MDU avenge their only loss of the season to take the reserves flag
Yinnar failed to score a point in the second quarter and finished on exactly the same score they lost last year's grand final with
MDU HAVE avenged the only loss of their season, beating Yinnar 7.5 (47) to 3.7 (25) to take the Mid Gippsland reserves premiership at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The 22-point win came a fortnight after Yinnar had ended MDU's unbeaten run in the second semi-final, a 27-point defeat that remains the minor premiers' only loss of 2026.
MDU went through the home and away season 16-0, conceding 219 points across 16 matches at a percentage of 892.
They kicked 2.2 to 0.1 in the opening quarter, then 3.2 to nothing in the second to lead by 33 at the main break.
Yinnar did not add a single point in that second term, and their first goal did not come until the third.
They won the final quarter 2.5 to 1.1, far too late to matter.
Captain Michael Smith and Brendan Tomada kicked two goals each for MDU, with Rhys Weaver, Joel Leeden and Kyra Helms adding one apiece.
Jarrod Hoy was named best on ground, ahead of Tyson Harris, Smith, Timothy Harris, Matt Harris and Angus Kemper, three of the six being Harrises.
James Shea kicked two for Yinnar and Zack Brown one, with Toby Richards leading their best.
MDU co-coach Pete Harris had a word for Yinnar before his own players.
"From round two it looked like we were going to be playing you guys here, and that's how it's ended up," Harris said.
"You guys have had a brilliant season. Well deserved to get this far."
Harris said the win belonged to more than the 23 who took the field.
"It's all our supporters, our admin, our volunteers who help get you guys out on the ground," he said.
"Laff and I couldn't be prouder of you boys. To respond the way you have the last two weeks has been phenomenal."
Yinnar coach Shane McColl said he had seen the matchup coming from early in the season.
"Clearly there were two teams in it from pretty early on and we knew we were going to play," McColl said.
"For you guys to respond and get that win is a testament to the fact that you've got a great, great group."
McColl's message to his own players was short.
"I'm sorry that we couldn't get you across the line. I really am. But we'll still enjoy the fact that we put everything on the line," he said.
He also thanked the volunteers who umpire the reserves each week.
"They're hated by the opposition and their home team a lot of the time," he said.
Yinnar lost a second straight reserves grand final, finishing on 3.7 (25) for the second year running after last year's defeat to Morwell East by the same score.
MDU also took out the thirds premiership on their own ground.
MDU: 2.2, 5.4, 6.4, 7.5 (47)
Yinnar: 0.1, 0.1, 1.2, 3.7 (25)
GOALS: MDU: M. Smith 2, B. Tomada 2, R. Weaver 1, J. Leeden 1, K. Helms 1. Yinnar: J. Shea 2, Z. Brown 1.
BEST: MDU: J. Hoy, T. Harris, M. Smith, T. Harris, M. Harris, A. Kemper. Yinnar: T. Richards, Z. Brown, O. McColl, G. Olver, L. Pollard, R. Mayo.
MDU PREMIERSHIP SIDE: Jarrod Hoy, Rhett Kelly, Mitchell Hoober, Alexander Battersby, Ben Cantwell, Michael Smith (capt), Brendan Tomada, Rhys Weaver, Dean Thorson, Tyson Harris, Timothy Harris, Noah Bee-Hickman, Cooper Quaife, Aaron Trease, Joel Leeden, Kyra Helms, Travis Ruedin, Billy Trotman, Angus Kemper, Jack Ballagh, Matt Harris, Raph Jefferis, Lachlan Hibberson. Coaches: Pete Harris and Mark Lafferty.
