by Rob Popplestone
Two finals-bound teams will clash when Thorpdale host Foster in round 12 of Mid Gippsland football on Saturday.
For Hill End, a "winnable" trip to Mirboo North awaits
Thorpdale v Foster
As good as both of these sides have been, somehow, some way, one will need to be better than ever before to find a way to win Saturday's game.
Foster's efforts to draw with the unbeaten Newborough last week was full of merit, but you would expect this weekend to be just as tough.
"Thorpy, off the massive win they had last week over MDU, will this week be a slog and tougher again," Foster coach Sam Davies said.
The Tigers were second on the ladder before their draw with Newborough. That draw saw them drop from second to fifth.
Although it's probably expected that both sides will be playing a part in finals in a month and half, a loss this week would see the pressure automatically on, such is the evenness in talent and on the MGFNL ladder.
"It is a huge test this week against a red hot Foster," Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said. "Each week is essentially an elimination final for the remaining six games. Foster are a powerful scoring team, so our defensive work will need to be at its best to give us a chance of an upset."
As coaches and players learn more about their upcoming opposition, understanding strengths and finding weaknesses becomes even tougher to identify. That won't stop these two coaches trying to do just that this week.
Mirboo North v Hill End
It's been a tough year in which to gauge just what Mirboo North might deliver on a weekly basis.
One week the Tigers are defeating the reigning premiers, the next losing the unlosable game - if there is such a thing in 2023!
A loss to Fish Creek a fortnight ago highlighted some areas with which to work before heading into the bye. At home this weekend, it could well be win or season wasted.
"We were simply outworked in and around the contest, and they moved the footy with ease," Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta said of the game two weeks ago. "But we had a well deserved rest for our club last week and look forward to the run home."
The Tigers are currently 10th on the ladder, with two wins to be made up to really get Tiger fans excited. A win over Hill End, therefore, is absolutely crucial.
"We believe that this week's game against Mirboo North is a winnable one," Hill End coach Mike Santo said. "We will prepare accordingly, and hopefully we show up and are ready to play."
That is possibly one of the most frustrating aspects of a coach's preparation of a team, hoping, wondering whether your boys will turn up and be ready to play.
They will need to be this week, otherwise it will be a result like many before.
Fish Creek v Morwell East
Finals footy is six games away but it may well start this weekend for some clubs.
Both Fish Creek and Morwell East are very much up to eight clubs fighting for limited spots in the league's top six.
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said this weekend was "another big game".
"I feel, with how tight the ladder is at the moment, they're all big," Walker said. "Morwell East are always a hard and tough opponent, so we need to be on our game."
The Hawks are hard to catch but, on their day, they can certainly be a force to be reckoned with. They showed this so brilliantly last week against reigning premiers Yinnar.
It will be that sort of effort expected from the Morwell East coach Paul Henry on Saturday.
"We were hungrier to win last week, and it was nice to be on the winning side of a close one," Henry said. "Now we head to Fish Creek this week and, like I said last week, every game is a final from here."
The Hawks had a surprising win last week. If they were to back that up with success over a quality Fish Creek side, the thoughts of finals would start to evolve from dream to reality.
Newborough v Tarwin
The "Mindfull Aus" clash between the two sides sitting at the top of the MGFNL table is important.
It is important for both premiership points but also to bring attention to mental health that so many face.
"This week will be the sixth time we play the side that sits second on the ladder," Newborough coach Craig Skinner said. "So we will reset again this week so we are ready to welcome Tarwin for our Mindfull Aus clash with our new jumper for a cause that means so much to both clubs."
The two clubs share a mutual respect for each other, for what they do both on and off the field. That respect is embraced by both coaches.
But, make no mistake, both are absolutely focused on doing what they need to do to win.
"This week we get our opportunity at the best in the comp," Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said. "We get to do that while raising money and awareness for mental health through Mindfull Aus."
"This week is about our team, our club and our community," Hemming added. "Football takes care of itself."
The clash will show just how much the Sharks have improved in recent weeks. It will also test the resolve of Newborough on the back of their drawn game against Foster.
Stony Creek v Boolarra
Boolarra somehow managed to keep their season and their hopes of playing finals alive by winning games they may not have a right to.
This is due to the amount of players they still have on the sidelines due to injury and unavailability. But, even with all that said, winning again this week is crucial.
"Last week, we had a good start to the game in pretty trying conditions," Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said. "It was good to get another win under our belt and hopefully we can get a few players back in the next few weeks for some big games coming up."
Finals might be possible, even mathematically, for Stony Creek. But winning matches remains a priority for the Lions and for the development coach Chris Verboon has been nurturing.
"It's another game that will be a good test for us and hopefully we can get back to playing the footy I know we can play," Verboon said.
In the midst of winter, motivating players can sometimes be a task. If the Lions can somehow "believe" in what they can do, it may well be a closer game than many expect.
Yinnar v Toora
Each week a coach is dealt a win or a loss - sometimes a draw. But, despite the result, a coach more times than not is more interested in his side's efforts and honesty during the course of the game.
Toora may not have won many, but the team's efforts cannot be questioned.
"We have Yinnar this week who no doubt will be looking to bounce back from their loss last week," Toora coach Jack Weston said. "With some improved performances over the last month, I look forward to the challenge of coming up against the reigning premiers."
As happy as Toora have been, even in losing, Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor is expecting much more from a side that is the league's reigning premiers.
"Toora next week is a must-win game," Taylor said. "We need to rock up, get to work early and we need to start playing the right way, again."
The message is simple. The Magpies are a good side, but believing the match will be won before the ball is bounced, is always a risky proposition. So risky, in fact, that it has already cost them a game they could ill afford to have lost.
Bye: MDU