Football Report - Round One v Toora
Seniors
Mirboo North 13 – 5 – 83 d Toora 2 – 7 – 19
MIRBOO North opened its 2026 Mid Gippsland season with an impressive 64-point win over the Toora Magpies, in challenging weather conditions at Tigerland on Saturday.
Following his passing last month, the mighty Tigers took to the field wearing black armbands in memory of Robert “Stropp” Helms, the club's long-serving home game manager of “Stropp's Bar.”
With the wind constantly blowing in from the west and rain sometimes reaching cats and dogs levels, both sides set about their tasks of making businesslike decisions with a slippery Sherrin.
In the first term, Mirboo North took full advantage of the breeze by booting 4.3 to the visitors' solitary point, with functionally-creative and adventurously-fast play.
Several Toora forays into its forward 50 were promptly turned back by Beau Peters' outstanding intercept marking close to the Tigers' last line.
Other Tigers immediately into the action included Hudson Kerr, Tom Campbell and Hayden Potts, all of whom completed their afternoon's work with three goals apiece.
Mirboo North matched the Magpies' one major in the second quarter, as the Tigers defended grimly into the wind and took a handy 23-point advantage into the long break.
Solid performers to half-time for Toora were Jordan French, Lachie Smart and Lachlan Earles, with the Magpies' sole goal coming off the boot of Jonathon Pintus, midway through the second quarter.
Mirboo North turned up the heat on its opponents in the third term, as it systematically recorded seven goals, whilst keeping the Magpies scoreless.
Kerr continued to have a picnic in the centre and all the while, the work rates of Archie Woodall , Oliver Budd and Hayden Barnes went through the roof.
A key to Mirboo North's dominance at the stoppages was alternating high-leaping ruckmen Patrick Lewis and Jesse Rawlings— who was playing his first senior game — off the interchange bench.
Ethan Woodall completed the home side's productive third term, with a long set shot from the 50-metre line, that sailed many metres over the goal umpire's head and gave the Tigers a 64-point three-quarter time lead.
Both sides kept running hard in the final term, with Mirboo North adding another goal and Karl Grift recording the Magpies' second major of the day.
This Saturday, Mirboo North travels to Fish Creek and Toora hosts Hill End at the Toora Recreation Reserve.
MN Goals: H Kerr 3, T Campbell 3, H Potts 3, T McDuffie 2, E Woodall, A Woodall
MN Best: H Kerr, Beau Peters, A Woodall, O Budd, H Barnes, E Woodall
Toora Goals: J Pintus, K Grift
Toora Best: J French, L Smart, L Earles, J Pintus, N Nicholls
Reserves
Mirboo North 9 – 15 – 69 d Toora 6 – 6 – 36
With the strong westerly wind at their backs, the Toora Magpies jumped straight out of the blocks to establish a handy 20-point lead at the first break.
By half-time, Mirboo North had cut the visitors' advantage to 13 points, as Todd Alexander's influence on the game increased to fever pitch status.
Other Tigers increasing their authority on proceedings were Taj Wilkins, Thomas Harris, Ollie Mahoney and Jordan Cummaudo.
Toby Redpath, Ayden Walker and Ryley Walker proved to be strong performers in the wet and slippery conditions for the Magpies, who were still leading by nine points at the last change.
With rain pelting down from the near black clouds above, Mirboo North booted 5.6 to zero in the final term, to win the match by 27 points.
Mitch Richardson's outstanding ruck work at the stoppages held the Tigers in good stead, whilst Tim McAllister lifted his goal tally to three majors for the afternoon.
In the final wash-up, Mirboo North's power, enthusiasm and purpose had contributed greatly to its impressive victory.
MN Goals: T McAllister 3, T Harris 2, M Richardson, T Alexander, J Cummaudo, W Lewis
MN Best: T Alexander, T Wilkins, T Harris, O Mahoney, J Cummaudo, M Richardson
Thirds
Hill End 14 – 18 – 102 d Mirboo North 3 – 3 – 21
MN Goals: T Williams 2, C Williams
MN Best: T Williams, C Crutchfield, C Webb, M Andrews, G Rutjens, M Jackson
Fourths
Hill End 17 – 11 – 113 d Mirboo North 3 – 0 – 18
MN Best: L Evans, L Murphy, C Davies, A Conrad
