Mid Gippsland FL Round 17 preview

MATCH PREVIEW – BOOLARRA V YALLOURN YALLOURN NORTH

This could be ugly.

Yallourn-Yallourn North coming off last weeks loss to top of the table Trafalgar and just two weeks from finals meeting up with the bottom of the table and winless Boolarra.

The Bombers have the benefit of the leagues leading goal kicker Dean MacDonald in good form.

The Key forward kicked eights goals against the top side last week so what he might be capable of this week is anyones guess, but with eighty goals scored this season and two rounds of home and away football remaining the prospect of 100 would be very much alive.

In their round nine clash it was the Bombers by 187 points and MacDonald finished with fifteen after having ten to half time.

MATCH PREVIEW – MIRBOO NORTH V NEWBOROUGH

Mirboo North may have secured their spot in the top five a full month earlier this year than last, but the football they are playing is very similar to that of their premiership winning year of 2018.

The Tigers have a confidence within the group that is invaluable in pressure situations and there will be plenty of that pressure when they meet Newborough.

The Bulldogs may have only claimed a comfortable win against the winless Boolarra last week, but it was the way they made a mess of the Demons that should have the Tigers ready for a hard fought physical contest.

It was only a few weeks ago that Tom Hallinan’s men also knocked off Yinnar, one of this years in form clubs, in a brutal encounter.

Win or lose, it wont make much difference to Mirboo North’s ladder position, but it can effect a groups confidence and that’s the last thing you want at this time of the year.

MATCH PREVIEW – THORPDALE V HILL END

A game against a club lower down the ladder and facing the same problems as themselves is exactly what Thorpdale need at this stage of the year, with their tenuous hold on fifth spot currently being challenged by Morwell East.

It has been well documented that the Blues have been battling with injuries for several weeks now, and they face a club in a very similar position.

The Rovers too have battled injuries to key players and have therefore struggled to claim premiership points for most of this season, their clash with Thorpdale is unlikely to change that.

Thorpdale simply have to much to play for and a loss to ninth placed Hill End would put another nail in the coffin of their finals hopes and surely kill off any hopes on winning a final even f they were to make it.

MATCH PREVIEW – TRAFALGAR V YINNAR

Trafalgar have managed to overcome every challenge presented to them in season 2018, with last weeks win over Yallourn-Yallourn North confirming them as rightful favourites for this seasons MGFL premiership.

The Bloods real challenge now is to remain focused with the building expectation and pressure that also comes on a playing group, that is performing so well week in and week out, and that pressure isn’t just on the football field, it can also spill out to footballers time away from the ground!!

Yinnar will have their shot at the title this weekend and will no doubt appreciate the opportunity to do so ahead of an inevitable match up again at finals time.

The Magpies have been, and remain one of the most respected clubs in the competition, and that’s partly due, in sorts, to lifting for occasions such as this.

With final positions pretty much sorted this clash will be a little about learning about one another and a little about making a statement.

MATCH PREVIEW – YARRAGON V MORWELL EAST

Yarragon was on the end of a good old fashioned footballing lesson last week against Yinnar.

The Panthers, who had been not only mixing it with some of the leagues best but on occasion also beating them, were left floundering against a talented Magpies team.

Of most interest this weekend, will be how they bounce back from that defeat when they meet yet another side in the Hawks, who are looking to have an impact in the finals come a fortnights time.

Morwell East promised the world and delivered an atlas for most of the season, but from nowhere suddenly find themselves with a remote chance of securing a top five spot.

Most might think it unlikely and they would probably be right, but it was only twelve months ago that Mirboo North found themselves in a similar position.