With Rob Pobblestone
ROUND TWELVE
Y-Pies feast on dour Sharks
Tarwin 2-10-22 v Yinnar 21-6-132
Round 12, Shark Park
Third placed Yinnar travelled to the home of fifth placed Tarwin in round 12, with both clubs fully aware that there was an enormous amount riding on the result. The loser would start to feel the pressure of a trailing pack, the winner would breathe a sigh of relief, albeit just for a week. It was Yinnar that took the comfortable win.
Sam McCulloch, Yinnar’s coach said, “Tarwin on their home ground is always hard to beat and we prepared for a tough encounter. The game was hot early and we managed to get our brand of footy going in the second quarter and went into halftime with a handy buffer. We continued on in the second half and ran the game out well. One of the most pleasing aspects was the even contribution from right across the field for all four quarters.”
The Magpies victory, one of their best for 2025, was a reassuring one for coaches and supporters alike, but it put a substantial dent in the confidence of the Sharks.
Lachie Jones, Tarwin coach said, “We were really outclassed all over the ground on the weekend. We prepared well but didn’t execute in so many key areas. Yinnar reminded us that they can score quickly and heavily. We won’t dwell on this too much and will look to respond positively next week against Fish Creek.”
Boolarra no match for fighting Fishy
Fish Creek 11-13-79 v Boolarra 8-6-54.
Round 12, Boolarra Rec Reserve
As tough as Boolarra found last year's grand finalists in Yinnar just a week ago, there was an expectation that the challenge was going to be that much tougher in round twelve when the Demons welcomed the two time reigning premiers Fish Creek to their home ground. And it was a challenge they couldn’t meet. Boolarra now face a fight of enormous proportions after their twenty five point defeat.
Brendan Mason, Boolarra’s coach said. “The revolving door at selection was at an All Time Low this week with the final side not confirmed until after 2pm on game day. The first half was an arm wrestle between two powerful midfields. Fish Creek’s advantage being that they were able to rotate heavily during this time which paid great benefits for them as the game wore on. We didn’t want to be content with yet another decent effort against a good side. We threw caution to the wind in an attempt to win the game in the last quarter.”
That attempt might not have worked, but it showed that Boolarra are courageous enough to try.
Fish Creek Jarrad Walker was respectful of their opponents' efforts. “It was a hard fought win for us. Boolarra definitely came to play, they were really hard at the contest and spread really well which made defending hard. Credit to our mids who cracked in all day and eventually in the second half started to get on top a little bit. An arm wrestle all day so I was happy to come away with a win.”
Toora topple Hillsmen
Toora 21-18-144 to Hill End 14-10-84.
Round 12, Willow Grove Rec Reserve
The visiting Magpies could not afford to drop this one - but their fifty point victory was enough to keep the club well and truly motivated in the back half of the year.
Jay Acardi, Toora’s coach said “we were greeted with perfect conditions at Willow Grove yesterday when we took on Hill End. Another tough encounter against a young side who didn’t take a backward step.They are a far better side than their ladder position suggests. We managed to break away at times throughout the contest but they always seemed to find a way to get back into the match. A great contest all day.”
Hill End’s Adrian Burns said, "We played some really good football at times and it was great to see the young fellas kick a score. If this club can keep and move forward with the youngsters, I see some better days ahead."
Tigers continue march with massive win
Foster 23-8-156 to Morwell East 6-4-40
Round 12, Morwell East Rec Reserve
With the chances of finals both realistically and mathematically gone for the home ground Hawks, the weekend was always going to be a tough task both mentally and physically for Morwell East. Taking on the top of the table Foster, it would be pride in performance that would need to be called on, maybe not to win, but rather, not to be embarrassed by a humiliating loss. The result, another blow for the Hawks, with one of Foster's better wins of the year.
Sam Davies, Foster’s coach said it was, “potentially our most complete four quarter game so far this year which was really pleasing - our focus was on contest and competing in all areas of the ground and we had 21 winners across the lines.”
It’s the performance a coach dreams of - when every player contributes to the team. Foster keeps improving as each week passes.
Paul Henry, Morwell East’s coach said, “The weekend's defeat at the hands of Foster was something else. They are the best team we've played this year. The third quarter was our only quarter we matched them but we were still outscored. Unbelievable goal kicking from them!”
Lions dealt massive blow in narrow loss to Blues
Thorpdale 12-13-85 to Stony Creek 11-14-80
Round 12, Stony Creek Racecourse
Stony Creek, just two wins from the league’s sixth placed side, were well aware that this was a do or die clash for them. A win would provide a glimmer of hope that finals were still a possibility. A loss would have them floundering and hoping for a miracle. The result, another one kick loss, and a devastating blow for the lions.
Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek’s coach said, “after quarter time, our boys showed they have the ability to go with top teams, controlling the game from then on just to fall five points short at the final siren.”
The visiting Blues didn’t have everything go their way, in fact it was their opponents Stony Creek who actually helped their cause.
Daniel Taylor, Thorpdale’s coach said, “It was a week when player availability was at an all time low with only thirty three players available on the day. Big shout out to Stony for helping us out with numbers so we could get a reserve’s side on the park. The aim was to get a win in the seniors and not forfeit the 2s so pretty happy we ticked that box for the day. In the seniors, a dominant first quarter set up the win. Credit to Stony who slowly but surely worked their way into the game and were probably stiff in the end not to pinch it late.”
ROUND THIRTEEN
MDU struggle against dominant Foster
Foster 23-9-147 to MDU 10-6-66.
Round 13, Foster Showgrounds
MDU were under no illusions as to the enormity of the task as they ventured to the home ground of the Tigers to take on the top of the table team at their home ground.
Foster had only tasted defeat once in season 2025, and they were determined that their second loss would not be in round thirteen against the Demons - and it certainly wasn’t.
The Tigers comprehensive victory has now set a high benchmark for the rest of the competition, with their win that much more impressive given coach Sam Davies was in another country when the siren blew.
Sam Davies, Foster’s coach said, “Unfortunately I was away at a funeral in NZ on the weekend, but luckily we have such a strong club and message across the group we could still go to work. Besty (Jake Best) took over but our first half was filled with undisciplined acts and giving away goals - we were on top but the scoreboard may not have reflected that. The second half showcased the way we wanted to play and our ability to score and defend as a group. The midfield dominated and our forwards got really good looks. We’ll enjoy the week off before our last four games.”
As the Tigers get to rest before returning in round fourteen, the Demons cannot wait to redeem themselves after the disappointment of such a devastating loss.
Rhett Kelly, MDU’s coach said. “There's no easy way to say this, but yesterday's performance was poor and extremely disappointing. While the first half showed promise for a great game of footy, unfortunately, we didn't come to play after halftime. Full credit to Foster; they are a great team and had all the answers across the board. They outworked us for longer and were able to score heavily, and we simply couldn't respond. I want to apologise to our supporters who made the trek down the road. That was not who we want to be, and we need to be a lot better than what we dished up in that second half. The great thing about footy is that we have another chance next week to respond.”
The Demons sit fourth on the MGFNL ladder, but unless they respond immediately that position will also come under threat from a number of clubs in cLose pursuit.
Roos continue finals march
Fish Creek 9-12-66 to Tarwin 6-3-39
Round 13, Terrill Park
Fish Creek had the opportunity to not only secure four more valuable premiership points but also to send Tarwin spiralling back down towards a pack of clubs all clamouring for the Shark's current position in the league's top six. It was an opportunity that the Kangaroos gladly took with both hands in winning by twenty seven points.
Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek’s coach, said it was “a pleasing win yesterday. We knew Tarwin would come out firing after the previous week and it proved to be a tough arm wrestle for the first half. Happy with our boys to keep grinding away, lift the pressure in the second half and kick away to a couple of goal’s lead. It has been a real positive for us that we are able to stay in games, then have the fitness to lift to another gear in the second halves when required.”
The hard work done through summer is now called on in the middle of winter, and the sides that have dug deep when no one was watching can now showcase that work while all eyes are on them.
Lachie Jones, Tarwin’s coach said it is “always a tough ask playing Fish Creek, as they have quality across every line. I was happy with our response this week as opposed to last week. The guys gave effort and we held one another accountable. A really pleasing aspect was our second quarter response. We had some of our players do some selfless roles and some things worked which we will take away as a positive. We took the contest up to them but did drop away in the last quarter.”
Lions heartbreak continues
Hill End 19-5-119 to Stony Creek 11-11-77
Round 13, Willow Grove Rec Reserve
Hill End started the afternoon of round thirteen with a real belief that this could be the chance for their first win of the 2025 season. A healthy local crowd, coupled with the appearance of former AFL player Will Schofield as a guest of the Carlton Draught, ensured that all the stars were seemingly aligned. The result sparked home ground celebrations for the first time this year.
Adrian Burns, Hill End Coach said, "We all played well, but big Will Schofield got us plenty of the ball and lifted the whole side, Stony Creek came back in the third quarter, but we kept them at arm's length. I've been waiting for them to do what I knew they could, it was just great to see the boys get a reward and for the whole community to enjoy it."
Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek’s coach said “Congrats to Hill End getting their first win for the year, and putting on such a great day with the Carlton Draught player. With so many injuries to our list we are battling the best we can.”
The Lions, like a handful of other clubs in the competition, have battled as best they could with too many injuries to successfully manage, and when your talent pool is also limited, it makes life that much tougher.
Magpies seize victory, hang on to finals hopes
Toora 9-10-64 v Boolarra 8-12-60.
Round 13, Toora Rec Reserve
All that stood between Toora and an unlikely late season surge towards the MGFNL finals was a Boolarra team that pretty much wanted the exact same thing: a victory, four premiership points and continued contact with the top six sides in the competition. But it was Toora who took their chances claiming victory in yet another nail biting victory of round thirteen.
Toora’s coach, Jay Acardi said it was a tough contest against Boolarra. “We came out firing in the first quarter and controlled the majority of it with good ball use which gave our forwards good looks at goal. But as Boolarra do so often, they got the game on their terms and out played us for the majority of the last three quarters. It was great to see the boys stand up when it counted in some big moments in the last quarter to get the victory - one that could have gone either way.”
The Demons are now seemingly on the wrong side of too many that could have gone either way.
Brendan Mason, Boolarra’s coach said, “a lightning fast start saw the Toora side lead five goals three behind to one goal three at the first break. We were the victim of self-inflicted wounds with some poor ball use from the halfback line through the middle of the ground gifting three of Toora's five goals. Then Magpies star Jack Weston injected himself into the middle and started to influence the flow of play. In the last quarter and after a tug of war saw a scoreless 5 minutes Joel Mason kicked the ultimate skippers goal to get the lead back for the Demons with 19 played. With 24 gone a Toora free kick found their gun forward Craig free in the F50 and when he kicked truly the home side led by four with that being the ultimate margin in a cracking game of football.”
