by Rob Popplestone
Fish Creek will battle Foster for the 2025 senior football premiership in the Mid Gippsland league grand final at Yinnar on Saturday.
All 11 opposition coaches have tipped Fish Creek to complete a premiership three-peat with Foster battling injuries at the wrong time of the year.
Grand final: Fish Creek v Foster
Venue: Yinnar on Saturday at 2.45pm.
Meetings this season:
Round eight: Fish Creek 7-7-49 defeated Foster 7-6-48.
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker described it "a gritty win, a genuine arm wrestle all day with neither team able to kick back-to-back goals".
"Both teams defended really well, making (a) low-scoring affair, and we just fell on the right side at the final siren," Walker said.
Foster coach Sam Davies said it was "just a game that got away unfortunately, and a game that we definitely lost from our mistakes rather than they won from playing good footy".
"High stoppage scrap for a lot of the day and we just failed to execute late, which led to turnover or poor decision making" Davies said. "We'll learn and take a lot away from it, but we need to be better in certain areas."
Round 18: Foster 7-4-46 defeated Fish Creek 4-4-28.
Davies said it was a "really tough game in conditions we haven't really seen or played in this year".
"I thought they were on top in the first half," Davies said. "They applied great pressure and we panicked a lot with the footy."
"We didn't adjust too much after half-time but came out much more calm and got a lot more speed on the ball, which created a lot of opportunities that we took. Both teams will have changes in a fortnight but we will definitely enjoy the week and appreciate the work put in to finish on top."
Walker described it "a solid hit out against Foster in an interesting weather day".
"The first half was relatively dry. Although hard to score for both teams, the ball was moving pretty quickly," Walker said.
"With no team able to capitalise on opportunities in the first half, Foster definitely changed that in the third quarter, putting on six goals straight to our one. Something we have been pretty good at is stopping opposition momentum, but we just weren't able to in the third quarter. Disappointing on our end but hats off to Foster. They were first in and out hunted us."
"By the end of the third, the rain and hail had set in and it was always going to be hard for us to claw them back. We showed a bit at the start of the last quarter for a potential comeback but, unfortunately, the damage was done. Well done to Foster finishing a year clear on top of the ladder, a very solid year.
"A week off and will see them again."
Qualifying final: Fish Creek 5-5-35 defeated Foster 4-5-29.
Walker said it "probably wasn't a spectacle of good footy but both defences were pretty strong".
"It made it pretty hard to score. Both teams actually scored - or seemed to score - better against the wind, as we worked in numbers. But both teams I feel were hesitant to take risks as the game was always so close. We - and I'm sure they - didn't want to make a costly mistake.
"We have a week off now, a rest for some sore players and wait to find who our grand final opponent might be."
Davies said "the scoreboard flattered us".
"Beaten convincingly around the ball, they were cleaner and won the outside game. They had really good plans in place and executed accordingly, which meant we could never get our game going.
"Our defenders stood up again, to their credit as they always do and absorbed a lot of footy coming their way.
"The beauty of finishing top two is the second chance. No time to be down and out. Big week of recovery and planning for next weekend."
MGFNL coach predictions:
Damien Turner (Mirboo North): Foster had a tough preliminary final. Although not knowing the exact ins and outs of the injury list, it didn't look great. I think Fish Creek will be too good, and come away 15-point winners.
Paul Henry (Morwell East): What a game! Fish Creek for me. The three-peat is happening. Week off, fresh and just to good in the big dance.
Troy Shepherdson (Stony Creek): Fish Creek to win by 18 points. Younger, faster side. Extra rest will prove to be of an advantage.
Lachie Jones (Tarwin): Fish Creek for mine, although it's very hard to split the two. The week off always helps and Foster were made to work for it last week on a warm day against Yinnar. (Tim) Gavenlock from Fish Creek for best on ground.
Pat Frendo (Newborough): I reckon Fish Creek get the win in a close one. Think Luke Williams from Fishy is just too good and will get them over the line.
Sam McCulloch (Yinnar): Fish Creek. Have a fit and healthy list, and their finals experience will get them over the line. Foster had a few injuries in the two finals, which I feel they will find hard to cover.
Jay Accardi (Toora): Fish Creek, purely after watching Foster on the weekend. They look a bit beat up and Fishy always seem to rise to the big occasion.
Rhett Kelly (MDU): Fish Creek for me. I think their ability to shut down teams defensively and not allow them to score will go a long way. If Foster is to win, Besty (Jake Best) will need to kick more than five goals. Should be a ripping game.
Daniel Taylor (Thorpdale): Foster have too many key injuries at the wrong time of the year, which is disappointing for them. Unless Willem Duursma somehow becomes available for Foster then I think Fishy will win by four to five goals. Lachie Gale to dominate the ruck for Fishy and be the best player on the ground.
Brendan Mason (Boolarra): Hard to tip against Fish Creek on grand final day. And, it looks like Foster, who played the best footy during the home and away season, have been hit by injuries at the wrong time of the year. Fish Creek by 10 points.
Adrian Burns (Hill End): Fish Creek and Foster have been the two stand out teams of the competition, but you also need a little luck as well. Fish Creek to win.