Bulldogs defeat Sharks for grand final berth
From 13 teams at the start of the season, only four remained heading into the weekend.
The best of the best in the MGFNL competition were played as though their footballing lives depended on it. The fact is, they did. It must be said that all four teams played as though they wanted to be the last club standing in a fortnight.
A late change of venue for the qualifying final, from Fish Creek to Stony Creek, was seen as a good decision. The surface promised to be the best possible for the top two teams.
Qualifying final: Tarwin v Newborough
Stony Creek on Saturday
The quirk of the 2022 fixture meant this would be the third time these two teams had met in just over eight weeks, with the record heading in standing at one win apiece.
The reward was obvious - direct entry into the grand final, rather than the need for a do or die preliminary final clash.
It might not have been the best game you’ve ever seen. However, for the Bulldogs, winning ugly was fine, kicking 7.15-57 to Tarwin’s 3.5-23.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner said his team’s mindset was “expect the unexpected and deal with it as best we can” as they entered their first final in six years.
And they did. Newborough lost best key defender Nic Caldow in the first 15 minutes when he twisted his knee in a tackle and didn’t return as the league’s premier forward Joel Mitchell kicked one goal and eight points.
At this point, he felt “the competition’s best side is circling like we are the wounded fish”.
“For us to win, we needed the cream to rise,” Skinner said. “And right on cue, Josh Hecker, Zac Skinner and Liam Flahavin control the middle of the ground and allow our backline to gain the ascendancy due to Tarwin’s rushed entries.”
He said this allowing the Wades - Smith and Anderson - to control the aerial contests and rebound from half back.
“To be able to match Tarwin, then increase the pressure around the ball, was this group going to the level required to win a grand final,” Skinner said. “Now they believe in themselves as much as I do.”
The half-time scoreline of 2.8-20 to 1.3-9 favouring Newborough, probably gives some sort of indication of the type and style of game that was being played. Opportunities were rare and weren’t always taken when presented.
The Bulldogs got what they wanted and what they needed. However, Tarwin believes they are better than what the weekend showed.
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming says, “we allowed their ball movement to happen and our skills were poor”.
“Simply just a bad day, and we know we will be better for it,” Hemming said.
Sometimes the footy gods don’t look down on you. But sometimes you also don’t get a second chance.
For the Sharks, they desperately want another go at the Bulldogs after being the benchmark team of the season.
“They had a day out, we didn’t,” reflected Hemming. “Few too many contests where we needed to half it and we didn’t. The boys will be ready for a preliminary final this week.”
Skinner also believes the Sharks are not done yet.
“Troy’s Sharks are wounded but they will reset and bounce back hard like good sides do,” he said. “They didn’t finish on top by accident.”
The Sharks simply cannot have another bad day, or a season that promised so much will amount to nothing. They deserve better than that.
Elimination final: Boolarra v Yinnar Newborough on Sunday
Winning form is good form and both Boolarra and Yinnar had earned their positions in this final on the back of super impressive performances.
The expectation was for a physical bordering on fiery clash in the opening minutes, with both sides wanting to assert control over the other.
Finals footy, however, is a tenuous mix of physicality, resilience, and most importantly the temperament and focus to stay with the team’s plan to win the game.
Yinnar withstood some early pressure before applying some of their own. This led them to a comfortable and impressive 52-point win, 16.14-110 to 9.4-58.
Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor says it was another outstanding effort from his boys.
“We cracked in early and got the game on our terms, which was very pleasing,” Taylor said. “We had a full contribution right across the board, and the boys are really playing for each other.”
“We now have confidence, momentum and belief at the right time of the year, which can be very hard to stop,” he added.
It was Yinnar at every turn, leading by just four points at quarter time, 24 at the main break, and an unassailable 50 points after the third.
“Although Boolarra would be disappointed with the result...they’ve had a fantastic season and have laid the foundations to really launch into next year, which is good to see,” added Taylor.
The Demons should be pleased with their year as a whole, with outstanding performances more times than not. On Sunday, Yinnar proved to be that little more composed and steady throughout.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said he was proud of how far the club had come in just one year.
“Today wasn’t our day,” Giardina said. “Yinnar were too clean with the footy and too good all over the ground.”
Tarwin would have been looking on and preparing as best they can for what awaits them. They are sure to have some headaches this week at the selection and planning table, given how the Magpies cut through the Demons.