Hillsmen miss out on finals

by Mitch Berechree
They say a week is a long time in football. Well after 18 rounds, 16 games per side and a full calendar year not a lot has actually changed when it comes to the MGFNL senior ladder.
In terms of sides playing finals, it is Tarwin stepping up from seventh last year to replace Boolarra who finished sixth last season and Yinnar and Fish Creek switching between second and third with other things staying as they were.
So how precisely did round 18 play out and get us to this familiar outcome? And, crucially, what comes next?
Hill End vs Foster
Foster finished their season with an away trip to Hill End and got exactly what they needed, a win and no injuries as they look ahead to a month of footy that will see them try to defend their 2025 premiership. The win, 4-9-33 to 19-6-120, was set up with a six goal to nil first quarter by the visitors.
And after conceding three goals to Hill End in the second quarter Foster responded with a seven goal to one third term to lead by near on 13 goals at the last break.
After the win Jake Best said "the game seemed a lot closer than what the scoreboard said" recognising the never say die attitude of the Rovers.
He said it was "great to get the win today" and he was "looking forward to having a week off and starting our finals campaign."
For Foster Brett Eddy and coach Jake Best led the way in terms of goal kickers with six and five respectively. Jack Flavelle was again named best on with Angus Norton and Tom Schneider separated on the better players list by Eddy.
For Hill End Kade Perkins booted three and Harry Moore one. Ambu Uliando was best on along with Bayley and Darcy Paul.
Hill End coach Tom Hallinan, who has been a great contributor to our coverage all year, summarised the loss simply, "outclassed by Foster".
On his side Hallinan was strong saying "our boys never put the queue in the rack. That was noted in the second quarter with three goals to four being scored."
Hallinan praised his defence saying the "backs were outstanding due to frequent front exits from stoppage by Foster."
In terms of individual efforts Hallinan said they tried Tom Johnstone as a mid, swapping with Ambu Uliando while Sam Hanson contested well in the ruck. "Rebound and composure from Bayley and Darcy Paul was exceptional from half back with Kade Perkins providing terrific spark in the first half kicking three goals."
Hallinan said the season was "a terrific foundation year."
"Yes we have lowered our colours to some slick teams but we never lowered our colours to those below us, or Newborough and MDU who finish above us. We have work to do, but we now know what that work looks like off the back of a terrific bank of evidence that we anticipate will assist 2027 recruitment."
Yinnar vs Thorpdale
When second plays fourth a week before the final series starts you might well expect a close contest. Well clearly the memo didn't reach Thorpdale.
With the Blues knowing they'd finish fourth or fifth no matter the outcome, coach Daniel Taylor opted to rest a cricket team's worth of talent which helped Yinnar run out huge winners 23-21-159 to 3-3-21.
And in Taylor's defence his job, which he has done before, is to win a flag not a round 18 clash.
With regular reserves players standing next to team of the year contenders on almost every line this was always going to be a one sided battle. And when Lachy Pratt and Will Robertson decided to both hit the ground running early it was no surprise the scoreline finished how it did.
The duo had two each before Grinstead Jones joined the party and the lead was out to 39 points before Shaun Falla kicked truly for the visitors.
The second quarter saw Yinnar add another six while keeping Thorpdale to just two behinds. During the third term the Pies helped themselves to eight majors while Thorpdale managed two goals to head to the huddle 113 points in arrears.
Thankfully for Thorpdale, who were rendered scoreless in the last term, Yinnar lost their radar and finished with three goals, seven behinds or the final margin could have been north of 150 points.
In retrospect with Yinnar having a week off before facing Foster for a spot in the grand final and Thorpdale facing MDU in an elimination final it might be argued neither side got what they needed in their last home and away game. Conversely history will judge the outcome rather favourably should either of the sides hold the cup aloft in a month's time.
For Yinnar Harvey McKay was best on ahead of Pratt and Robertson who booted six and five goals respectively.
Meanwhile Thorpdale credited James Holland-Burch, Shaun Falla and Hayden Britten as their best.
MDU vs Fish Creek
Coming off a bye, and with a fluker's chance of obtaining second spot off Yinnar, Fish Creek hit the ground running in their game at MDU. The Kangas banged on five early goals and appeared set to sail into the finals as winners.
MDU however had other ideas and thanks to a five goal to two second half caused one of the upsets of the year winning 11-13-79 to 9-9-63.
They've been a bit like Shakespeare this year - hard to read, with their best being good and their worst being really poor, but it looks like coach Rhett Kelly found the script this week as his side cemented fourth spot with a massive win.
After conceding early scores MDU went bang bang at the 14 minute mark of the first term to swing momentum their way mid-way through the opening stanza. But as good sides do Fishy replied and replied strongly with four in a row. In fact, if it were not for a late MDU goal with 28 minutes played the Kangas' lead at the first break would have been greater than the two goals it was.
And when the visitors piled on two more in the second term they had scored nearly double their opponents and it was almost time to look toward next week.
The home side had other ideas though and dug in.
Jamie Youle, almost a lock for team of the year, was in everything and Kieran Bohn regularly turned defence into attack. When Brayden Sellings hit the scoreboard the half time lead was only three points and MDU had Sherminator like levels of confidence as they jogged into the rooms.
The third term saw MDU kick three goals to two and head to their huddle with a three point lead. Surrounded by their fans who urged them on, coach Kelly asked for one last effort. And one last effort he got.
While MDU might have kicked only two more themselves, they kept Fish Creek goalless for the term, only the Kangaroos third goalless term for the season, to chalk up the win by 14 points.
After the win MDU coach Rhett Kelly was clearly happy saying he was "super, super pleased with the result. It was a really good win and something we needed to build a bit of momentum and belief heading into finals."
Asked about the coming week Kelly said "we can look forward to Thorpdale. They got the better of us a couple of weeks ago, but I think we'll be a lot better for that experience. We can make a few adjustments, get our preparation right and go in with plenty of belief."
Jarrod Walker paid credit to MDU saying they "played really well all day and never really allowed us to get the game on our terms."
Whilst Walker acknowledged it was "a disappointing loss to end the home and away season" he was hopeful it was "a little sharpen up for us heading into the finals".
Newborough vs Stony Creek
Newborough went into the clash knowing their destiny was not in their own hands but also knowing the one thing they could control was getting the win they needed to get to be any hope of a final's appearance. Whilst things didn't start as planned with Stony Creek kicking three of the first four gaols the Doggies settled in the second half to run out winners 13-9-87 to 6-12-48.
With Stony Creek calling on Chris Verboon for only his second game of the season and having Angus Mcinnes double up from the reserves, the visitors really threw everything they had at Newborough before running out of petrol tickets after the main break.
Newborough sent defender Macally Bronsan to Luke Firth and Liam Fitzpatrick to Verboon in an attempt to quell the two big guns in the front half while letting Josh Pearce run free at the other end.
And it was Pearce who got things under way when he took a cheeky drive by handball to kick the game's first of the day. By the end of the term, he would have two goals and by the end of the game six in an effort that saw him named second best on ground for the tri-colours.
Matt Heywood was given the nod for best on with Bronsan acknowledged for keeping Firth off the score sheet with third best.
For Stony Creek Verboon slotted three majors with three others kicking one each.
Tarwin vs Boolarra
Tarwin needed to win to be assured of a final's berth and to win well, and hope Fish Creek won, to avoid finishing sixth and facing Fish Creek in week one of the finals. Well, the Sharks did their bit piling on eight first quarter majors before running out winners 20-12-132 to 11-8-74.
Alas MDU upset Fish Creek but after missing the post-season last year Tarwin will be rapt to be back in the finals mix.
With such a huge quarter time lead Tarwin coach Lachie Jones needed to ensure his side didn't take the foot off the pedal after the first break. And his side didn't let him down booting three of the games next four goals to blow the lead out to a game high 55 points heading toward the main change.
The Demons were more competitive after the game was decided. They kicked seven second half goals to nine and put in a performance much more aligned with their talents than what they displayed in the first half.
In a positive sign for coach Lachie Jones heading into finals several of his best players had good individual performances with Troy Harley and Ben Ellen joining Jones as the best three on the park. Toby Mahoney booted five and Jordan Bertacco and Rem Dal Pozzo got three each.
For the defeated Demons the co-captains Mason Porykali and Joel Mason joined Tim Potter as the best trio on the ground. Mat Devon booted three to take his season's tally to 35 and the little fella must surely be a smoky for team of the year honours in a forward pocket.
Post game Tarwin coach Lachie Jones was up and about beaming as he said "obviously really happy to grab sixth spot.
And looking ahead to next week? Jones reflected on Saturday's win: "The game was a bit of a second half shootout so we will put effort and concentration into how we avoid that."
Morwell East vs Mirboo North
Keen to leave the MGFNL on a winning note Morwell East put in one of their better performances of the season on Saturday. The home side led by six points to start the last term only to see Mirboo North kick three of the game's last four goals to win 7-6-48 8-8-56.
Bailey Galante continued his hot form for the east winding up his season with yet another best on ground performance to go with his two goals. Cain Lorangi too continued his strong late season run being named second best ahead of Bailey Brown and Jarryd Picket.
For Mirboo North Jesse Chilla was best ahead of the ever reliable Hudson Kerr and Beau Peters. Hayden Potts and the again un-retired Josh Taylor led the goal kickers with two each.
After the win Mirboo North coach Damien Turner summarised the game. "Morwell East lead at all breaks and really brought a hard contest, but we continued to trust our process and plans which was the most pleasing aspect."
"Our second half I felt we got the territory battle on our side, but the conversion didn't come until the last quarter."