Tiger in ominous form against Boolarra
Round 2, Boolarra Recreation Reserve
Boolarra 5.7 (37) to Foster 31.15 (201)
Foster sent a warning to the rest of the competition with a huge win over Boolarra. The reigning premiers caught Boolarra at the right time, with several NT-based players unavailable and coach Brendan Mason watching from the boundary, but any time you rack up a double ton you are going better than OK.
Mason could have been forgiven for feeling cautiously optimistic at the first break, with his side only trailing by ten points. "We had the first four scoring shots before Foster hit back," he said.
"It was one of the tougher days I've been involved in at this club." He knew his side was up against it, particularly when Foster's replacement for their missing medal winner turned out to be AFL-listed Luke Tapscott, who brings SANFL and VFL experience.
"After quarter time it was all Foster, Eddy and Best couldn't miss," Mason said. "It's going to take a very good team to beat them."
A dozen touches for Eddy earned him best on ground, with Jak Best and Jack Flavelle slotting six goals apiece. Jack Weston, playing his first game at Foster since crossing from Toora last year, was named second best after spending the afternoon collecting the ball at will. Mitchell Berechree
Dees in four-point thriller
Round 2, Yinnar Recreation Reserve
MDU 13.7 (85) to Yinnar 13.11 (89)
It was the game of the round, and arguably the game of the season so far. Yinnar held off a ferocious MDU fightback to win by four points in a contest that swung violently in both directions before the final siren mercifully ended it.
Yinnar led by seven at quarter time, blew the game open in the second term to lead by 39 at the main break, then watched MDU storm back to within a kick in the last before steadying to hold on. The defining moment came via a free kick to Tom Robertson in the centre, after Nick Nagel's ill-advised tap, which Robertson converted to push the margin back to a goal. It proved just enough.
Zac Carroll and Josh Schelling were enormous for the visitors and may yet poll strongly in the league medal. Sam Walsh, Blake Van Der Meer and new recruit James Jacobsen were outstanding for the winners, along with Lachlan Pratt up forward. MDU lost vice-captain Steve Forrester to a shoulder injury at half time.
Coach Rhett Kelly was "proud of the boys and the way they responded." Winning coach Sam McCulloch said "to our credit we steadied late and were able to hold on." Mitchell Berechree
McKnight makes history as Hawks grind out win
Round 2, Ronald Reserve
Stony Creek 4.5 (29) to Morwell East 8.9 (57)
A determined Morwell East chalked up win one for the season with a strange sort of 21 point win over Stony Creek. Scores were level at one point each at quarter time. East were up by 20 points, 4-4-28 to 1-28, at the main break. Scores were level at three quarter time with both sides on 4-5-29, with the final quarter seeing the home side slam home four majors to no score to run out winners.
Stony Creek coach, Troy Shepherdson, said in the post-game “East came out and defended really well in the first quarter and set themselves up for the win.” Shepherdson felt his side dominated play in this space but gave full credit to East for not allowing them to convert their control in general play to the scoreboard.
There was a subplot that made Saturday's result about far more than four premiership points. Stony Creek's Ryan McKnight pulled on the maroon jumper for the 418th time, breaking the all-time club games record previously held by his father Don McKnight at 417. Mitchell Berechree
Sharks come from behind to sink the Dogs
Round 2, Newborough
Newborough 7.6 (48) to Tarwin 13.6 (84)
Pat Frendo’s Dogs slipped to zero and two on the ledger coughing up a strong quarter time lead at the kennel to Tarwin. The Sharks prevailed by six goals, despite trailing by three goals at the first change.
The key away win sees Tarwin move to two zip for the season and makes them the best of the rest behind the big four. Lachie Jones and Fergus Warren were in the Sharks best with Troy Harley slotting three majors with two each to Cumming, Dal Pozzo and Mahoney.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Sharks however with coach Lachie Jones acknowledging that, “in near perfect conditions Newborough really got the jump on us and placed us under some significant scoreboard pressure early.”
If not for the handy work of Fergus Warren and Mark McCall in the Tarwin defence, who Jones commented were “solid in defence all day” the margin may well have been greater.
Taking the chance to regroup at the first break, Jones urged his side to remain composed and placed a real emphasis on “getting our hands on the ball to get our game style going.”
As if to put the coach’s words into effect immediately up stepped ruck duo, Ricky O’Loughlin and Jordan Staley, who Jones said “really lifted and gave us first use of the ball”. This, he continued, saw the game played predominately in the Shark front half after the first break which ultimately led to the Sharks recording win two of their season. Mitchell Berechree
Hillmen too strong for Toora
Round 2, Toora Recreation Reserve
Toora 5.6 (36) to Hill End 10.7 (67)
A second trip to South Gippsland and a second win for Hill End. This time the Hillmen got the better of Toora. The win sees Hill End join Tarwin amongst the second chasing pack and with so many new players in their line up you’d expect plenty of improvement still to come.
Hill End coach Tom Halliman echoed these thoughts saying it felt like a game played between “two sides still finding their feet”. Halliman said Toora pressed hard early with the breeze but his back half, led superbly by Jaryd Riddle, “continually intercepted or were able to spoil any marking opportunities”.
For Toora the coach, Jake Smart, slotted two goals and helped him get named as best on. Aron Rhodes too managed a pair of goals with Tex Dyson kicking one.
Smart said he felt “the game was competitive” but “unfortunately we couldn’t put the score on the board.” He lamented his side “letting the ball out too easily across our half forward line”. In terms of better contributors Smart noted Jared Bent, Karl Grift and Jordy French as those that continued well. Mitchell Berechree
Fishy runs riot after slow start
Round 2, Terrill Park
Mirboo North 4.6 (30) to Fish Creek 23.12 (150)
After skipping away to an early lead at Fish Creek things could not have gone much worse for Mirboo North after quarter time. A seven point lead for Damien Turner’s boys turned into a 120 point loss as a fired up Fisch Creek ran riot. Whilst slamming on seven, six and eight goals in each of the last three quarters they managed to keep Mirboo North to just the solitary major after the first change.
Turner said he felt “we started well and brought the pressure” but unfortunately for him his side was unable to retain the rage after the first break. When asked about the opposition Turner replied “they have recruited strongly again” which anyone who has seen Fish Creek this year would find it impossible to argue with.
Speaking of Fish Creek recruits the leading goal kicker on the day was Will McTaggart, the recruit come cult hero, who slotted home six to compliment his ruck work. Tom Cameron and another recruit in Jackson Weidemann helped themselves to four each with Wiedemann joined by Brady Mitchell as the best two players afield for Fish Creek. Mitchell Berechree
