Fish Creek run down 32-point deficit to reclaim Mid Gippsland flag
Brett Eddy kicked 11 goals for Foster and took the umpires medal but a seven-goal third quarter handed Fish Creek the premiership
FISH CREEK have reclaimed the Mid Gippsland Football Netball League senior premiership, running down a 32-point quarter-time deficit to beat minor premiers Foster 18.11 (119) to 16.11 (107) at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Foster looked to have the game in hand inside the first quarter, kicking 6.4 to 1.2 to go into the second quarter 32 points clear, but they would not manage another six-goal term until the result was already beyond them.
Across the second and third quarters Foster mustered just 3.6 while Fish Creek found their range and their run, cutting the margin back to 20 points by half-time.
Fish Creek won the premiership in the third, kicking 7.3 to 2.1 in a 45-point swing that turned that deficit into a 12-point lead at three-quarter-time, with Brady Mitchell among those to goal in the burst.
Neither side gave an inch after the last change, both kicking 7.1 to leave the margin exactly where it had been, and Charlie Wilson and Jacob Lamers were among the Fish Creek goalkickers in the final term.
The two sides combined for 226 points and both passed 100.
Brett Eddy took the AFL Victoria best-on-ground medal after kicking 11 of Foster's 16 goals, a haul that still left him on the losing side.
Fish Creek's Jackson Wiedemann, the league's best and fairest this season, won the Bill McConville Medal, before TTMI chief executive Jason Henry presented the premiership cup.
Foster coach Jake Best was generous in defeat, turning first to the winners.
“Congratulations Jarrod and Fish Creek, far too good today, absolutely outstanding,” Best said.
“You guys do it all the time in finals, so real credit to you. I know the rivalry is strong but there’s still a hell of a lot of respect there for the club. You’ve got amazing supporters and a family club.”
Best said he had no complaints about his own side’s season, which brought 15 wins from 16 home and away rounds and a minor premiership.
“Disappointing today, but I’m proud of our efforts all year and we fought to the end,” he said.
“Mid Gippy, people say what’s the standard like. I think there was a hell of a game today. We’ll be back again next year boys, but let’s keep our heads up.”
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker, who also played, addressed the beaten Foster players before his own.
“Best team all season,” Walker said.
“One game doesn’t define what you’ve done for the whole year, and the last two years as well, so well played.”
Walker thanked the league and the club’s sponsors, acknowledged the Fish Creek netballers who had beaten Hill End 43-32 to take out the B Grade earlier in the day, and told his players to make the most of it.
“Savour these moments, because they don’t happen all the time,” he said.
The win caps a remarkable run for Fish Creek, who have now played in four straight grand finals, winning the 2023 flag as the first former Alberton club to take out the Mid Gippsland competition, going back to back in 2024, then losing last year’s decider to Foster by 11 points.
Saturday’s win is understood to be the club’s 39th senior premiership, and it comes less than three years after fire destroyed the Fish Creek social rooms along with every trophy, honour board and premiership cup the club owned.
Foster had beaten Fish Creek twice during the home and away rounds and went into the decider as favourites, while Fish Creek came through the hard side of the draw, accounting for Tarwin, MDU and then Yinnar in the preliminary final.
Host club MDU made the most of the day on their own ground, taking out both the reserves and the thirds premierships.
Foster: 6.4, 7.9, 9.10, 16.11 (107)
Fish Creek: 1.2, 4.7, 11.10, 18.11 (119)
FISH CREEK PREMIERSHIP SIDE: Jackson Wiedemann, Rhett Wiedemann, Sam McGannon, Jarrod Walker, Harrison Smith, Jai Stefani, Charlie Wilson, Brady Mitchell, Luke Williams, Kairon Dorling (capt), Timmothy Gavenlock, Mitch Hicks, Jacob Lamers, Jaicob Kenny, Jack Davis, Jack Hayes, Tom Valenta, Reghan Lewis, Thomas Cameron, Blaine Coates, Levi Cocksedge. Coach: Jarrod Walker.
FOOTBALL: Reserves: MDU 7.5 (47) d Yinnar 3.7 (25). Thirds: MDU 5.6 (36) d Tarwin 4.8 (32). Fourths: Hill End 7.10 (52) d Yinnar 7.6 (48).
