Mid Gippsland FL Round 16 review

An eight goal haul by leading goal kicker Dean MacDonald was not enough to give YYN victory over Trafalgar, the power forward was the focal point for the Bombers but he has few players to assist him with added goals. His eight brought him within 20 of the “tonne” and with two games to play he may get the required number. YYN’s loss was Yinnar’s gain as the Magpies quickly grabbed second possie after YYN went down. It was fitting that 300 gamer and Bomber coach Barrie Burnett scored the first goal of the match and by the first break it was a tied up ball game at 3-1 each. Daniel Hayes broke the deadlock within one minute in the second term only for Dean MacDonald to notch his 75^th goal and equalise. Matt Swenson playing a forward role got into the action and he contributed his best goal tally since he was a junior with six goals. By half time Trafalgar had swung the lead out to 19 points. It was a shootout at each end with Dean MacDonald and Matt Swenson scoring goals.

Dean MacDonald kicked 8 goals for YYN

Trafalgar were pulling away from the Bombers and it looked like their eight match losing streak against YYN was coming to an end. YYN ruckman Daniel Potts was a tired boy by the end of the match after playing eight quarters for the day after he played reserves and then replaced Josh Marshall prior to the start of the seniors when Marshall pulled a hammie in the warm up. Trafalgar kept increasing their lead with Darcy Brock also amongst the goals and his four was another highlight of the match. Jamie Hines was solid in the ruck and Tyson Leys was also prominent. YYN looked flat and many of the players were behind in the contest as Trafalgar got away, Josh Keyhoe was sidelined which had a big impact on the game, Barrie Burnett was again in the action and looked better with age, he was applauded by both teams after the match for his 300 games. By match end Trafalgar had a 33 point advantage booting 16-8 to 11-5. The Bombers dropping down a peg on the ladder. After the match Trafalgar coach Clint Einseidel had the players back on the field for post-match exercises in an effort to reduce injury problems.

Barrie Burnett played his 300th game for YYN

(Independent observer)

NOTE: Apologies to the Lewis Family after last week’s report that Mirboo North had beaten Boolarra for the Geoff Lewis Trophy, that should have read the George Lewis Memorial Shield.

Mirboo North and Hill End played in the return indigenous match between these two with the usual pre-match ceremonies being performed. Stalwart Damien Turner played his 250^th club game and joined the long list of life-members at Mirboo North, he also was voted BOG. Mirboo North started strongly against Hill End and steadily through the match were going from strength to strength adding more percentage points. By half time they led by over eight goals with former nine times MGFL goal kicking wizard Tim Traill getting amongst the goals. He had plenty of assistance as nine other players helped contribute to the final tally. It was the 13^th successive time that Mirboo North had beaten Hill End. The Tigers finished with 21-15 to Hill End 3-7. Good players for the Tigers included Clancy Bennett (my tip for the Elder-Berwick), Dom Pinneri and Zac Kilgower. Tim Traill ended with five goals. Hill End triers were Liam Fitzpatrick, Riley Powell, and Rob Fiddelaers.

(Independent observer)

Morwell East almost secured a place in the finals with a good win over Thorpdale, the East were behind at the first break as Thorpdale hit the track running and had five goals on the board in smart fashion. Morwell East coach Colin King wasn’t impressed at the first break and gave the Hawks a bit of a spray. The coach’s words had a big impact on Morwell East and they looked a different team scoring 6-2 to Thorpdale’s three behinds. Lucas Towns scored a couple but it was an all- round performance with the running players setting up the forwards. By half time King’s mood had changed and he was far happier with the turn around. Andrew Brown towered over a couple of the Thorpdale smalls and his winning tap-downs were a vital art of the East revival. Morwell East were prepared to share the work load, Matt Cunningham playing his 200^th game for the Hawks was in the thick of the action but it was up forward where the Hawks were winning the match sharing the goal scoring duties with seven players being enscribed on the goal tally list. Thorpdale’s last term effort had a lot going for them and in a shoot out which produced seven goals in a combined effort it was Morwell East however able to run out comfortable winners reversing the loss earlier in the season 15-7 to 10-11. For the East it was a solid team effort while for Thorpdale Jake and Brad Atkinson stood out as their best two players.

(Independent observer)

Newborough had their biggest win over Boolarra in a decade with an all-powerful display of football, the Doggies winning 20-20 to Boolarra 2-4. After an indifferent first quarter where Newborough scored 4-6 to a sole goal the Doggies moved up a cog and belted through seven unanswered goals to go to the big break over 11 goals ahead. Jarod Risol was superb on the forward line scoring goals from all angles as Boolarra were powerless to stop him, but it wasn’t a one trick pony as there were plenty of support for him. Newborough powered on to add another nine goals to one after half time with Jarod Risol finishing with his best for Newborough with nine goals, Michael Rosato scored four and seven others helped the big score-line. Matt Sawyer, Dom McGrath, Risol and Manny Faustin were voted best while for Boolarra Sam Mazou picked up votes as did Marcus Twomey and Matt Windsor. Newborough (26) currently in seventh could mathematically make the final six but need to win both games ahead (Mirboo North and Thorpdale) while Morwell East in sixth (28) have Yarragon and Trafalgar to contend with, one win could finalise their position.

(Independent observer)

Yinnar jumped into second position after their 73 point win over Yarragon, the Magpies setting up their win in a first quarter and were steadier all day keeping ahead at each break. The longer the match went the further the lead stretched and eventually it was 15-20 to 5-7 on the board. Yinnar should have won by a bigger margin but miskicking at times for Yinnar kept Yarragon in the match. Thirty five shots to twelve tells the story. Ex-Traralgon’s Michael Stockdale showed what an asset he’ll be for Yinnar with BOG with Brendon Chapman, Dean Linton and Jayden Embry all good in supporting roles. Lincoln Albanese scored four with nine others getting on the board. For Yarragon Dean Fitzgerald, Brad Wolfe, Michael Jolly and Tom Follett were good. Yinnar can possibly pencil in one win in their next two (Boolarra) but will face tough opposition against Trafalgar (1^st) next week. The top four has been decided with Trafalgar, Yinnar, YYN and Mirboo North filling the spots. The big challenge is for fifth and sixth with three teams vying for those positions (Thorpdale, Morwell East and Newborough).

(Independent observer)