by Rob Popplestone
Thorpdale will be under no illusions as to the importance of victory when they travel to play Stony Creek in round 12 of Mid Gippsland football on Saturday.
Stony Creek v Thorpdale
Thorpdale will produce their normal finest effort against Stony Creek. The question is, what will the Lions present when they welcome a tough Blues side?
Stony Creek coach Troy Shepherdson said they took on a side who were desperate to get back on the winners' list last weekend.
"The boys dug deep in the last to try to steal a win, but fell short by five points," Shepherdson said. "Hopefully we can roll the momentum of the last quarter into this week when we get a Thorpdale side that will be eager to stay in touch with the top four."
The Blues have a habit of winning those thought to be 50/50 games. Finding a way to win has them deservingly sitting inside the top half of the ladder.
However, they are under no illusions as to the challenges that lay ahead.
"Last week was a great game of footy which could have gone either way," Thorpdale coach Daniel Taylor said. "Off to the racecourse this week and, if they have a bookmaker there, I'll be having a little flutter on another tight game which is the nature of this competition."
"Two sides that match up well against each other in the past, expecting a tight tussle all day," Taylor added.
While popular coach "Tac" Taylor hopes for the best for his Blues side, he will also be proud of brother Josh playing his 250th with Mirboo North on the same day. He probably doesn't care if Mirboo North wins but he will care that his brother gets through safe and sound.
Hill End v Toora
Hill End host a Toora side that will desperately want to bounce back from one that seemingly got away.
The Magpies, beaten by a kick or two by Tarwin, travel to take on a side that was on the end of a good old-fashioned beating.
Hill End, who even in defeat have been respected for their efforts, just couldn't contain a ruthless Fish Creek on the weekend. Now it remains to be seen whether their 20-plus goal loss will hurt them beyond just that one match.
"We did (it) tough last week against Fish Creek," Hill End coach Adrian Burns said. "But we need to dust ourselves off, put that loss behind us and now focus on some improved footy against a Toora side whose season is still alive. They will be yet another tough challenge."
Toora's form in the past few weeks has been very good. This week will be pencilled in as a win but they need to do the work to secure the premiership points, or pay the price for not being as ready as they should be.
Toora coach Jay Accardi said his side would prepare as best they could to take on Hill End who would be hunting for a win.
"Really proud of the effort our lads showed," Accardi said. "But some silly errors at crucial moments in the last were costly. I'm sure we will learn from them and move on."
There is now no room for error for Toora. One more loss, maybe two, will mean the season - or at least the chance to make a surprise finals push - may well be over. As the old adage goes, you only take it one week at a time.
Tarwin v Yinnar
With a bye under the belt and some good form prior, Tarwin welcome a Yinnar side that has been good but not great. The Sharks will need to be at least somewhere in between in order to get over the top of the Magpies.
Tarwin have found a way to win and might sit fifth on the MGFNL ladder. However, given the evenness of the competition, a loss can quickly change your fortunes.
Tarwin coach Lachie Jones said his message to his team was to take chances and not dwell on mistakes in those close game.
"We have a bye to refresh and reset before we take on Yinnar this week at home," Jones added.
Tarwin will be keen to take the scalp of another contender, and last year's grand finalists are certainly that.
The Magpies are doing the job but will need to change gears against the Sharks. The signs last week against Boolarra showed they may well do that.
"We were expecting a tough game last week and that's exactly what we got," Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said. "The game was quite a battle and took us until the last quarter to break away and record a good win."
"Another big test this week with Tarwin on their home ground fresh after a bye," he added. "Going to be a big challenge as they have been in good form over the last month."
Yinnar sit third, their opponent Tarwin in fifth, with just one game separating the two. The result has the potential to dramatically affect their positioning.
Boolarra v Fish Creek
The Demons were in their element early in the season; on fire and atop the ladder after the first month of football. But, times have certainly got tough in recent weeks.
It appears this week will be no easier when they take on current league leaders Fish Creek.
The Demons' form is solid but they are coming off a one-point followed by another defeat in round 11.
"Inaccuracy cost us early," Boolarra coach Brendan Mason said. "However, all credit goes to the home side who played the full four quarters at much closer to 100 per cent than we were able to."
After last fortnight's heartbreaking loss and another lesson learnt on the weekend we look forward to the challenge of taking on the reigning premiership in Fish Creek this week at home."
Fish Creek showed they have little mercy for opposition clubs; their demolition of Hill End is proof of that.
The Kangaroos expect a tougher challenge in the shape of Boolarra, but you sense they will produce nothing short of their best.
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said it would be an interesting contest.
"We struggled a little bit against them last year with how they move the ball, so we will need to be on defensively all day," Walker said.
Fish Creek remain composed and respectful of all opposition. But, make no mistake, they will show no mercy as they start to build momentum in the back half of the home and away season.
Mirboo North v Newborough
These two teams are coming off contrasting results in round 11; the Tigers given a footballing lesson from Foster despite their best efforts and the Bulldogs getting home in a one-kick thriller over Stony Creek.
However, their seasons remain very much alive.
"Going off the ladder, it looks like another team we see ourselves evenly matched up against," Newborough coach Pat Frendo said. "So it will be good to see if we can back up a solid win with another good outing."
The Tigers may have only scored the one goal in their nine-goal loss to fellow Tiger team Foster, but they came away feeling better equipped for the future.
"We will take some learnings from last week and even a small amount of confidence," Mirboo North coach Damien Turner said. "Huge week for us now."
Turner added this game was "the most important match of the season".
"To add a bit of extra motivation, modern-day club legend plays his 250th and achieves life membership," he said. "We are super excited for the week and can't wait to saddle up again."
That "modern-day legend" is Josh Taylor who deserves every bit of recognition a player can have. Any milestone game is one in which a club can lift. If they do, that legend is likely to be chaired off.
Morwell East v Foster
As Morwell East prepare for the mighty task of talking on the Tigers, the Hawks are under no illusions as to what is required. Conversely, Foster are aware they can have the home side's season dead and buried with another win.
"They're still alive if they can start to turn it on, and they've definitely got the list that is capable," Foster coach Sam Davies said. "We need to have a big few weeks on the track to get our touch to a better standard."
As Foster start to improve, the Hawks are also starting to show patches of what most know they are capable of.
"We have our 2005 premiership reunion, so hoping we can do something special in front of that group," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said.
Players like to perform for those that have played and succeeded before them. Those premiership players, like the coach, will expect nothing less.
Bye: MDU.