Newborough were super motivated to make sure it was their turn this time around, winning 15.16-106 to Tarwin 11.9-75.
“With a draw that gave us a second crack at Tarwin, we had more to play for regarding ladder positions, and the first quarter showed that,” Newborough coach Craig Skinner said. “We hunted the ball as well as we have all year.”
“The second quarter was all Tarwin, as they denied us the ball and controlled the quarter. Josh Hecker and Mitchell Stanlake got their hands dirty in the third which gave our forwards more chances and Joel Mitchell converted those chances to goals.
“Wade Anderson’s game is going to a new level down back and would be one of the competition’s best attacking defenders.”
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming gave credit to Skinner and his team for a good solid effort and playing a good brand of footy.
“They used the ball really well, on the back of us not pressuring like usual,” Hemming said.
Hemming praised Harrison Cummings and Maxy Burton who came in and played their role, giving 100 per cent effort. It was Burton’s first senior game.
At this stage, these two sides are in prime position to meet again in a final that will provide the winner direct route to the grand final. But with four weeks of football remaining, there is still a lot of work to be done.
Toora v Fish Creek
Confidence is key to performance and momentum is sometimes very hard to stop.
Toora, having reluctantly waited to round 13 to score their first win of the season, were tat home to an undermanned Fish Creek and a very real chance to make it two in a row. Although fighting to the end, they fell short 7.3-45 to Fish Creek’s 9.15-69.
“We always have a battle facing Toora on their home ground,” Fish Creek coach John Danckert said. “We felt like we held them off for most of the day. They challenged us in the last quarter and we responded.”
“It was a hard fought game all day, both teams played with aggression which excited the fans,” Toora coach Matthew Ponton said. “Our running and attack on the ball got the Toora fans excited as well. Jack Weston broke the lines four to five times and really turned the game in our favour. We brought it right to Fish Creek and had our chances, unfortunately a few late goals sealed our fate.”
Yinnar v Mirboo North
Yinnar have come close to, but fallen short of, winning games on nearly a handful of occasions during the course of the 2022 season. They would have no one to blame but themselves if they were to not secure a spot in the final six.
In an unwanted case of déjà vu, the Magpies once again fell short by less than a kick, 6.9-45 to Mirboo North’s 7.7-49.
This loss, more than any other, has sent Yinnar’s season into freefall.
“I know the result reads as a real upset, but knowing the two sides very well like I do, this was a real 50-50 game on paper due to our very long list of injuries,” Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said. “Put the injuries aside, if you can’t follow simple instructions, can’t hit a target and refuse to man up, then you won’t win many games of footy.”
Credit to the Tigers, they did enough to win the game and be rewarded for refusing to throw in the towel.
“Obviously our season playing finals was over, but we still have plenty to improve on,” Mirboo North coach Josh Taylor said.
The Tigers pride themselves for getting up for milestone games, and Dom Pinneri playing his 250th game, which is life membership at the club, was added motivation.
Josh Taylor said his young group dug deep for four quarters.
“I believe we controlled the game for most of the day which was pleasing,” he said. “Yinnar pushed hard in the last and nearly took it from us, but glad we got the win for the group.”
BYE: Foster, Morwell East, Stony Creek.
Next week’s games (home team named first):
Fish Creek v MDU;
Hill End v Yinnar;
Newborough v Foster;
Stony Creek v Toora; and
Thorpdale v Morwell East.
Byes: Boolarra, Mirboo North, Tarwin.
For a full preview, visit thegazette.com.au on Thursday afternoon.