by Rob Popplestone
The second half of the Mid Gippsland footy season begins with quite a few clubs hoping to get a second chance at making their way into a crowded top half of the ladder.
However, after that second chance, there will be no more opportunities as the home and away season quickly draws to a close.
Morwell East v Thorpdale
This is a game worthy of a big crowd and certainly one that has the ability to shape a season.
The Hawks, at home and currently fourth on the ladder, have the chance to put a fair bit of fresh air between themselves and seventh placed Blues, who currently sit two games behind them.
"After pretty much three weeks off, it was good to be back playing footy last week and great to get the four points," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said. "But we have a massive game this week, when we welcome Thorpy to our home turf."
The Blues are aware of their current predicament and, like a few of their close neighbours on the ladder, realise the season could soon slip away unless these 50-50 games start to fall their way.
"Massive week for the club this week travelling to a firing Morwell East on their deck," Thorpdale co-coach Ray Pickering said. "Hopefully our boys can continue to improve going into the second half of the season and put some pressure on some teams in the top six."
Morwell East fit that bill perfectly, so there will be nowhere to hide for the visiting Blues as they look to start their surge in the best possible way. They will need to overcome one of 2024's biggest challenges, defeating Morwell East on their home ground.
Hill End v Tarwin
It has been a year of frustrations for both Hill End and Tarwin.
For the Rovers, a win still eludes them, whilst for the Sharks, a few more wins have managed to slip through their fingers just when you thought they were about to turn the corner.
Tarwin's weekend visit to the home of Hill End will be one they might already have put in their pocket. But, it also looms as one that could have the visitors under pressure at some stage of the afternoon, as they were last week against a side at the other end of the ladder in Yinnar.
"When playing against a top team, you need to take the opportunities," Tarwin coach Jason Kennedy said. "Yinnar were consistent all day and really ran away with it in the last quarter. This weekend we are away at Hill End, and we will rally around each other and put our best foot forward to get back on the winners' list."
The winners' list is where they should be too. But, every so often, a side can surprise you and Hill End are certainly wanting to push this one to the limit.
"Looking forward to playing at home this weekend," Hill End coach Ambu Uliando said. "We should have a couple senior players back from injury. If we can play four quarters and the level we know we can play, it should be a competitive game."
It will be most interesting if the Hillsmen can be competitive and in the game come the last 30 minutes. If that is the case, their first win will be close enough to touch, but more than that they will have to grab it hard to steal it from the Sharks.
Stony Creek v Toora
These two clubs are a perfect example of progressive teams.
To date, they have been presented with winnable games at various times, only to fall agonisingly short. You do that too many times and your season can quickly slip away. Therefore, this match looms as a crucial one.
"Stony Creek this week in a game that is hugely important for our football club," Toora coach Jack Weston said. "It's fabulous to show the improvement we have, but it's time to get some reward."
That is exactly what playing senior football is about. It's nice to play well, it's great to push sides, but unless you're winning, the mountain you need to climb gets higher very quickly. That's not only for the Magpies, but also for the Lions.
"We finished with more scoring shots in our last match but couldn't convert," Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon said. "In the end, one quarter of footy is where we lost the game."
"We have had a couple of weeks off, which has come at a good time," Verboon added. "Plenty of sore bodies. It will be good to have a break and refresh."
To that end, there will be no excuses for Stony Creek and certainly none either for Toora. The winner will be the club that wants it most.
Foster v Newborough
This clash looks to be everything a finals match would and could present. Two classy, tough and honest teams, both in good form and wanting to secure their position in the top half of the ladder.
Foster is currently third, with a two-game break on the fifth placed Newborough. A win would almost certainly guarantee the Tigers a finals position.
"We play Newborough at home this week, they've never beaten us," Foster coach Sam Davies said. "But they're always fired up and have plenty of chat for the boys, so we are expecting the same treatment once again."
The rivalry between these two clubs has quickly built over the last handful of years. The challenge for one to have the better of the other is obvious on the field and certainly spills out to the other side of the fence as well.
"Last week, Boolarra was another good contest for us in a game where both sides had see-sawing control of the game," Newborough coach Craig Skinner said. "We were happy with how we are playing."
"This week is our annual trip to Foster, so will find out if they are the real deal on Saturday," Skinner added.
That sounds like fighting words to the writer, and is refreshing to hear from a coach who is not afraid to put it all on the line.
The important thing now for Skinner's Bulldog players is to back their coach's words with action; a task far from easy against a resilient Foster side.
Boolarra v Fish Creek
This week will be Boolarra's turn to take on the champs in Fish Creek.
The Kangaroos have and continue to take on all comers, responding in a manner that best suits to claim victories week in, week out.
The Demons can pose a problem for any side on their home deck, but it will take something special to claim the premiership points against the reigning premiers. However, they did push the runners-up of 2024 just a week ago.
"Newborough, last week, was another game where we were in up until three-quarter time and then fell away," Boolarra coach Brendan Mason said. "Newborough are well-structured and well-drilled and that showed as the game went on."
"This week we host top of the table Fish Creek," Mason added. "We will have to play at our best for four quarters if we want to compete against the best side."
The Kangaroos have been good and enter this round 10 clash after a weekend bye. The break is sure to have the group cherry ripe for Boolarra.
"A nice week for our playing group to rest up, recharge and gear up for the second half of the year," Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said. "A tough game first up against Boolarra, who typically play pretty well at home."
"We were a bit sluggish coming off our first bye earlier in the year, so will be looking for improvement in our attitude and effort from the start," Walker added.
At AFL level we have witnessed shock results on the back of sides not being fully ready to go. The same can happen at country levels.
You should never say never, but you wouldn't expect an upset this week.
Yinnar v MDU
This is a crucial clash for two of the league's star performers.
Yinnar is currently second, just percentage from top spot. They host the sixth placed MDU side who sit precariously in sixth, with many clawing at them from below.
The Magpies have been good and, from all reports, are getting better. The Demons get to see first-hand this weekend.
"I'm very happy with the contribution from right across the board," Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said. "Last week, Tarwin got on top in the third quarter but didn't capitalise on it inside the 50s. I was happy with the way we responded in the last and ran the game out well."
"Looking forward to being back on our home deck in what will be another tough game against MDU," McCulloch added.
The Demons have shown they can mix with the teams at the top for long periods within a game. But there have been one or two that have slipped through fingers and could have put them in a much more secure position.
"We had our chances again last fortnight going forward," MDU coach Nathan Allen said. "But were unable to finish our work and, on turnover, Fishy ran in waves and cut us open."
"We've had the week off to refresh, regroup and hopefully get a few numbers back against Yinnar this week," Allen added.
It no doubt looms as yet another MGFNL clash that can make or break a club. The Demons have done it before at Yinnar and, if they manage to do it again, the possibilities of this season start to open up for the Demons.
Bye: Mirboo North.