Blues improve, Rovers win on a wet day of Mid Gippsland footy

It was a dirty day for Mid Gippsland football on Saturday, with strong and changing winds complemented by wet and slippery conditions making it difficult to play pretty football.
Instead it was back to the basics of hard, straight running, minimal touches and making the most of limited opportunities.
Toora v Hill End
The challenges of a coach isn't always getting a team up for the "big" game. It's sometimes getting them ready for the expected "easy" win.
Toora, having suffered two losses of more than 100 points in their zero and three start to the season, entered this game against opponents yet to lose and coming off a courageous win over league improvers Newborough.
Hill End was always going to win, but how they won and how Toora lost would be telling about each.
The scoreboard showed the Rovers winners, 6.10-46 to the Power 2.4-16, the margin far less than what was expected.
Hill End coach Mike Santo said it was a hard fought win in testing conditions against a Toora side playing a hard and tough brand of footy.
"We were very good around the stoppages and had our way in the ruck with Ambu and Kerrigan getting first use of the ball. It created a lot of opportunities for us. Our backline repelled many attacks, led by the most underrated player in the league Robby Fiddlelears. We are starting to play a sharper brand of footy every week."
Toora had a first hand look at one of the best sides in the competition and responded to the challenge by giving it their all.
Toora coach Matt Ponton said the conditions made it become "an old school game of footy".
"Hill End made more of their opportunities than we did," Ponton said. "The effort was great by the Toora boys all day and we left nothing out on the ground."
Even in the loss, Power earnt the respect of all at the ground. Your best is all anyone can ask.
Thorpdale v Boolarra
There is little more satisfying than to witness the improvement built on perseverance by clubs, coaches and players.
These two clubs should be commended and recognised for their start to the season after many years toiling near the bottom of the ladder.
The job is far from done, but the early signs are that both have respect from their opponents, and that is as valuable as winning.
But it's nice to win as well, and that is what Boolarra did 3.5-23 to 2.3-15.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said it was a hard, tough game but felt his side always had control.
"Thorpdale made a contest of it," Giardina said. "It's an interesting start to the season, as it seems like anyone can win on their day."
Saturday was the Demons day but the endeavour of the Blues can't be questioned.
Thorpdale coach Ray Pickering said despite the extremely harsh conditions, "our boys executed our game plan extremely well".
"In a great wet weather tough contest, our boys stood up to a strong Boolarra outfit, outscoring them for three quarters," Pickering said. "But, unfortunately, just falling short. Our boys should be proud of their effort on the weekend."
That effort will win the Blues games this year. Under the guidance of coach Pickering, there is no side turning up to Thorpdale just expecting to pick up the points, it's always going to be a battle for the visitors.