Mid Gippsland FL Round 18 preview

MATCH PREVIEW – HILL END V YARRAGON

The Panthers will travel to the Rovers home ground with an expectation that this will be an opportunity for yet another win.

Yarragon, despite their ladder position has been a team that demands respect, given their ability to remain in the contest with any side in most instances throughout this season.

Hill End’s hopes of success were put to bed early when injury and a lack of depth, meant just putting a team on the park on a weekly basis should be applauded.

However the Rovers, at home, would give themselves a silly chance of finishing their season on a high by claiming a win against Yarragon.

It will require their best effort in several months, but it is possible, and it may well come down to whether Yarragon too show the run and skill and pressure they have done for most of the year, or whether this week is one of those that it loses focus.

MATCH PREVIEW – MORWELL EAST V TRAFALGAR

Morwell East have the perfect opportunity to send a message to several people in their last match of the season.

One is to the rest of the league that they were in fact capable of mixing it with the best come finals time, and the other is to a prospective coach, that the club is ready to take the next step in season 2019.

In reality however even a win will have the Hawks at best, missing the five by percentage and lamenting all the lost opportunities they had during the season.

Trafalgar can expect a committed and hard Morwell East side, but are probably also wary that a side too physical might have an impact on players wanting to take part in finals footy.

It’s a tough situation when you know your finals position is secure but you still have to go through the process of playing what is equivalent to a “dead rubber”

Bloods coach Clint Eisendel will want a “finals like” effort however and would be disappointed to receive anything less.

MATCH PREVIEW – NEWBOROUGH V THORPDALE

Thorpdale finally bounced back to something like their best last week, when they trounced Hill end in a one sided affair.

How they fare this week, may well depend on what Newborough side turns up to play.

Mirboo North had the Bulldogs for breakfast last week, and coach Tom Hallinan would have been disappointed with their performance.

You can anticipate a better performance from Newborough this weekend, as they plan to send the Blues to their elimination final the following week with a loss under their belt.

This contest will be hard, with a load of physical contact and in some ways maybe a perfect preparation for Thorpdale as they plan for the faster pace of finals football.

MATCH PREVIEW – YINNAR V BOOLARRA

It’s “all abilities” round in the MGFL where those with disabilities are given the opportunity to be involved in our great game.

Yinnar and Boolarra have embraced the concept and there will be many who will be involved from 9am this weekend at Yinnar.

The initiative is one the MGFL promote with pride.

Later in the day, it will be the Magpies playing host to the Demons in what is anticipated to be a one sided affair.

Yinnar have been good all year, even given that it has only been on the rare occasion that they have been able to field there very best side.

Unfortunately for Boolarra, this will be one of those rare weekends, and with just a week from finals you can expect the premiership contender to show no mercy to the winless Boolarra.

This match up promises to be the match of the round, as the second placed Bombers host the reigning premiers and fourth placed Tigers.

Most coaches would agree that having a real contest prior to a finals campaign is the perfect preparation for players as they condition themselves for the fast pace, the harder hits, the extra pressure of winning when it really counts.

These two sides have earned the right to take part in the business end of the season and would want to assume some sort of control over the other, with a win.

Mirboo North have had a terrific back half of the season after some gave them no chance of even playing finals (me) whether they are up to countering the pace and the quality of Yallourn-Yallourn North on their home deck is the million dollar question.

What is assured is a first class game that will also give us an indication of which is likely to play a major part in the weeks ahead.