Footy Round up

With Rob Pobblestone

ROUND 16

Toora heartbreak in season defining loss

Boolarra 15-14-104 v Toora 9-6-60

Round 16, Boolarra Rec Reserve

There was no guarantee of finals action for the winner, but it would most certainly be the end of the road for the loser, as these two finals contenders clashed just weeks from the finals. In the end, it was heartbreak for the Magpies, losing by 45. 

Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach spoke after the game. “Motivation was high heading into today’s return clash with Toora after a heartbreaking loss just three weeks ago when we last met. Both sides had different personnel available due to injury with both being evenly matched in a hard first quarter which saw us take a two point lead at the first break.

We put the clamps on Lockie Marr and Jake Smart to start the second quarter and things slowly turned our way. With Matt Windsor turning back the clock and more than breaking even in the ruck, Bailey Flanagan was able to get forward and impact the scoreboard. He and coach Brendan Mason joined Josh Wilson as goal kickers and at the main break the home side led by 19 points.

The second half saw us hold and then extend our margin at each change until the final score saw us home by 45 points. Simon Noy, Brendan Mason and Bailey Flanagan were amongst our better players, while for an under-manned Toora, Josh Hassell and Lee Craig were excellent contributors.”

Jay Acardi, Toora’s coach said, “Obviously not the result we were after yesterday. We started well in the first quarter and were playing good football but for the last three quarters we were well off the pace. To Boolarra’s credit they were able to control the match and play it on their terms.”

Tigers maul Hawks

Foster 19-8-122 to Morwell East 7-12-54

Round 16, Foster Showgrounds

This was the David and Goliath battle, top of the table Foster taking on cellar dweller Morwell East. The expectation was that this might not end well for the bottom of the ladder Hawks having to face the force of the Tigers on their home ground, and so it was.

Sam Davies, Foster’s coach said, “Second week in a row we have kept a team goalless in the first quarter and to two goals at half time which is a really big positive. Our contest work was really good, especially from our mids going up against big Jacobsen. We didn’t allow a dominance or clean takeaways from stoppage and gave our defenders every chance by putting pressure on their ball carriers. It was nice to see our forwards get reward too.”

For the Hawks, it was frustratingly the same story, some patches of what you would like to see, but too much of what you don’t. Depth is an obvious problem as coach Paul Henry does the very best he can with the talent he has at his disposal. Henry said, “We took it up to the ladder leaders in Foster. They won comfortably in the end but we played some good footy. If we played like that in our previous week's, we may have won a few more.”

Sharks keep finals hopes alive

Hill End 10-8-68 v Tarwin 14-15-99

Round 16, Willow Grove Rec Reserve

Hill End at home were up and about, and two wins under their belt in the past fortnight had the Hillsmen believing that three in a row might be possible, even against a Tarwin side that could accept nothing less than a victory to keep their finals hope alive. The Rovers feel short by 31 to the visiting Sharks. 

Lachie Jones, Tarwin’s coach said he was “Happy with the result today and to break a 4 game losing streak. We were able to set the game up in the first quarter and that proved the difference really. We took the game on and played with a real intensity that brought all players into the game. Our forwards took their chances and played with the freedom we wanted them to.

Well done to Hill End who battled away and made us earn the 4 quarter effort. Fates out of our hands in some ways and we look forward to a week off next Saturday then regroup and MDU in round 18.”

Adrian Burns, Hill End’s coach said, “our boys can’t be questioned, they keep giving their best, it was always going to take time, a few injuries didn't help our cause, with three of our better players going down, but it was a good game, we were right in it for a lot of the day."

Hop in their step as Fish Creek eye finals

Fish Creek 18-11-119 v Newborough 6-3-39

Round 16, Newborough

No one can question the honesty in effort that comes from the Bulldogs, struggling with injuries for most of the 2025 season. The weekend however presented yet another challenge in the shape of Fish Creek, which in the end proved too much.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek’s coach said it was “A really good game against Newborough. It was pretty close in the first half with a few momentum swings. It was good to see in the second half that we stuck to the task with our work rate and pressure lifting to end up with a good win.”

You get the feeling that Fish Creek are slowly building to their best, with two premierships in the past two seasons, the possibility of further improvement is an ominous sign for any opposition, as the Bulldogs saw first hand on the weekend.

Pat Frendo, Newborough’s coach said it was a “Tough day yesterday. Very similar to the first time we played Fish Creek. Really did our best to stay within a few kicks right up until the third quarter and then they put the foot down blowing it right out which is disappointing. Credit to them, fit and firing heading into finals, they’ll be tough to beat again.

Lions fall to Tigers

Mirboo North 8-12-60 to Stony Creek 7-10-52.

Round 16, Stony Creek Racecourse

Stony Creek may not have had finals action on their mind when they clashed with Mirboo North, but the Lions were well aware that a rare win for them could derail the season for the visiting side. For the Tigers it was all or nothing, their eight point win crucial for their finals hopes.

Damian Turner, Mirboo North’s coach said, “Back into the W column with a tough fought one down at the racecourse. It was a close tussle all day and credit to Troy’s group for never going away. I was proud that my boys stood up and had important moments when they had to.”

The win, ensures the Tigers keep a tenuous hold on a coveted finals position and with three teams chasing their spot the pressure is unlikely to end until the very last moments of the home and away season. The Lions had their chances to throw the Tigers season into disarray only to fall short and not for the first time this season.

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek’s coach called it a “Tough contested game against Mirboo North with many late changes but another week we fell agonisingly close at the final siren.”

It’s been an unfortunate but common theme for Stony Creek, and an area to be reflected on and improved on in season 2026, but for now it’s all about those that have grabbed their chance and now have an opportunity to secure a piece of the finals action.

Bye: MDU, Thorpdale and Yinnar.

ROUND 17

Roos show ominous form against Dees in finals preview 

Fish Creek 13-14-92 v MDU 7-5-47.

Round 17, Terrill Park

A preview to a potential finals clash in just a few weeks, this was tipped to be somewhat of a chess match in round seventeen, Both teams had already locked away a top six spot so it was considered to be a match where the learnings might just be as important as the result. In the end, the Kangaroos were comfortable 45 point winners over the Demons.

The reigning premiers of 2023 and 2024 are well placed and on track in their quest for a third premiership in a row.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek’s coach said it was a “real grind against MDU, scores even at half time it was on a knife’s edge. MDU were scoring almost every time they went inside 50 so after half time we tightened a few things up, our midfield started to get on top and some better entries into our forward line. Really happy over the last month with our pressure and intensity for four quarters.”

The key for Fish Creek in many ways is just to be a healthy group as they hit finals, and every club wants the same, but the weekend also exposed that the Demons still need to find something a little extra if they were to meet Fish Creek again.

Rhett Kelly, MDU’s coach said it was “Another great winter’s day for footy. The first half was solid, with both teams really going hard at it. I thought our pressure was really good. It looked like it would be a tight game, but Fishy took it to another level after the halftime break, and we just couldn't match them, which was a bit disappointing. They definitely showed why they're one of the top teams in the competition. As disappointing as the weekend's result was, we won't let just one-half of footy dictate our next game or our finals run, so we learn and move on quickly.”

The excitement, the pressure and the privilege of finals is now just a fortnight away and from there everyone knows that anything can happen.

Stony Creek end season on a high

Stony Creek 21-11-137 vs Hill End 9-9-63.

Round 17, Stony Creek Racecourse

With wins hard to come by for both clubs throughout the season, Hill End and Stony Creek approached the weekend believing the victory was theirs to grab.

The Rovers with two wins from their past three matches were slightly favoured against a Lions team that had come close to a win more than a handful of times only to time and time again fall agonisingly short, however the Lions did what they have rarely done this season, flexing their muscle and showing what they are capable of. 

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek’s coach “Great for our Boys today to play four quarters of the footy I know we are capable of playing, and to get back on the winners list.”

The Lions have shown “patches” of what they are capable of throughout the season, but these moments have only kept them in games rather than have them winning them. The Rovers in many ways have been much the same, their core group of experienced and talented players, surrounded by a young group who will take time to reach the level required to add to their rare wins this year.

Adrian Burns, Hill End’s coach said, “having a young group, a long season, it all means you will have results like we did on the weekend, every week I’ve felt the boys have given their best, and it all helps, win or lose, their development for the season ahead.”

Foster sharpen teeth as finals loom

Foster 14-15-99 to Mirboo North 2-6-18.

Round 17, Mirboo North Rec Reserve

Mirboo North faced perhaps the biggest challenge in MGFNL football right now, welcoming the in form and top of the table Foster Tigers. For Foster, it was a chance to fine tune their already impressive game style on their way to an all important first final in a fortnight. For the home team however, it was all about  trying to find a way to win, in any way possible.

In the end it proved to be a bridge too far for the home team Tigers, going down by 81 points. 

Sam Davies, Foster’s coach said it was a “Good day for the club at Mirboo North - great to see our reserves get another win for the season. We did enough in our game, strong wind going to one end meant it was hard kicking up the hill and we missed a lot of chances we’d normally take. Our defensive structures are in great shape which is a big positive going into the pointy end of the year. 

It’s a big week for the club with the Worksafe week happening - we were lucky enough to be chosen to be 1 of 6 clubs throughout country Vic to be part of this fantastic initiative. We’ll have guest speakers Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as well as a lot of promotion for the club and all our great volunteers. On field we get another look at Fish Creek before we play them again in three weeks in the qualifying final.”

That final, will give the winner direct entry to a grand final, but between then and now, as coach Davies highlighted, there is a week to absorb something special around Foster.

Mirboo North on the other hand understands there is still some work to be done, just to be part of finals, the weekend highlighting some shortcomings.

Damian Turner, Mirboo North’s coach said it was a “Tough day against a polished Foster. The Wind was up early and my boys started well, but, Foster asserted themselves in the second and showed why they sit on top of the ladder. Poor skills and decisions let us down, and let Foster into the contest more often then we would have liked. But now we move on quick.”

The “quick”, being the very last round of the home and away season where the Tigers, meet Boolarra, another team precariously placed around the top six, both of whom realise only a win will present the chance for finals.

Blues win bolsters finals dreams

Toora 6-15-51 to Thorpdale 11-8-74.

Round 17, Thorpdale Rec reserve

Thorpdale hosted a talented Toora, understanding that anything short of a victory for the Blues could severely compromise their chances of participating in the upcoming finals. The Magpies, in what would be their last game of the year (given they have a bye next week), did what they could to throw the home side's season off track, but ultimately fell short. 

Daniel Taylor, Thorpdale’s coach said he was “Glad to get the win and cement a spot in the top six which has been an aim of ours since the pre-season. Tricky conditions with the wind so it wasn't the best spectacle but I was happy enough with how we played. Toora started well and probably let us off the hook early with some inaccurate kicking but after quarter time I felt we were in control for the rest of the game.”

Jay Acardi, Toora’s coach said “We came up against a determined Thorpy who were up and about on their home deck. The two 25s went hard through the midfield which was great to watch. Unfortunately we fell away and couldn’t go with them when it counted. Good luck to Thorpdale and the rest of the teams heading into finals. It should be a great end to the season.”

Bye: Boolarra, Morwell East and Tarwin