Roaring victory for the mighty Tigers

by Rover

MIRBOO NORTH secured its 12th Mid Gippsland thirds premiership since 1978, with a tigerish nine-point victory over MDU at Morwell East’s Ronald Reserve on Saturday.

It was the mighty Tigers’ 20th straight victory for the season, but not until the final siren blew, was the 2022 flag in the bag.

As well, the grand old club won the MGFNL B Grade, D Grade and 13s netball titles, before going down to Toora by a goal in an absorbing A Grade grand final cliffhanger.

Mirboo North and MDU wore black armbands in honor of long-serving respective and respected club stalwarts, Bernice Snell and Mary Matthews, following their recent deaths.

Mirboo North did all the attacking in the first quarter, where two perfectly-struck, long-range set shots from co-captain, Ethan Woodall, flew directly over the goal umpire’s head.

The drizzly conditions were challenging with the greasy Sherrin difficult to gather on a firm, fast and slippery deck — where tackling was fierce and the ball skidded low as much as it bounced high.

With continually heavy traffic numbers prominent around the contests, openings were as narrow as a gastric sleeve, and where possible, the umpires wisely called ‘play-on’ — rather than incessantly blowing their whistles for free kicks and stoppages.

Beau Melbourne, who later collected the Rod Lucas and AFL Vic Country Awards for his best on ground performance, was a constant in-and-under contributor for Mirboo North.

Others to frequently feature for the Tigers were Jack Couper, Daniel Masters, William Jacka, Jesse Chila and the Woodall goal-kicking cousins, Ethan and Max, who finished with two majors apiece. 

A freakish MDU goal from the boundary line on the three-quarter time siren reduced the Demons’ deficit to 21 points, before a soccer goal by Couper restored Mirboo North’s lead to 27 points, early in the last term.

It was then that the Demons threw caution to the wind with all-out attacking footy through the midfield that almost brought them victory.

Leading the way in MDU’s fightback were Angus McInnes, Angus Kemper, Jesse Helms, Jarvis Lacy and Eddie Colwill, as the reinvigorated Demons bombarded the goals for 15 minutes.

Although two majors were scored, another seven shots went either side of the big white sticks and much to coach, Mark Wilkins’ relief, Mirboo North’s bacon was saved.