Victory to the Tigers

By Rover

MIRBOO North completed its Mid Gippsland season with a hard-fought 26-point victory over 2023 wooden spooner, Hill End, at Willow Grove on Saturday.

The mighty Tigers opened with a strong westerly at their backs and took a handy 20-point lead into their quarter-time huddle, after booting 6.2 to the Hillmen’s three straight majors.

Following an inspiring pre-match address from its outgoing coach, Mike Santo, a spirited Hill End burst out of the blocks, with plenty run and verve and heaps of nerve on Willow Grove’s lushly-grassed oval.

Hill End’s early swift ball movement meant the Sherrin was spread around the ground pretty fast by the locals.

Successive goals from Lachlan Wilson and burly spearhead, Jamie Somers, were soon followed by Mirboo North’s first major.

For a time, Hill End’s relentless endeavour remained impressive.

Others who came into the game in a positive frame of mind for the Hillmen were Seth Calway, Harry Moore and Nic James.

The Hillmen were heading into attack again, when Jacob Blair stopped their build-up in its tracks with a strong overhead mark at centre-half-back, that subsequently set up a chain of accurate disposals for Mirboo North’s second goal.

Blair passed to Max Woodall on the northern wing, who found Jack Couper; Couper’s kick was marked by Patrick Lewis, after which Harry Mahoney and Josh Taylor combined to find Darcy Brock — and scores were level after 12 minutes of play.

Hill End dynamo — and recently appointed 2024 playing coach — Amburupa Uliando, gathered several quality possessions during the second quarter, that found their way towards Somers, who was proving a handful for Mirboo North’s defenders.

When the siren sounded for half-time, the home side had reduced its deficit to 13 points.

By three-quarter time Mirboo North had edged 25 points clear, with Hudson Kerr, Mahoney, Rhys Kratzat, Couper, Damien Turner and Jordan Cummaudo frequently commandeering the Sherrin and commanding respect from their opponents.

With the wind still blowing hard, the air temperature dropping and rain threatening, Hill End was ready and willing, but unable to farewell its highly regarded coach with its first win of the season.

The Hillmen had a sniff of victory in their nostrils, but the Tigers quickly snuffed out their confidence.

Beau Melbourne slammed home a goal 40 seconds into the last quarter and Kratzat’s fourth major for the afternoon followed a few minutes later from a free kick. 

Unfortunately for Hill End, Somers was unable to add to his six-goal tally to three-quarter time.

All of the attacking thereafter was in Hill End’s forward half, but Blair, Mahoney, Julian Blackford and Joel Lambourn’s calm and cohesive defensive work, held the Hillmen out.

Although Hill End booted the last two goals of the match, closing the gap proved a bridge too far and the visitors’ seventh win of the season went into the annals of history.

Afterwards, there was poignancy in Mirboo North’s change-rooms.

Taylor — who finished his career as a Tiger with three goals — announced his retirement after 17 years of loyal service, that included three senior premierships, a senior best and fairest award and a five-year senior playing coach stint.

As well, Taylor coached three Mirboo North thirds teams to premierships in 2014, 15 and 16.

The Blond Bombshell told the playing group and a jam-packed room of supporters, he’d loved to keep going, but his body was cooked.