Tigers prevail in pre-finals showdown

By Rob Popplestone

UNLIKE the pressure faced by those clubs fighting for a finals spot, these two teams sat first and second respectively, I guess the only item on offer was the bragging rights of finishing in top position at the end of the home and away, not that many will remember that after the upcoming MGFNL premiers are determined..

That said it was also a coincidental chance for each to have a close up look at the other, ahead of their inevitable first finals clash in a fortnight, where the winner of that match will be playing for a direct through to Grand Final day. 

The result, Foster too good, winning 7-4-46 to Fish Creek 4-4-28.

Sam Davies, Foster coach, “Really tough game in conditions we haven’t really seen or played in this year - I thought they were on top in the first half, they applied great pressure and we panicked a lot with the footy. We didn’t adjust too much after half time but came out much more calm and got a lot more speed on the ball which created a lot of opportunities that we took.  Both teams will have changes in a fortnight but we will definitely enjoy the week and appreciate the work put in to finish on top.”

The Tigers, like their weekend opponent has done earlier in the year, will enjoy their win for what the win is worth, both coaches knowing what matters in the immediate future takes place in a fortnight.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek coach, “A solid hit out against Foster in an interesting weather day. The first half was relatively dry, although hard to score for both teams the ball was moving pretty quickly.

With no team able to capitalise on opportunities in the first half, Foster definitely changed that in the third quarter, putting on six goals straight to our one. Something we have been pretty good at is stopping opposition momentum but we just weren’t able to in the third quarter, disappointing on our end but hats off to Foster. They were first in and out hunted us. By the end of the third the rain and hail had set in and it was always going to be hard for us to claw them back. We showed a bit at the start of the last quarter for a potential comeback but unfortunately the damage was done. Well done to

Foster finishing a year clear on top of the ladder, a very solid year. A week off and will see them again in a couple of weeks.”

That first final between these two respected clubs will offer up the chance for a direct route to the 2026 MGFNL Grand Final. The importance of that clash is obvious.