Fish Creek too tough for Thorpdale

By Rob Popplestone

EXPECTATIONS of a tight and fiercely contested Preliminary Final in Foster failed to materialise with Fish Creek winning a one-sided affair by 70 points to advance to the Grand Final and end Thorpdale’s season.

“It was a really pleasing performance from the whole team, a solid four quarter effort,” Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said.

“Thorpdale had a lot of momentum from their last few weeks and we knew we had to bring the intensity early, which I thought we did.”

While the Kangaroos led by just five points at quarter time, the margin blew out to nearly five goals by the main break as the likes of Roland De Biase, Cameron Walker, Matthew McGannon, and Jai Stefani got hold of the game, and it just got worse for the Blues from there.

“We just ran out of cattle and we lacked a little depth,” Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said.

“Our key defenders were unavailable, but I have to say Fish Creek were too tough.”

That toughness is expected to face another test next week against the unbeaten Newborough.

As for Thorpdale, Winderlich said the Blues season has been a great one to build on next year, with the side having risen from wooden spooners in 2022.

However, the two most deserving and best performing teams in the MGFNL have reached the decider with Newborough and Fish Creek vying for Premiership glory on Saturday.