Round 6, Yinnar Rec Reserve
Yinnar 16.7 (103) to Fish Creek 16.12 (108)
Fish Creek prevailed in an instant classic over Yinnar on Saturday by just five points. The weather and crowd at Yinnar provided a finals-like feel and so too did the footy played between these two terrific sides. Despite looking to have the game wrapped up several times, Fish Creek had to scrap and fight to the very last second to hold on.
The Creek led at every change and had what could almost be considered a safe four-goal lead heading into the last term. The game promised plenty and didn't fail to deliver, despite Yinnar Captain Ben Cheffers consigned to the runner's role and Fish Creek's cult hero William McTaggart not taking the park.
In Cheffers' absence it was James Jacobsen who set the tone with a huge tackle inside the first few seconds. But it was Fish Creek's Levi Cocksedge who kicked the opener, and when Charlie Wilson popped up for the first of his five for the day, the visitors were up and running.
First gamer Mason Thomson then slotted a remarkable set shot from 35 out after a pair of 50 metre penalties. The travelling team went into the huddle with their noses just in front, and never looked back.
A six-goal second term gave the Kangas a 22-point buffer at the main break. Yinnar came hard in the last, with Mick Geary kicking two for the term and McColl exceptional all day, but Rhett and Jack Wiedemann, Jack Hayes and Luke Williams stood up when it mattered most.
You just hope these two sides see each other again in the post season. They've played some rippers in the last few years, this one as good as any of them. Mitchell Berechree
Tigers maul hapless Hillsmen
Round 6, Foster Showgrounds
Foster 27.13 (175) to 4.8 (32)
The league's only remaining undefeated side did what they have been doing all season in racking up a monster win over Hill End. They are going so well in all aspects of their game that their quarter time score was in fact enough to match their opponent’s efforts for the entire match.
Coach Jake Best, who booted ten, to make it 17 majors over the last fortnight, said after the game that the “first quarter was a really good hit out with Hill End booting the first two goals, but then we got the game on our terms.”
And when those terms include having Angus Norton, Jack Flavelle (who kicked five), and Bailey Angwin, as the best trio on the park it is going to be hard for any side to top. And any doubts about Foster not playing out the game were put to bed with them booting nine and then ten goals in each of the last two quarters.
For Hill End, Seth Calway was the only multiple goal scorer with Ambu Uliando, Aaron Fawcett and Harry Moore named their best. They have been competitive with some good sides this year, but as coach Tom Hallinan surmised post-game, he and his boys got “a dreadful reality check” after their visit to Foster. Mitchell Berechree
MDU exorcise their demons
Round 6, Meeniyan Rec Reserve
MDU 20.6 (126) to Toora 5.10 (40)
After last week’s loss to Stony Creek, MDU coach Rhett Kelly referenced “effort” ad-nauseum to anyone who’d listen. So, you just had to know the Demons would come out firing this week. And so it was, as MDU bounced back to the winners list, rolling an inaccurate Toora. They jumped the visiting Pies, and kept them off the scoreboard in the first quarter, before kicking five goals to three in the second term to lead by the best part of five goals at the main break.
Patrick Kerr, who missed last week’s game, welcomed himself back into the fold with a dozen of the finest to take his season's tally to 21 from just the four games. On Kerr’s game, coach Rhett Kelly commented “it was great to see Paddy Kerr get on the end of a few,” before adding he was “super pleased with the effort Cooper Quaife gave us after returning to the side following a couple of games in the reserves.” Kelly also praised Best on Ground Jacob Whiteside and fellow defender Thomas Nevin with the coach saying “Whiteside played a key role in the backline alongside his best mate Tommy Nivan; both had excellent games.”
Toora coach Jake Smart said after his sides’ loss, that “we had plenty of scoring opportunities but we couldn’t quite put the score on the board.” He went on to praise “great performances from Josh Halsall in the middle and Tex Dyson up forward” with Dyson being Toora’s only multiple goal kicker for the day. Smart himself joined Halsall and Dyson in his side's best three but was quick to point out “the effort from all the boys was great” before lamenting a series of in-game injuries that eventually “got the better of us” and killed the contest. Mitchell Berechree
Sharks keep circling
Round 6, Tarwin Lower Rec Reserve
Tarwin 15.9 (99) to Stony Creek 10.10 (70)
Tarwin chalked up win number three from their five games to sit a game clear of Newborough in sixth spot. Knowing Stony Creek would arrive full of confidence after last week’s win over MDU the Sharks set an ambush and led 3.4 (22) to a single point at the first change.
Post game, Stony Creek coach Troy Shepherdson reflected on this fast start, noting it “was the difference in the contest, with their fast ball movement and straight kicking setting the tone”. With the next three quarters seeing Tarwin boot 12 goals to an inaccurate Stony Creeks 10, it is hard to argue with his assessment.
Remm Dal Pozzo slotted four for Tarwin with Brodie Senior-Gibson grabbing three. Dal Pozzo was joined in the best by Jordan Staley and Lucan Harmer for the winners. Coach Lachie Jones also commented on the performances of Dylan Garnham, whom the coach said “played a great game all round” and Ricky O’Loughlin who “played a selfless game too at full back.”
For Stony Creek it was a case of what might have been had they turned up ready to rock and roll from the first bounce. After quarter time, they out worked Tarwin and had two more scoring shots than the winners. Tully Bernaldo and Luke Firth got two each for Stony Creek with Liam Harrington and Jai Bright their best. Mitchell Berechree
