Mid Gippsland local teams rd 2 reports

By Mitchell Berechree

FAIRER weather certainly resulted in some much higher scoring across the MGFNL on Saturday. And if anyone thought a tough round one battle would put the slows on the last years Grand finalists, they were horribly mistaken. Foster and Fish Creek combined for three hundred and fifty-one points (351) between in their respective clashes with Boolarra and Mirboo North. Hard to argue that the top two sides from last year won’t have a big say in this years’ finals series.

Toora v Hill End

A second trip to south Gippsland and a second win for Hill End. This time the Hillmen got the better of Toora, 10-7-67 to 5-6-36. The win sees Hill End join Tarwin amongst the second chasing pack and with so many new players in their line up you’d expect plenty of improvement still to come.

Hill End coach Tom Halliman echoed these thoughts saying it felt like a game played between “two sides still finding their feet”. Halliman said Toora pressed hard early with the breeze but his back half, led superbly by Jaryd Riddle, “continually intercepted or were able to spoil any marking opportunities”.

Halliman explained his side was able to “open up their forward line” which allowed his side to “capitalise on the clearance work of Tom Johnstone, Brendan Clark and Zach Mills”. He went on to say that he felt his sides “fitness and composure” late were pivotal in the result.

An even spread in front of goal for Hill End saw seven goal kickers with only Justin Morrow managing more than one with three. It wasn’t enough to earn him the votes with Jarryd Riddle, Tom Johnstone and Harry Moore amongst the best for the winners.

For Toora the coach, Jake Smart, slotted two goals and helped him get named as best on. Aron Rhodes too managed a pair of goals with Tex Dyson kicking one.

Smart said he felt “the game was competitive” but “unfortunately we couldn’t put the score on the board.” He lamented his side “letting the ball out too easily across our half forward line”. In terms of better contributors Smart noted Jared Bent, Karl Grift and Jordy French as those that continued well.  

Foster v Boolarra

Foster sent a warning to the rest of the competition with a huge win over Boolarra. The reigning premiers definitely got Boolarra at the right time with several of the Demons NT based players unavailable and the coach, Brendan Mason, watching on but none he less any time you are racking up a double ton on the scoreboard you are going better than OK.

Mason could have been excused for almost feeling satisfied at the first break with his chargers only trailing by ten points. As he noted “we had the first four scoring shots before Foster hit back.” He continued “it was one of the tougher days I’ve been involved in at this club.” He conceded he knew his side would be up against it but even more so when the opposition can lose last year’s league medal winner and his replacement is previously AFL listed Luke Tapscott who has experience at SANFL and VFL level. 

Mason said after quarter time it was “all Foster, Eddy and Best couldn’t miss” and that it is “going to take a very good team to beat them.”

A dozen of the best for Eddy saw him name best on and he had more than capable support in front of the big sticks with Jak Best slotting six along with Jack Flavelle. And speaking of Jack’s, Jack Weston playing his first game at Foster since crossing from Toora last year was named as second best having spent the day picking up the footy at will.

Fish Creek v Mirboo North

After skipping away to an early lead at Fish Creek things could not have gone much worse for Mirboo North after quarter time. A seven point lead for Damien Turner’s boys turned into a 120 point loss as a fired up Fish Creek ran riot. Whilst slamming on seven, six and eight goals in each of the last three quarters they managed to keep Mirboo North to just the solitary major after the first change.

Turner said he felt “we started well and brought the pressure” but unfortunately for him his side was unable to retain the rage after the first break. When asked about the opposition Turner replied “they have recruited strongly again” which anyone who has seen Fish Creek this year would find it impossible to argue with.

Speaking of Fish Creek recruits the leading goal kicker on the day was Will McTaggart, the recruit come cult hero, who slotted home six to compliment his ruck work. Tom Cameron and another recruit in Jackson Weidemann helped themselves to four each with Wiedemann joined by Brady Mitchell as the best two players afield for Fish Creek. 

For Mirboo North it was all singles to Barnes, Conlan, Mahoney and McDuffie with Beau Peters, Harrison Mahoney and Oliver Budd their best.