Tiger’s twilight debut delights bumper crowd

THE visiting Foster Tigers outshone the less experienced Mirboo North Tigers by 41 points under lights in Saturday night’s history-making encounter at Mirboo North’s Tigerland headquarters. Fine and mild 11c autumn weather — with not even a hint of a breeze — and a bumper crowd, greeted both teams for Mirboo North’s first-ever official MGFNL home game after dark.

Prior to the match, Mirboo North president, Andy McCarthy, presented local Victorian parliamentarian, Danny O’Brien MLA, with the mighty Mirboo North Tigers’ 2024 No 1 membership ticket. This decision was made by MNFNC’s committee as a thank you to Mr O’Brien for his outstanding support for the Mirboo North and district community, in the wake of February 13’s devastating storm event.

Mirboo North selected Archie Woodall, Jack Burgess-Pincini and Lachlan Dobson for their first senior appearances for the club. Blake Peters, William Jacka and Aaron Scicluna, who debuted the previous week, were also playing for Mirboo North.

Skipper, Hudson Kerr, Jeremy Salinger, Joe Brooks and newcomer Woodall, all battled hard for the Mirboo North Tigers for the duration of the match. After eight minutes of first term toing and froing between the arcs, Foster skipper, Todd Bastion, booted the opening goal from the goal square — courtesy of a 50-metre penalty.

Mirboo North soon replied, but successive majors from Cody Banbury and Jake Chaseling gave Foster a 15-point advantage at quarter-time. Here was an intense contest, where those in possession of the Sherrin, who chose to take on the tackler, were rarely rewarded.

Although Mirboo North kicked the first two goals of the second term, Foster added a couple of its own and led by 17 points at the long break. Oliver Callcott, Dylan Williams, Michael Howell and Josh Toner’s influence during the third term helped Foster increase its lead to 26 points at the last change — after keeping the home side goalless for the quarter.

As the game progressed, Foster’s control of it increased in close, out wide and just about anywhere else in between. Although Riley Oddy goaled early in the final quarter for Mirboo North, that was the last of its majors for the game.

Thereafter, the Foster Tigers’ strength, mobility and general wherewithal were especially significant for the remainder of proceedings. The visitors dutifully added another three more majors, that gave the Foster Tigers a victory one point shy of seven goals.

This Saturday, Mirboo North travels to the Stony Creek Racecourse to tackle the Lions in round three of Mid Gippsland football and netball.