Elimination Final 1, Mirboo North Rec Reserve
Fish Creek 13.10 (88) to Tarwin Lower 7.8 (50)
After over-coming a slow start and a spirited Tarwin last quarter come-back Fish Creek got the win they needed to keep their season alive on Saturday at Mirboo North. Coming in on the back of a surprise loss to MDU in Round 18, Fish Creek made seven changes to their lineup. Tarwin made just two, one of which was reversed on match day when Dylan Garnham pulled out.
Only seven points separated the two at the first break. No that the first quarter was a great example of the skill and quality of both sides, with what must have been close to a world record number of kicks going out of bounds on the full including three shots on goal in a row by Fish Creek. After a raft of failed attempts on goal, it was Tarwin’s Dal Pozzo who eventually broke through for the game’s first major some sixteen minutes in. This was countered by the first of six to Fishy’s Charlie Wilson who snapped truly from fifty.
Fishy’s coach used ruckman Rhett Widemann as a seventh defender to start the second term and it immediately paid dividends, with him repelling Tarwin’s first forward foray and tuning defence into attack. As if having to outshine his brother, it was Jackson Wiedemann who slotted the first of the second term which saw the momentum shift his side’s way.
Blaine Coates was getting his hands on everything and if it were not for some inaccurate kicking the Kangas may well have had a much greater lead at the long break than they did. In fact, it took Jack Hayes drifting forward from his role at centre half back to right the wrongs of the Fishy forwards and slot the second of the term for Fish Creek. When Wilson kicked truly again and the lead was out to 33 points it looked as though the contest was over.
But Tarwin refused to give up, and with Ben Chalmers and Louis Armstrong coming to the fore the Sharks rallied, booting the last two of the half to get back in touch at the long break. Both came off the boot of Toby Mahoney and both were absolute rippers.
However, Fishy snagged three for the third term with Luke Williams, Jacko Wiedemann and, of course, Wilson all kicking truly. Wiedemann’s in particular was a beauty kicking up the hill from a tight angle to slot his in.
But the Sharks dug in and refused to give up in the final quarter. Their ruckman, Ricky O’Loughlin, who had toiled manfully with Rhett Wiedemann in the ruck all day, channelled his inner Polly Farmer and won clearance after clearance for his side. All the front half territory eventually paid off and Tarwin got back within a neat 20 points after they kicked four in five minutes.
But, as he had done all day, Charlie Wilson popped up and capitalised on some good work from Jai Stefani to stem the tide and when Jacko Wiedemann slotted his third for the day as the final hooter sounded it was Fishy by 38.
Fish Creek named Luke Williams, the Wiedemann boys and Tom Valenta as their best. And no doubt they all had their moments, but I might have found room for Blaine Coates among the leading quartet.
For Tarwin, Louis Armstrong was best on with Ricky O’Louglin, Troy Haley and Lucas Harmer filling spots two, three and four. Not named was Ben Chalmers who I thought was impressive all day long.
Speaking post-game winning coach Jarrod Walker reflected: “We were a bit slow out of the gates and Tarwin were looking really good. We were able to get our running game going through the second and third quarters which was good to see.”
Lachi Jones was not content with the loss, but said he was “super pleased with our effort today. We put up a fight for the majority of the day” before labelling the match “bitter-sweet, with our season coming to a close”. Mitchell Berechree
MDU vs Thorpdale
Elimination Final 2, Willow Grove Rec Reserve
MDU 11.14 (80) to Thorpdale 10.13 (73)
The league’s second elimination final saw MDU keep their season alive with a terrific come from behind win over an injury depleted Thorpdale at Willow Grove on Sunday afternoon. In front of an enthusiastic crowd who soaked up the perfect footy conditions MDU overcame a 12 point three quarter time deficit to run out winners.
Early doors it was all Thorpdale, with the Blues registering the first four scoring shots. After a couple of rudimental misses, it was Jesse Patullo who snapped the first with a ripper across his body from forty out. And when Matt Powell, the man they call Moose, channelled his inner Peter Wilson, Thorpy were travelling nicely.
Enter the game’s biggest influence: Trent McRae. The MDU forward put on a four-quarter clinic on Sunday and started his big day out with a ripping contested mark and goal to get MDU ticking over. After a few false starts, Nick Nagel slotted the first of his for the day and as the first quarter came to a close it was MDU who held a three-point lead.
Thorpy’s main concern at quarter time was being down a key defender, with Jacob Patullo assisted from the field and taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.
Being down a player didn’t seem to hinder the ‘Dales early though, as they went on a four goal to nil run. It was Powell again showing off his athleticism to get things under way with a terrific snap around the corner from a Pickering pass. Anthony Rosato then won a free and kicked truly before turning provider and setting up Aaron Harris for Thorpy’s third of the quarter. And when Rosato found Jerimah Jones, who goaled, Thorpy led by 22 points.
Alas, Powell went down with a game ending ankle injury himself, leaving Thorpy with just one rotation for the second half, and when Brayden Selling kicked a goal on the cusp of the long break MDU had some momentum going to the change and trailed by a manageable fifteen points.
After just nine goals were kicked in the first half, the game started to open up with eight goals booted in the third term alone. Shaun Fella kicked things off for Thorpy but his opening goal was offset by a Nick Nagel major for MDU. Nagel however went from hero to villain in an instant causing an easy shot on goal for McRae to become a Thorpy free kick. The subsequent forward foray saw Trav Pattern kick an amazing set shot from the boundary to give Thorpy a more than handy lead.
Naughty Nick then became Saint Nick when he kicked truly to right his earlier wrong. When this was followed up by a piece of excellent team play that saw Schelling find Tom Kerr who hit up McRae, who again kicked truly, the margin was a more than manageable twelve points at the last break.
With Nagel moved further up the park and getting his hands on the ball at will, McRae went to work closer to goal. And it was this combination that set up the first of MDU’s five last quarter goals. McRae then went bang, bang to round out his day with five before handing the keys to the front half over to Shay Wilson. The little fella in the flash boots helped himself to two majors and in the space of fifteen minutes, MDU had gone from behind to better than three goal leaders with only minutes to play.
For the winners Trent McRae was outstanding. Jamie Youle was in everything as was Zac Carroll while Kieran Bohn and Tom Kerr acquitted themselves well in the back half. For Thorpy Mitch Gorman toiled hard all day as did Anthony Rosato. Shannon Pickering and Trav Pattern provided plenty as did Aaron Harris who I thought was their best for the day.
The Dees will play against Fish Creek next Sunday at Newborough, in what will be a fascinating battle. Mitchell Berechree
