MIRBOO NORTH FOOTBALL REPORT - Round 5

MIRBOO NORTH FOOTBALL REPORT

by Rover

Seniors

Fish Creek 15 – 11 – 101 d Mirboo North 6 – 5 – 41

REIGNING premier, Fish Creek, accounted for Mirboo North by 60 points in round five of Mid Gippsland football, at Tigerland on Saturday.

Harry Mahoney led the mighty Tigers into battle in his 50th senior game for Mirboo North.

As is customary with the current back-to-back premiership Kangaroos, they employed an easy-on-the-eye game plan, that most opposition sides find nigh-on-impossible to negate.

In a fast start, both teams quickly jumped into action and each had a goal on the board within three minutes of play.

With two majors from spearhead Riley Gillian, the mighty Tigers matched the visitors for most of the opening term — before Brady Mitchell's two goals in time-on, gave Fish Creek a 13-point advantage at the first break.

Thereafter, the further the game went, the more Fish Creek progressed directly down the corridor and the less it digressed around the boundary line.

When on song, no one else in the competition moves the Sherrin like the Kangaroos do — and the time for Mirboo North to hesitate, was through.

Unfortunately, from all of the Tigers' hard work, came scant rewards on the scoreboard.

Mirboo North only managed three behinds for the second quarter, whilst the free-wheeling, hard running Kangaroos added 3.5 to lead by 34 points at the main break.

Those featuring prominently for Fish Creek included Brodie Shaw, Jordan Shaw, Thomas Vuillermin and Roland De Biase.

The marking power of Fish Creek's key forwards, Darcy Berryman and Jordan Shaw — who finished with four and three goals respectively — fully stretched the resources of the Tigers' defence.

Mirboo North was well served in the back 50 by Rhys Kratzat, Beau Peters and Taj Wilkins, who barely had time to catch their breaths, combating Fish Creek's repeated forward line entries.

Other Tigers taking it right up to their opposite numbers were ruckman, Joe Brooks and teenagers, Archie Woodall and Jesse Chila.

Although Jacob Blair kicked two goals for the Tigers in the third quarter, Fish Creek had extended its lead to 60 points by three-quarter time.

Encouraged by playing coach, Damien Turner, not to wilt, Mirboo North refused to allow the Kangaroos to dominate the last quarter.

Despite losing Gillian to a leg injury, goals from Brandon Watson and Beau Peters ensured Fish Creek's winning margin remained at 60 points — after both sides recorded 2.2 in the final term.

Mirboo North travels to Toora this Saturday, where it will hoping to win its third game of the season.

Fish Creek Goals: D Berryman 4, J Shaw 3, B Mitchell 2, L Williams 2, T Cameron, ​ T Valenta, J Lamers, T Vuillermin

Fish Creek Best: B Shaw, J Shaw, T Vuillermin, R Di Biase, L Williams, T Valenta

MN Goals: R Gillian 2, J Blair 2, B Watson, Beau Peters

MN Best: R Kratzat, Beau Peters, J Brooks, A Woodall, J Chila, T Wilkins

Reserves

Fish Creek 9 – 13 – 67 d Mirboo North 9 – 4 – 58

Fish Creek overran Mirboo North with a 3.3 to one goal last quarter, that gave the visiting Kangaroos a nine-point victory in glorious 17c autumn sunshine.

Fish Creek's tactical implementation of successful set plays, was a feature in the Kangaroos' strong finish, at the business end of the match.

Nicholas Butler and Colin McPhee booted two goals apiece for the winners.

Others to shine for the Kangaroos included Owen Schnoor, Josh Harry, Lane Bowman and Owen Straw.

Will Lewis kept Mirboo North in the contest with three goals, whilst Luke Gervasi, Tim McCallister, Thomas Harris and William Jacka, were other worthy contributors for the Tigers.

MN Goals; W Lewis 3, T McCallister 2, W Jacka, S Jennings, T Heislers, T Taylor

MN Best: L Gervasi, T McCallister, W Lewis, T Harris, W Jacka, T Kelly

Thirds

Mirboo North 19 – 12 – 126 d Fish Creek 5 – 6 – 36

Toby McDuffie booted eight goals for Mirboo North in the mighty Tigers' 90-point decimation of Fish Creek.

This brings McDuffie's 2025 tally of goals to 24 after five games.

Other multiple Mirboo North goal kickers were Charlie Crutchfield and Gus Rutjens with four and three majors apiece.

Ryan Filtness and Thomas Williams also featured prominently with creative play around the ground for Mirboo North.

Best performers for Fish Creek included Mason Thompson, Joseph Rysko and Bodhi Thompson.

This Saturday, Mirboo North thirds have a bye.

MN Goals: T McDuffie 8, C Crutchfield 4, G Rutjens 3, T Williams 2, L Poljak, O Mahoney,

MN Best: R Filtness, T Willliams, T McDuffie, C Crutchfield, L Poljak, T McGrath