Round 13, Thorpdale Rec Reserve
Fish Creek 20.9 (129) to Thorpdale 7.7 (49)
Second-placed Fish Creek headed to Thorpdale on Saturday to do battle with a side only two spots below them on the ladder, yet ran out resounding winners 20.9 (129) to 7.7 (49).
In a quirk we are unlikely to see again, Fish Creek kicked five goals and two behinds in three of the four quarters. Only the third term saw them register a different score when they managed five goals and three behinds. Consistent doesn't quite cover it.
One player who definitely put in a consistent four-quarter effort was Charlie Wilson, who led all comers booting eight for the day including the first and last of the game. The first came around four minutes in, Levi Cocksedge finding the little big man on the lead, his set shot from thirty setting the tone for both player and team alike.
At the other end Matt Powell and Kieran Albanese missed gettable shots for the home side, and after goals to Tom Cameron, Mitch Hicks, best on ground Jacko Wiedemann and Wilson again, Fishy went to their huddle on a high.
Whatever coach Daniel Taylor said at the first break got a response, with Thorpy having the majority of play early in the second. Gav Low started to get over Rhett Wiedemann in the ruck, Anthony Rosato came into the game as did Ayden Ramm and Shannon Pickering, who opened the goal scoring account in his 250th game and seemed, for an instant, to have the locals up and about.
Enter Jacko Wiedemann. His mark and goal from fifty gave Fishy the immediate response, and he went on to set up three more goals in the second term, all for Wilson, before finishing with his second major. Everything seemed so effortless. On the other hand, for Thorpy everything was hard work, Albanese eventually slotting a sensational banana kick for his second and Powell adding another, but Fish Creek went to half time forty-three points clear.
The third term saw Stefani injected into the ruck by Fishy to negate Low's increasing influence, and defender Daneil Holt assigned to Wilson. It mattered little. Wilson opened proceedings for the second half regardless, and after Jacko Wiedemann countered a Falla response for the home side, any remaining jam was well and truly removed from Thorpy's donut.
With Fish Creek's returning skipper Kairon Dorling not taking the field after half time and Wiedemann sitting out with what looked like a nasty shoulder injury sustained in a marking contest with Rosato, Thorpy had some hope of denting the margin in the final term. Alas, Wilson was not done and kicked his seventh and eighth to counter an early goal from Mitch Gorman.
Wiedemann (four goals and thirty-five touches in just three quarters) and Wilson headlined the better players for Fishy, with honourable mentions to Mitchell, Williams and Gavenlock. For Thorpy, Ramm was very good, Low was good, Pattern played well and Rosato, Harris and Holt cracked in.
Post game, Fish Creek coach Jarrad Walker was much less focused on the win than on his club honouring the passing of one of its favourites. "There was a lot of emotion with the passing of Damo Scully during the week," Walker said, noting he was a 2023 premiership player but more importantly "an all-round great bloke." Walker continued: "To see our whole club front up and for the team to put our best performance of the year on display was a real show of character and unity.". Mitchell Betcheree
Sharks maul Hillsmen
Round 13, Tarwin Lower Rec Reserve
Tarwin Lower 15.11 (101) to Hill End 8.5 (53)
A five goal to one second term was the catalyst for Tarwin’s 101 to 53 victory over Hill End in a game that might well shape the finals more than we realise in a month’s time.
Indeed, in the after game Tarwin coach Lachie Jones was quick to point out the importance of the win, describing the victory as “a crucial one today, that keeps our season alive”. Jones said, “I was very happy with our first half, we stuck to our plans and structures, and we had twenty one contributors”
Asked about his side seemingly lighting things up in front of goal, Jones said “we were able to kick a big score today because of our ball movement and our pressure” adding that “Mahoney and Harley were excellent again in our forward line”, the duo kicking four each. In terms of individuals Jones noted “Callum McLeod was superb off half back” before adding “I was really happy with the game from our wings today in Tom Francis, Nick McKenzie and Lucas Harmer”.
As they have done all year, Hill End changed things up when trailing and slotted four goals in a row after the main break to get back within just thirteen points at one stage. Tom Hallinan, the Hill End coach, summed things up rather succinctly when he labelled his team’s effort an “underwhelming performance”.
Hallinan continued that his side came up against “a well drilled team, up and about understanding the significance of the four points on the line”. Hallinan said, “it was Tarwin’s half back line that provided the first point of attack for a multi focal forward line”. Mitchell Berechree
Lions fall to Mirboo North
Round 13, Mirboo North Rec Reserve
Mirboo North 5.5 (35) to Stony Creek 2.8 (20)
In a round highlighted by some big margins and even bigger scores, Mirboo North and Stony Creek played out a dour, low scoring, match, with Mirboo North claiming the win 35 to 20. It took the Creek until the 22 minute mark of the third term to register their first major, and even then they were only three goals down, such was the nature of this battle.
Post game, winning coach Damien Turner referenced the low scoring, noting “a tough breeze coming up the ground early didn’t make it a spectacle for the spectators” before adding “our endeavour and fight was there, we just needed to capitalise.”
It was a sentiment shared by Stony Creek coach Troy Shepherdson, who said injuries to his side were compounded by being “inaccurate in front of goal” with his side registering the same number of scoring shots as Mirboo North in defeat.
Shepherdson was quick to praise Mirboo North and Turner saying, “we played a Mirboo side who were hungry for the contest, credit to Damo for how his side played” before adding “we look forward to playing them again in a few weeks”.
For Mirboo North it was two goals each to Hudson Kerr and the seemingly not yet retired Josh Taylor. In terms of better players, the coach offered up the following: “Nathan Skewes, Beau Peters and Oli Budd held strong in defence. Our engine room led by ruckman Lewis, Chila, Kerr and the Woodalls again showed great support to each other”.
For the Creek, it was singles to Luke Firth and Cody Loughridge with Troy Sinclair, Liam Harrington and Tully Bernaldo their best contributors. Mitchell Berechree
Dees take care of business
Round 13, Meeniyan Rec Reserve
MDU 16.8 (104) to Morwell East 10.8 (68)
MDU did what they needed to do when taking care of Morwell East 104 to 68. It wasn’t all one way traffic for the Demons though, with East taking a slender lead to the quarter time huddle in a quarter where both sides managed five majors.
Goals came in bunches with East getting the first of the game before MDU slammed home five in a row only to see East kick the last four of the term to earn their single point margin. It took until after the fifteen minute mark of the second term for MDU to find the lead again, one which they wouldn’t give up for the rest of the day.
A last quarter surge saw MDU increase their ten point three quarter time margin to the final one of thirty-six points, or a neat six goals. Nick Nagel and Tim Harris did the majority of the scoreboard damage with five and four goals each. For their efforts they were joined in the best by Josh Schelling and Trent McRae.
MDU coach Rhett Kelly said after the match that “it was great to get back on the winner's list” adding that it was “a solid contest against Morwell East, who really challenged us at different stages of the game”.
Asked about the final quarter that saw MDU put a margin on East, Kelly noted “the biggest positive for us was finishing strongly. We played a really good last quarter, which allowed us to come home with the four points and build some momentum”.
For East it was two goals each to Birchall, Darby-Lock and Mangion. Birchall was joined in the best by Frank Marks and Bailey Galante.
Post game East coach Ben Marks said “We had a very tough game against a taller MDU”. He continued that “the boys fought tough all day but fell short again before adding on a positive note that it “was good to see more thirds boys get senior exposure”. Mitchell Berechree
Tigers roll on
Round 13, Foster Showgrounds
Foster 30.23 (203) to Toora 5.2 (32)
Top of the table Foster asserted themselves after a down week last round booting 203 to Toora’s 35. Coach Jake Best slotted ten in his return and commented after the game that he was “really happy with our four quarter performance.” Shaun Chaseling booted seven with Bailey Angwin joining Lachy Rathjen and the irrepressible Jack Weston in the winning side’s best players.
For Toora, Chris Baker, who starred against Boolarra two weeks ago, was again best on with Josh Halsall and Jared Bent. It was all singles in terms of goal kickers for the Pies.
The drubbing came after a minor scare for the Tigers, who were almost upset by Stony Creek in round 12, pinching a win over the Lions in the last quarter 52 to 69.
To put it in perspective, Foster sits atop the ladder, undefeated. Stony Creek are in the bottom five, having won just three games.
Who were they to be in front seven goals to one? Surely things would correct themselves in the third term, the premiership quarter. Well sort of. The Creek still led by fourteen points at the final break. Sure Foster were inaccurate but they were still meant to be a dozen or so majors in front, even without Brett Eddy and Jake Best. Right?
Well, the reason the biggest upset in living memory isn’t being written about is that Foster found a gear, or two, and stormed home kicking six goals to one in the last term to get the result by seventeen points.
Tom and Cameron Stone were joined by Tyler Neal and Jai Bright as the best for Stony Creek with Luke Firth again leading the way in terms of goal kickers with two. He was the only multiple goal kicker on the day for Stony Creek with half a dozen team mates booting singles.
For Foster it was Jack Weston who was best on. He was joined by Tom Schnieder and James Morris as the best afield for them and like Stony Creek Foster too only managed one multiple goal scorer with Lachlan Rathjen kicking two. Mitchell Berechree
