by Rob Popplestone
It's been said before and there is little doubt it will be said several times more before the end of the season, but the even nature of the MGFNL competition at the moment is drawing more interest and attracting bigger crowds. It also makes every single game crucial for clubs.
MDU v Hill End
MDU was keen to return to their home ground and show a healthy home crowd what they were capable of against one of the better sides in the competition.
Just seven days earlier, the Demons had given a start to Mirboo North and fallen just points short after chasing hard for most of the day. This week's plan was to put the pressure on the visitors from the first bounce and try to keep them at arms length for the afternoon.
That is exactly what happened, with MDU 6.7-43 edging out Hill End 5.12-42, the win by just a point, maybe season defining for the Demons.
MDU coach Peter Harris said it was a cracking contested game of football from both sides.
"Our boys stuck to our game plan and were then able to execute it in the last half," Harris said. "It was nice to finally be on the right side of a close one."
Pre-season premiership favourites Hill End realise this season is as tough as it gets. Even playing your best football sometimes isn't enough.
Hill End coach Mike Santo says his side played some superb footy early and "then believed we were better than we were currently".
"Credit to Peter and his side, they had a game plan and beat us the next three quarters," Santo said. "They spread well from stoppages and took away our strengths and they deserved the win. Our inaccuracy and lack of discipline is becoming a real issue for us; hopefully it's a wake up call."
There won't be the opportunity for too many "second chances" for Hill End, or any side for that matter.
Tarwin v Thorpdale
Unbeaten, on top of the ladder and at home, the Sharks strolled into the weekend confident another win was on its way.
Tarwin is just one of a handful of clubs slowly making the improvements necessary to have success both on and off the field, and were keen not to let Thorpdale stand in the way.
At Shark Park, Tarwin were comfortable winners 26.12-168 to the Blues 6.9-45.
The Sharks actually trailed at quarter time before they really turned on the afterburners, kicking 10 goals in the second quarter, eight in the third and finishing the game off with six more goals in the last, in a truly dominating performance.
"It was a great team effort from the boys," Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said. "Everyone played their role and they all had a smile on their faces."
The Sharks should be pleased with themselves too, unbeaten in their first four matches of the season and sitting on top of the ladder. It's been a dream start for the new coach and the Tarwin club.
Thorpdale it seems still have some work to do. They have been gallant, even in defeat, and would have gone into this match believing they were a chance.
"It was a solid start to win the first quarter," Thorpdale coach Ray Pickering said. "But Tarwin's fitness and bigger bodies around the ball then took control of the contest for the remainder of the game."
Sometimes you can tell a coach is hurting with what he doesn't say rather than what he does, and there is no doubt Pickering was hurting from this performance.