Tigers get the job done

By Rover

MIRBOO North used four-time senior premiership utility, Dom Pinneri’s 250th club appearance as its motivation to meritoriously defeat Yinnar by four points.

It was the mighty Tigers’ fifth win from 13 matches this season.

Yinnar’s last home victory against Mirboo North was in 2017, when it won by a point. 

Amazingly, Mirboo North has now recorded 10 wins by eight points or less and two draws since its most recent tight loss — when it went down to Thorpdale by a point in round four, 2018 at Tigerland.

Remember too, all ye trivia buff nuff-nuffs, that Mirboo North’s last three senior premierships have come with three, one and two-point grand final victories against Yinnar in 2017 and Newborough in 2013 and 2014.

On a kindly 12c winter’s day with spurts of sunshine, zero wind and no rain, Mirboo North’s 15-point, three-quarter time lead dwindled to less than a goal, as the clock wound down to the final siren. 

Although Mirboo North engineered several promising build-ups in the last quarter, it only managed to score three behinds.

The Magpies were finishing strongly after two final term goals, but the desperate Tigers’ determination to ‘win for Dommy’, held them out.

Alas, in the dying minutes, Yinnar — desperate to keep sixth spot on the MGFNL ladder —couldn’t find the extra major it required for victory. 

The motivated Tigers started fast with four opening-quarter goals, that gave them a nine-point advantage at the first break and by half-time, the visitors were 18 points in front and chock-full of confidence.

Mirboo North had five youngsters — Harry Mahoney, Rory Peter, Beau Peters, Taj Wilkins and Max Woodall — with a combined total of 42 senior games, providing skill and energy to the team and crowd appeal too, with their exciting and adventurous play.

The pace and swift ball movement of the first half continued during the third term, with both teams providing zeal and real pressure to every contest.

Rhys Kratzat, Joel Lambourn, Peters and skipper Damien Turner, teamed well in the back half for Mirboo North, whilst their teammates, Hudson Kerr, Jacob Blair and Ben Campbell’s busyness through the midfield, proved frequently troublesome for their opponents.

Liam Nash, Joe Brooks and Pinneri, whose authority in and around the packs ignited the Tigers, were other key contributors for Mirboo North.

Strong performers all day for Yinnar were Ned Marsh and Sebastion Famularo, both of whom kicked two goals, Riley Adams, Zac Cantrill and Harrison McColl. 

The triumphant Tigers left the field as one with Pinneri hoisted on the shoulders of his premiership teammates, Nash and Taylor, in front of the other playing group members.

This weekend, Mirboo North has the bye before it hosts Boolarra in its fifth annual Indigenous round fixture on Saturday, July 30.