Pride and position on the line in Mid Gippsland
FAINT hopes still remain for the hard-luck club of the season in Mid Gippsland, Yinnar, and to a much lesser degree Stony Creek (because of their percentage) but only if 9th placed Mirboo North can defeat 5th placed Morwell East at Mirboo North on...
FAINT hopes still remain for the hard-luck club of the season in Mid Gippsland, Yinnar, and to a much lesser degree Stony Creek (because of their percentage) but only if 9th placed Mirboo North can defeat 5th placed Morwell East at Mirboo North on Saturday.
It makes that clash between old rivals ‘the match of the day’ in Mid Gippsland with the supporters of Yinnar, who play MDU, and Stony Creek at Foster, just as interested in how Mirboo North fares.
Here’s the Round 17 preview by Mid Gippsland Publicity Officer Rob Popplestone:
A week is a long time in football especially when your plans start to show signs of weakness while the pressure around you continues to mount.
Position is everything at the moment and time is running out for sides to secure the places they need while others are still fighting hard for an 11th hour entry into the finals.
Boolarra v Newborough
This clash is the perfect example of two sides wanting the same position and there only being room for one.
The Demons' loss to Mirboo North just a week ago, now has Boolarra fighting for what they might have thought was already theirs.
Hosting an in-form Newborough side, with so much on the line, is sure to show coach Tony Giardinia whether his side has what it takes to deliver what is needed in a finals-like atmosphere.
In short, win and second position is yours to lose, but lose and securing the coveted top two spot is almost certainly out of your control, and the Demons coach wants his side to respond after last week’s disappointment.
Tony Giardina, Boolarra coach: “To say we are upset is an understatement, beaten by a team/club/town that we hate losing to (Mirboo North) and that showed. And if we turn up this week against Newborough, the same way, the same thing will happen.”
The enormity of the occasion isn't lost on the Bulldogs either, who might not yet be at one 100 percent but are planning to somehow find a way to win.
Craig Skinner, Newborough coach: "This week is our first final of the year, what is on the end of this clash for us is a certain second spot and that means our first final would be a chance for a direct entry to a grand final. Now, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but the facts are the facts, this week is crucial for us."
Newborough, who currently hold the second spot, plan to hit the Demons’ home ground like it’s a cut-throat final, so one would expect a fierce and finals-like performance by both sides, the result to have a huge impact on how the top six will look with Boolarra still some sort of chance of getting to second themselves.
Foster v Stony Creek
They say you only ever lose if you also do not learn, but you would hope that Foster also learns from their close win over Fish Creek in Round 16.
The Tigers, as good as they are, will need to have their mind in the game and be prepared to lift to another level to beat some of the best teams in the competition. This week’s opponent Stony Creek would be still reeling from their disappointing defeat at the hands of Tarwin, that has cost them a possible spot in the finals a fortnight from now.
Sam Davies, Foster coach: “Sometimes you just need to win ugly. Last week we were beaten in most areas but really happy with the overall endeavour and ability of the group to absorb the pressure. We finish off the year with a couple of home games, firstly against Stony Creek who have nothing to lose.”
The Lion's themselves will need to dust themselves off after last week’s less than hoped for performance against Tarwin and go again if they are to keep very slender hopes alive.
Jay Acardi, Stony Creek coach: “We were soundly beaten in all fascists of the contest last week. Really disappointing from our point of view but on the flip side, Tarwin put in a strong four quarter performance. This week we are off to Foster where we hope we can put in a much stronger performance."
Mirboo North v Morwell East
Mirboo North were quite transparent in their intent on what they wanted to achieve in the last few weeks of the season, and that is to play the role of villain and upset the plans of sides that have taken what the Tigers so desperately wanted, and that is a place in the finals.
Two weeks ago, Mirboo North got the edge over finals aspirant Yinnar and threw the Magpies’ season into disarray. Last week it was the Demons who fell at the hands of the Tigers with Boolarra losing their grip on second spot.
This week, if the Tigers can make it three in-a-row, it will also put a serious question mark over the finals’ future of Morwell East.
Josh Taylor, Mirboo North coach: “Villains we are. Great win from the boys last week, Morwell East this week, who are flying. Hopefully we can make it a close game.”
The Hawks have plenty to play for, a win satisfying the first of a few goals set by the Hawks prior to the start of the season.
Devon Soutar, Morwell East coach: “This week is another huge game that awaits against an in-form Mirboo North. We’ll plan and prepare accordingly, knowing that a win will secure a spot in the six.”
Once in the six, this season more than any other suggests that anything is possible.
Toora v Tarwin
Tarwin will make the relatively short trip to Toora, superbly confidant that a win should be pretty straight forward, and the fact is, it probably will be, but it is not so much the result that will be the focus of Sharks’ coach Troy Hemming but how his side goes about its business.
Tarwin have top position on the ladder locked away and the fixture says they will also be winning their two games of the home and away season comfortably.
However, what is needed is a style of game that can lift to a level that is required against the best, and turning that on and off is a dangerous proposition that can cause problems with you least expect it.
Troy Hemming, Tarwin coach: “We have a plan and we are buying in! This week we go to Toora where it’s never easy from all reports so we need to keep playing shark footy!”
After a week off, Toora now face the top team of the MGFNL competition, who themselves are finalising plans for a premiership assault, making the task even tougher for the Magpies who are coming off a disappointing loss prior to their bye.
Matthew Ponton Toora coach: “Our effort and two-way running picked up in the second half but our skills were poor to say the least and we didn’t pressure our opponents up to the standard of senior football. All in all a poor day from our side.”
The Magpies, at best, can make life uncomfortable for Tarwin, but you wouldn't be thinking they could get close to them on the final siren.
Yinnar v MDU
I would think it is fair to say that Yinnar might be one of the best sides "not" to make the finals in a MGFNL competition for quite a period of time.
A handful of losses by less than a goal throughout the season has Yinnar fighting for their finals lives while also hoping that a couple of ides above them lose games that they are quite entitled to win.
The scenario for the Magpies therefore is quite dire but not dead, and coach Daniel Taylor will be trying to control only what he can in the hope that if the cards did happen to fall their way, they would be ready for the contest.
Daniel Taylor: “We crawled into the bye which is really needed. We should get 8 or 9 blokes back but we're now relying on results to go our way which is never how you want it to be.”
The Magpie's opponent this week might not be thinking finals, but they are planning on winning!
Peter Harris, MDU coach: “We are keen to finish the last two games of our season off strongly. Yinnar have been a strong side so this week will be a massive challenge on their deck, but we know we are capable of matching it with them.”
The Demons will have to be at their best, but if the game is close as the final siren looms, you would think the Magpies might be thinking... oh no not again!!
