Tigers already have finals ambition in sight

MIRBOO North’s inaugural 55 km trip to Toora resulted in it achieving a defining 63-point victory over the Magpies in front of a bumper crowd on Saturday. 

A reason offered for the huge attendance was that after 131 years, the mighty Mirboo North Tigers and loyal army of supporters had finally come to Toora.

Mirboo North’s fervor of creativity exposed flaws that constantly floored the Magpies’ attempts to restrict the Tigers’ ascendency.

Both teams entered Toora’s pristine playing surface on a cloudy and calm day — where the seven wind farm propellers on the hilltops to the north barely spun — wearing black armbands, in memory of club stalwarts who died during the off season.

Here was a clash where either side would pay a heavy price for the cost of giving unnecessary free kicks away.   

With Mirboo North well in control for most of the match, its ball handling was surer and disposals purer than those of Toora.  

The only negative for the Tigers was a tally of 22 behinds going either side of the big white sticks from wayward shots at goal. 

Mirboo North was off to a hot start with a four-goal opening term that was punctuated by a major from Toora’s playing coach, Jack Weston.

Leading the Tigers from the front was new skipper, Hudson Kerr, whose classy onball activity and superior running capacity initiated many deep and meaningful forward 50 entries for the visitors.

Kerr finished with two goals, along with talented youngsters, Jordan Cummaudo and Ethan Woodall.

In the ruck contests, Mirboo North giants, Joe Brooks and Patrick Lewis jumped so high their fingers almost touched the sky, as they systematically tapped and palmed the Sherrin into the waiting arms of grateful teammates.

Others in the yellow and black jerseys to frequently shine included newcomer, Darcy Brock, Jake Nash, Damien Turner and Cummaudo.

The Magpies defiantly fought back with improved method and execution after being 23 points behind at quarter time, to trail by 16 points at the main break.

It was then that coach Peter Mongta emphasized the need for Mirboo North to concentrate more on its structures and, thereafter, the Tigers’ processes pretty much took care of themselves. 

As a result, the locals were rocked by the Tigers’ pressure around the packs, wracked with self doubt in the air and forced to use a ‘panic-stations’ game plan that wrecked any hopes of a continued hometown recovery on the scoreboard.

The Magpies, however, were not without worthy contributors: Weston was brilliant everywhere, whilst Ben East, Jake Dows, Chris Gardiner and Peter Grant also added plenty of value.

Star recruits, Majok and Chotnyang Puok battled hard, and Callan Walker was another handy procurer for Toora.  

After increasing its advantage to 33 points by the last change, the floodgates opened and Mirboo North ran away with the game in the final quarter, adding 5.6 to a solitary goal from Toora.

This Saturday, Mirboo North hosts Stony Creek at Tigerland in the Lions’ first visit since 1968, when both clubs participated in the former South Gippsland Football League.

To think...... the teenagers playing in and watching that match are now old codgers approaching their mid-70s.

Four-time senior premiership hero, Damien Turner, is scheduled to play his 300th club game for Mirboo North and Hudson Kerr will be making his 100th senior appearance for the Tigers.   
             
Reserves
 

Mirboo North was unable to restrain or contain, much less maintain any pressure on experienced man mountain, Lukas Jenkins, who kicked 11 of reigning premier Toora’s 16 goals in its 77-point drubbing of Mirboo North.

Intriguingly, Jenkins wasn’t listed among Toora’s best players for his fine effort.

Although only 10 of last year’s premiership players participated in the match, Toora had no trouble outclassing Mirboo North from go to whoa.

The mighty Tigers’ newly-appointed playing coach, Dom Pinneri, tried every trick in his little red book to restrict Jenkins’ goal scoring, but it was all to no avail.

After the match, Dom’s mama, Karen, reportedly told him, “Sometimes, there’ll be days like this in the football coaching business.”

Luke Gervasi, Cameron Young, Harry Dobson and Jack Couper were Mirboo North’s best performers for the afternoon.

Toora 16 –  8 –  104 d Mirboo North 4 –  3 –  27   

Thirds

Mirboo North played solid football in its 28-point win against a determined Foster team keen to match it with the 2022 premiership holders.

Oliver Budd, Sam Bradley and Jack Jagusch were all in great form for Mirboo North. 

Beau Melbourne and Jesse Chila kept the scoreboard ticking over for Mirboo North with five and three goals respectively.

Leevi Lidstone booted three majors for Foster with Jedd Davy and Jack Rathjen recording one each.

Mirboo North hosts Yinnar at Tigerland this Saturday.

Mirboo North 9 – 12 –  66 d Foster 5 – 8 – 38