Mid Gippsland round 3 review.
by Rob Popplestone
Thorpdale v Foster
Thorpdale, as honest as they are and as aggressive as they can be, fell short in round two, and this weekend a challenge every bit as demanding when they take on an impressive Foster outfit.
Daniel Taylor, Thorpdale coach “Round two was disappointing as we couldn't get the game on our terms all day. We got beaten on the inside and comprehensively beaten on the outside by a fit and fast MDU side in hot conditions. We just couldn't go with them on the spread, we couldn't get any pressure on the ball carrier which meant their forwards became a real handful. Looking forward to our first home game of the year against Foster, it's another big game.
The Blues will need more of their best from the likes of Jacon Patullo, Heath Ferguson, Shaun Falla, Travis Patten and James De Virgillio, just to name a few, but it will take support from another dozen to really take it up to Tigers.
Sam Davies, Foster coach “We look forward to going up to Thorpdale and seeing how we go. They’ve recruited well - so they’ll test us big time”
Blues coach, "Tac" Taylor is capable of getting his side up and about for clashes just like this one, and he will need to as well, as this Foster team appears to be the real deal.
Toora v Fish Creek
Toora have gone from the heat of Yinnar to the fire of Fish Creek in the space of a fortnight, the Magpies might be at home, but the task of taking on the reigning premiers on the rebound is as tough as it is likely to get.
Mind you Toora were reasonably happy with some of their efforts against last year's runners up, Yinnar, in round two.
Jay Acardi, Toora coach “We played some really good football in the first quarter where our pressure was up and our ability to move the ball was on point, this week it’s a another Massive task in round 3 coming up against Fish Creek who will be looking to bounce back from their round 1 defeat but we will be ready for the challenge.
The Kangaroos may have won the ultimate prize two years in a row, but in a new year, like Toora, they were beaten by Yinnar also in the opening round.
Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek coach “There were some positives with a few first gamers as well. Some polish and game style proved too strong in the end so credit to Yinnar.
It will be two weeks off for us after a round two bye, so a few weeks off to regroup and iron out a few deficiencies…,,Looking forward to taking on Toora, always a physical contest and never easy at their ground.
We took a lot of our first game so looking to put some of our learnings into practice."
Stranger things of happened (mind you I can't think of them at the moment) but they say you only ever lose if you don't learn, so if Toora can walk from the ground having giving their all and taken some lessons along the way, there is no doubt they will be a better side for it.
