Rovers and Blues head to the "Creeks" in Mid Gippy footy

by Rob Popplestone
The early predictions of an even season are showing signs of coming to fruition, with very little separating sides over the first two rounds.
The fact only three straight kicks separated 2022 wooden spooners Thorpdale and 2022 premiers Yinnar in last week's clash, is evidence of that.
Fish Creek v Thorpdale
Thorpdale might not have had the thrill of a win in their opening two games, but they have shown enough to suggest success might be possible this weekend against Fish Creek.
The Lions will be well aware that the Blues see this as a winnable game that might kickstart further success.
"We have shown glimpses of what we can do, but Thorpdale this week will be another good test," Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said. "They've recruited really well, so will be a good hit out. Ray Pickering always seems (to have) something up his sleeve to keep us on our toes."
And, with Pickering having the services of co-coach Jason Winderlich, things are starting to take shape.
Winderlich said it was a big challenge last week against the reigning premiers but praised a "fantastic effort" from his group, with only 17 fit players for the last three quarters.
"Another tough challenge this week as we head over to Fish Creek," Winderlich said. "With seven, maybe eight, players from our first-choice 18 missing, it will be an opportunity to give some more guys senior experience."
Experience takes time, and it seems Thorpdale are happy to be patient as they lay the foundation to build something special in the weeks and months ahead.
Stony Creek v Hill End
Only one of these two teams will remain winless going into round four, and both of these two clubs will be hoping it's the other.
Hope won't be enough, with only four quarters of committed footy enough to claim the four premiership points on offer.
Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon will be hoping his side can run with, and eventually over, his opponents this week.
"We got off to a great start last week, but just couldn't match Mirboo North's spread and run forward," Verboon said. "They have a young side and just out ran us in the end."
"We had a few injuries after the game, so hopefully those boys get up for Hill End at home this week," he added.
To say a lot hangs on the result of this clash is an understatement. To be without a win going into round four, means the coach's work needs to work harder to keep his players motivated to stay the journey as winter fast approaches.
Hill End coach Mike Santo said Toora was very well coaches and organised last week, reflecting "they clearly play for each other".
"Great effort from our boys all day, but skill errors cost us in crucial stages of the game," Santo said, noting his skipper Aaron Fawcett as inspirational and Jamie Sommers unstoppable down forward.
"Stony Creek will be a tough task this week though," he added.
Both coaches were terrific players in their day, and would be feeling a level of frustration at not being able to get their respective teams to do as they themselves have previously done. That said, a win can quickly change a team's belief, confidence and momentum. For one team, at least that will happen this week.
Toora v Morwell East
Buoyed by their round two victory, Toora will return home to take on the unbeaten Morwell East.
The Magpies took a fair bit out of last week's win over 2022 finalists Hill End, but understand the Hawks will be a very different proposition.
"Morwell East this week presents a strong challenge after the fast start they have had," Toora coach Jack Weston said. "Hopefully with a clean bill of health at home, we can give it a shake."
Three from three would be a dream start to the season for a Hawks side that, on paper at least, appeared to be lacking a fair slice of experience. However, the early signs for a club celebrating 50 years in the MGFNL have been very positive.
"We wanted to go into our bye week with two wins under our belt, and we have done just that," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said. "We have had time to rest and we have now got ourselves ready for our first away game at Toora."
The Hawks have the chance to go three from three, a start they might not have thought possible prior to the start of the season. With what has already been a confidence building start for a young group, anything is possible.
However, Toora will be far from a walk in the park, as the Magpies prepare to put on a show for their home crowd.
Boolarra v Foster
Boolarra came crashing back to earth and reality after coming off second best in their Demons clash with MDU.
Back to their home ground but facing a seemingly in-form Foster will prove to be an even tougher task.
"Last week we were smashed from the first bounce," Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said. "When we did have an opportunity to put some scoreboard pressure on, our skills let us down."
"We now have a big game this week against Foster, who look to have improved from their first game," Giardina added.
Foster was very satisfied with their win over the Sharks, but will be approaching the Demons with the respect they deserve.
"Tarwin at their home deck is one of the hardest games in our league and last week was no different," Foster coach Sam Davies said. "Boolarra this week away will be tough again."
"Tony plans very well and will be keen to bounce back," Davies added.
Both coaches are capable of adapting very quickly, both to the resources they have on hand on a week-to-week basis and to the opposition they face.
As much as this game will be decided on the field, don't discount the coaches' work off the field.
Yinnar v MDU
There have been mixed results for both Yinnar and MDU in the first fortnight, with a loss in round one followed by a win just seven days ago.
Make no mistake, the Demons will see this clash as one where they can take the scalp of a prospective top four side. In doing so, it may lift the expectations of what they might be able to achieve during the season.
"Our first win as a new group will do wonders for our confidence, but we are aware that it doesn't get any easier this week with last year premiers away," MDU coach Nathan Allen said. "We hope to put together four quarters of our footy and see how it stacks up."
Yinnar are just taking some time, as they did in 2022, to reach the level they need to. As each week passes, you can be assured improvement will come.
"Last week wasn't the prettiest game of football," Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said. "Our effort and intent was there, but we lacked polish and we fumbled a lot."
"MDU this week will be another challenge, both teams will be looking to get their second win for the season and start building some momentum," Taylor said. "It's another big game which we're looking forward to."
The Demons will well and truly see just where they stand this week. A win over Yinnar will have both coach and players believing that finals can be achieved. It would be a reasonable assumption, given it would mean that the Demons had defeated two of the 2022 finalists in the matter of a fortnight.
All that said, at this stage it's all just words. The action happens on Saturday.
Newborough v Mirboo North
In what is most likely to be the match of the round, Newborough with two wins from their first two games will host the unbeaten Mirboo North.
The Bulldogs have shown signs of improvement, even on their 2022 grand final appearance. But, one would expect them to need to show every piece of their best to grab the win over a Tiger side that have also showcased some impressive football improvement.
It's a match in which teams will also compete for the Ron Skinner Cup. Ron is the father of Newborough coach Craig, both of whom coached and are very much respected at Mirboo North and Newborough.
"I was very impressed with how we moved the ball last week and the attitude we took into the game," Skinner said. "We are now looking forward to our first home game against Mirboo North."
"Shotty Mongta has his team two from two, so we look forward to a fierce battle against a proud club at the kennel for the Ron Skinner Cup," he added.
Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta, coming down off a great day for the club, said recovery would be really important ahead of this weekend.
"Round three against Newborough is an exciting challenge and I look forward to another good hit out," Mongta said.
Make no mistake, this clash will be very much more than a good hit out. It will be a physical, hard, no nonsense, old-fashioned fight for premiership points, with a sprinkling of silky skills that both teams possess.
Bye: Tarwin