Tigers triumph in nail-biter before roaring premiership home crowd

MIRBOO NORTH secured its second win of the season with a morale-lifting four-point victory over Boolarra on MNFNC’s ‘annual footy and netball premierships reunion day’ at Tigerland on Saturday.

Afterwards, in the rowdy, jam-packed social rooms, Gary Ablett Junior, was the club’s warmly- welcomed and popularly-received special guest for the evening.

Six of Mirboo North’s winning team — playing coach Damien Turner, skipper Hudson Kerr, Shane Peters, Joe Brooks, Josh Taylor and Daniel Taylor — were past senior premiership representatives for the mighty Tigers. 

Of these, Shane Peters, Turner and Daniel Taylor were listed among Mirboo North’s top six performers in the harsh, wet and muddy playing conditions. 

Mirboo North’s younger brigade of Patrick Lewis, Harry Mahoney and Ethan Woodall were also major contributors to the Tigers’ nail-biting win.

Turner’s meticulous pre-match planning ensured Boolarra would neither outwit the Tigers nor humble them in any way, shape or form during the course of the game. 

With the wind constantly blowing from the west, celsius sitting at seven degrees and rain falling for much of the contest, a combined aggregate of five goals was all both sides mustered in a clash of rugged and clustered football.

It soon became clear that the team making better use of the wind would win the match.

As it turned out, all five goals were kicked through the eastern goalposts.

Just one Mirboo North behind and two by Boolarra were recorded at the township end of the oval.

Kerr, Josh Taylor, and Rhys Kratzat were Mirboo North’s goal kickers, with one apiece, whilst Brendan Mason and Nick Miller each booted a major for the visitors.

Hunting in packs was prominent, with most of the play restricted to the bottom side of Mirboo North’s sloping oval — where the boundary line was frequently hugged and befriended by desperate defenders.

Boolarra led by seven points at the first break, but second-term goals from Kerr and Josh Taylor helped give Mirboo North a 10-point advantage at half-time. 

The Demons peppered the goals during the third quarter, but a return of 1.5 on the scoreboard didn’t represent sufficient reward for effort and only gave them a one-point lead at the last change.

A further behind into the wind in the final term put Boolarra two points in front until Kratzat slipped the Sherrin past outstretched fingers and through the big white sticks at the 13-minute mark.

The best players for Boolarra, in what was a disappointing defeat for the Demons, were Simon Noy, Mason Porykali, Mitchell Lovison and Jonathon Noy. 

By the end of the game, heavily trafficked areas of the Tigerland arena resembled a chopped-up cow cocky’s calving paddock.

This Saturday, Mirboo North heads to the Foster Showgrounds to tackle the Foster Tigers on their home deck.