Sport Football

Stony Creek hosts Hill End in match of the day

All Saturday's games SINCE losing to second-top side Newborough a month ago, Stony Creek has gone on a winning streak of three games, that has them looking at a finals’ berth with just six rounds remaining. But this Saturday’s match-of-the-day...

by Sentinel-Times

Published July 08, 2022

Stony Creek hosts Hill End in match of the day — Photo courtesy Gerard Bruning.

All Saturday's games

SINCE losing to second-top side Newborough a month ago, Stony Creek has gone on a winning streak of three games, that has them looking at a finals’ berth with just six rounds remaining.

But this Saturday’s match-of-the-day against Hill End, sitting just above them on the ladder, is an absolute must.

And if results go their way; Yinnar losing to Newborough, Morwell East getting rolled by Boolarra and even Foster losing to Mirboo North, the Lions would be up level with several of the finals’ contenders on seven wins, with their own destiny in their hands.

It’s a great match in prospect on a day that features several vital encounters in the scheme of things.

With a little over a handful of home and away games remaining in the 2022 MGFNL season, the pressure of performing only continues to increase for many teams still trying to secure a firm grip on a finals campaign.

Boolarra v Morwell East

The old adage that good sides do not lose two games in-a-row has never been more relevant than in this week's clash between two teams that are likely finals contenders, but both of whom are coming off most disappointing losses just a week earlier.

Boolara fell agonisingly close to firming up their second position on the league ladder last week, their one loss to Yinnar, not only saw the Demons fall to third, but also have them now just a half game in front of this week's opponents in Morwell East, a match you can expect the Demons will be ready for from the first bounce after last week’s slow start.

Tony Giardina, Boolarra coach, "Very disappointed by the way we turned up to play against a very good side last week. They showed us how football should be played. We can't keep giving sides five goals head start and think we are always going to come home and win it."

The Hawks themselves have been heartbreakers for coach Devon Soutar, supporters, past players and supporters alike, their loss at home last week to Foster a painful watch for those that made the effort to show their support, given the Hawks were faced with so many injuries so early.

Devon Soutar, Morwell East coach "A herculean effort, its fair to say we had our backs against the wall early against a very good side, losing all our rotations after only twenty minutes".

Behind the scenes, many are working hard to firm up the future direction of the club, but many others are concerned that the focus should be on where they are and what they need to do.now, as in this week.

Somehow, the Hawks need to do both.

Foster v Mirboo North

In the space of just twelve months the "Battle of the Tigers" has gone from headline act to ho humm, Foster have continued their improvement in the competition at the very same time as Mirboo North have fallen far below their own expectations.

For Foster the possibilities are many and all within their own grasp whilst for Mirboo North, the biggest job for young playing coach Josh Taylor is keeping his players motivated with still many weeks to go before seasons end.

Foster are the deserving warm favourites, but coach Sam Davies has been around long enough to know that it is these exact games that can blow up in your face if you're not ready.

Sam Davies " The battle of the Tigers this week and Josh (Mirboo North coach) will have his crew eager to win, I'm sure"

Mirboo certainly remain keen to win, but with their finals hopes shot, priorities do change.Josh Taylor, Mirboo North coach, "our season is nearly done on making finals, so we might see some different players through the side over the next few weeks."

It's amazing how a side's fortunes can quickly change with the pressure lifted and some new faces thrown in the mix.

MDU v Tarwin

There haven't been too many teams able to walk away from a Tarwin clash with the premiership points this season, in fact MDU will be planning to be just the second this weekend when they host the Sharks on their home ground.

The Demons might not be considering finals, but after a week off, they do have plans to unsettle a few opposition clubs in the upcoming weeks.

Peter Harris, MDU coach "the lads looked forward to their week off for our first bye of the season to freshen up before taking on Tarwin on our home deck"

The Sharks have been challenged many times this season and have almost always found a way to win,

The challenge for coach Troy Hemming, is to keep his players continually motivated. `This time of the year is always dangerous, this week MDU at Meeniyan where they have caused some damage and challenged some teams, its the only team we haven't played so that's exciting.``

MDU are primed for a fast start this week, and if they can achieve that, the Demons may well provide yet another challenge for a very good MGFNL side in Tarwin.

Newborough v Yinnar

The "back to basics" approach by Newborough last week was enough for the Bulldogs to get back into the winning zone and produce the sort of football that will lay the foundation for better opposition teams ahead.

One of those teams, is without question this week's opponent Yinnar, the Magpies are seen by a few as a sleeping giant capable of taking all before them on their day, the question is, will this saturday be their day?

Certainly Daniel Taylor was buoyed by what he saw in their first half effort against Boolarra. Taylor, "the win was set up by a super first half by the boys, we brought the heat early and our centre clearance work and pressure didn't allow Boolarra to get their game going.

You would expect that it will be needed this week again and for more than a half of footy.

Craig Skinner, Newborough coach " The wheel turns quickly and we head into a block of finals defining games starting with Yinnar, who have top end talent on every line and a swagger in their step after beating Boolarra on the weekend."

This clash is worthy of a healthy crowd, and you would expect exactly that at the kennel this weekend.

Stony Creek v Hill End

As good as Stony Creek has been in recent weeks, somehow they are going to have to be even better this weekend as they take on Hill End.

The Rovers can be as good as any when they are good, but recent weeks have started to show some unexpected chinks in the armour that has seen them somewhat fragile and beatable by sides that might not normally trouble them.

Mike Santo, Hill End coach, "our workrate is borderline embarrassing at the moment and something needs to change quickly if we are to play finals."

That change needs to be this week, because the reality is another loss to Stony Creek will also mean another drop down the MGFNL ladder to a zone that would have them fighting for their finals lives, a far cry from their premiership contention of just a month ago.

On the other hand, Stony Creek seems to be playing with a freedom that has proven successful, but this week is also sure to be tested.

Stony Creek coach, Jay Acardi "we have plenty to work on before we face another strong opponent in Hill End,"

For the Lions, a win would mean a serious look at the top six and potentially even a finals spot, who would have thought that just a month ago?

Toora v Thorpdale

A lot of talk, as it should be, is, has been and will be, about those teams vying for finals contention later in the year, but for these two teams it is all about a win this weekend.

Nothing before and nothing ahead means as much as just having success this week.

Toora have yet to secure a win, Thorpdale have just the one, and that would be enough to have Toora believe that this is perhaps their best and maybe even their last chance of the year to secure four premiership points.

Certainly, the Toora coach, Matthew Ponton, believes they are playing well enough, if last weeks was an indication

Matthew Ponton, Toora coach "We played hard and stayed in the contest all day, good ball movement from back to middle but lack connection going forward, we had plenty of forward entries for little result, credit to Tarwin as they are a classy side."

Thorpdale too, last week showed in patches they can mix it with the best

Blues coach Ray Pickering " Like most games we played some good patches or quarters but can't sustain the effort allowing a slick opposition to gain momentum and roll through us too easily."

Thorpdale would be hoping for a bigger effort this weekend won't be accommodating to Toora's desire for a win, as the Blues themselves are equally as eager for the taste of victory.

BYE: Fish Creek.

Gippsland League games

The only thing missing from ‘Rivalry Round’ in the Gippsland League last week was the ‘Battle of the Birds’, Sale versus Maffra, which will be the feature of the Gippsland round this Saturday.

It doesn’t matter where these teams sit relative to each other on the ladder, it’s always a knock’em down contest but with the neighbours emerging as the form teams of the competition, with the exception of Leongatha, this weekend’s clash shapes as a beauty.

Sale have been performing strongly at home but that doesn’t phase Maffra who seem to delight beating the Pies on their own dunghill.

It should be a cracker.

In other matches, Leongatha v Bairnsdale away at Bairnsdale and Wonthaggi hosting Drouin shape as mismatches but the two other games; Traralgon v Moe and Warragul v Morwell, are full of interest.