Thorpdale travel to Yinnar for important battle

by Rob Popplestone
Two clubs in really good form - Thorpdale and Yinnar - will clash in round eight of Mid Gippsland footy on Saturday.

Yinnar v Thorpdale
One team is coming in off a very comfortable win and the other off a hard-fought loss. Which is the better preparation coming into such an important game will be answered late this Saturday afternoon.
One thing is for certain, both coaches are well aware of how good their opposition is.
Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said his team was looking forward to the challenge of Yinnar, one of the premiership favourites, on their home deck.
"We will get creative with the magnets again to give ourselves the best chance to challenge for the four points," Winderlich said.
The Blues may still be a few weeks away from being able to put their best side on the field. But, players donning the Blues guernsey in recent times has a habit of finding a little extra than even they knew they had.
Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said it would be a "massive challenge", with Thorpdale having "big names across the park".
"Another team performance will be needed to secure the win," McCulloch noted.
That has been the key to McCulloch's men being so hard to beat. Certainly they have a handful of standout players each week but, even more importantly, they have a whole team contributing for club success.
Hill End v Mirboo North
This clash might not even raise an eyebrow of interest of most given that both Hill End and Mirboo North are yet to register a win for the season.
But, it is that exact reason that a win means so much to both.
Mirboo North coach Damian Turner said they travel to Hill End and "expect a hot contest from a side who is always tough up at home".
"Both of us are looking to get on the winners' list," Turner said.
Mirboo North have probably shown more in their losses than their opponents. However, no one could question the efforts of the Rovers.
A win is most definitely possible for both, but it seems Hill End might just have the manpower they need at just the right time.
"We also should have close to a full senior side back in action," Hill End coach Ambu Uliando said, "So it will be a good battle."
It is opportunities for small and rare victories that can mean so much to a club far beyond this weekend. Momentum starts with one win, and just one club will have the momentum after this weekend.
Foster v Stony Creek
Foster is off a break, hosting Stony Creek off a broken heart.
The Lions being beaten by a kick capped off what has been a most frustrating month for Chris Verboon's men.
More times than not, they have had their chances to take the four premiership points, only to fall agonisingly short.
"We had our chances but we just can't put teams away late in games," coach Verboon said. "We now have Foster away this week, which is another game that will be tight until the end. We need to find a way to finish games."
If the Lions can find that small percentage of improvement, it may well be enough to turn the game away from what should be a Foster win.
The Tigers are well aware that this home fixture is a dangerous game straight after a bye.
"We enjoyed a week off to rest some very sore bodies," Foster coach Sam Davies said. "Stony Creek at home; they're a team who has been in every game they've played this year, so the ladder means very little. We need to be switched on from the get go."
Foster are about where they need to be at this stage of the season, whilst Stony Creek are somewhat short, courtesy of their close losses. Another such defeat, will have the Lions starting to lose touch with those above them.
Boolarra v Toora
As good as Boolarra were in their one-goal defeat of Stony Creek last week, the joy of that victory will quickly fade if they are unable to put away Toora on Saturday.
The Demons have their sights set on a finals position, whilst the Magpies - at this stage - are after steady improvement as the season unfolds.
That all said, Toora looms as a real danger for the home side.
"Jack (Weston) will have his team ready to go after a tough loss this week, so we will have to be at our best if we want to get the four points," Boolarra coach Brendan Mason said.
Toora have been good but seem to be playing without confidence to take chances at the appropriate times. That is an area of improvement for the Magpies.
"We must respond this weekend against Boolarra and start and play with some freedom," coach Weston said.
Make no mistake, Toora will upset a club or two, maybe even three, at some stage. Boolarra will be determined to make sure it is not them this weekend.
MDU v Newborough
Yet another of a few clashes that could conceivably go either way this weekend.
Both the Demons and the Bulldogs are in winning form, and both well placed on the MGFNL ladder. MDU is in sixth and Newborough in fifth.
"Last week was a high pressure brand of footy and executed it well," Newborough coach Craig Skinner said. "It was an even contest all day and could have gone either way."
"It will be our turn this week to bring that same style when we travel to Meeniyan to take another team head on before the bye," Skinner added.
Given the evenness of the competition, which is highlighted almost weekly, the Bulldogs would want nothing more than to be heading into their bye round with the benefit of an extra four premiership points. That won't be easy against an in-form Demons side.
"We are really looking forward to another challenging game to see where we stack up," MDU coach Nathan Allen said.
A win puts some valuable breathing space between the winner and those below. A loss means the loser becomes part of the below, and that is not a great place to be for either team.
Fish Creek v Tarwin
Just a week ago, Fish Creek managed to stage a great escape with a 10-point win over Thorpdale.
Trailing by 21 points at quarter-time, 18 at the main break and 15 at the final change, the Kangaroos did what good sides do - found a way to win.
This week, they welcome a Sharks side who is just one really good win from taking the next step in their development.
"Looking forward to Tarwin, a team that matches up well against us and is always a tight game," Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said. "Past players' day for us at home, so hope to see a lot of the past legends back around the club."
There have been plenty of past champions at the Kangaroos and plenty of champions in the side right now. This will no doubt be a massive challenge for Tarwin, but one which the visitors believe they can overcome.
"Last week's game has put us in good stead for the remainder of the year," Tarwin coach Jason Kennedy said.
Make no mistake, the reigning premiers are beatable, but the side that does the job will need to be at their very best to do so. Tarwin get that chance this week.
Bye: Morwell East.