After a stellar season, Sharks can’t afford more bad days
By Rob Popplestone
FROM 13 teams at the start of the season, the number had quickly collapsed to just four, with the best of the best in the MGFNL competition now playing as though their footballing lives depended on it.
And the fact is, they did, and it must be said that all four teams played as though they wanted to be the last club standing in just a fortnights time.
A late change of venue in the days leading into the qualifying final, from Fish Creek to Stony Creek, was seen as a good decision in that the surface promised to be the best possible for these top two teams.
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THE quirk of the 2022 fixture meant that this would be the third time these two teams had met in just over eight weeks.
The reward was obvious, a direct entry into the grand final, rather than the need to be confronted with a do or die preliminary final clash in the week ahead.
It might not have been the best game you’ve ever seen, but for the Bulldogs, winning ugly was fine.
“With our first final in six years, change in the new look Mid Gippsland league, COVID interrupted seasons and uncertainty of the playing surface, our mindset was to expect the unexpected and deal with it as best we can if it happens,” said Craig Skinner, Newborough coach.
“It did, 15 minutes in the game when our best key defender Nic Caldow twisted his knee in a tackle and didn’t return to play.
“Joel Mitchell, the league’s premier forward kicks one goal, eight points and the competition’s best side is circling like we are the wounded fish.
“For us to win, we needed the cream to rise and right on cue. Josh Hecker, Zac Skinner and Liam Flahavin control the middle of the ground and allowed our backline to gain the ascendancy due to
Tarwin’s rushed entries into our back half, allowing the Wade’s (Smith and Anderson) to control the airspace and rebound from half back.
“To be able to match Tarwin then increase the pressure around the ball, was going to the level required to win a grand final.
“Now they believe in themselves as much as I do.”
The halftime score line of 2-8-20 to 1-3-9 favouring Newborough, probably gives some indication of the type and style of game that was being played, opportunities were rare and weren’t always taken when they were presented.
The Bulldogs got what they wanted, what they needed, but Tarwin believes they are better than what the weekend showed.
“We allowed their ball movement to happen, and our skills were poor. Simply just a bad day and we know we will be better for it,” said Troy Hemming, Tarwin coach.
For the Sharks, they desperately want another go at the Bulldogs after being the benchmark team of the season.
“They had a day out. We didn’t. Few too many contests where we needed to half it and we didn’t. The boys will be ready for a preliminary final this week,” said Troy.
Craig also believes the Sharks are not done yet.
“Troy’s Sharks are wounded but they will reset and bounce back hard like good sides do. They didn’t finish on top by accident!”
The Sharks simply cannot have another bad day, or a season that promised so much will amount to nothing, and they deserve better than that.
