Round 3 Football Report

MIRBOO NORTH FOOTBALL REPORT

by Rover

Seniors

Mirboo North 6 – 7 – 43 d Tarwin 5 – 7 – 37

MIRBOO North bravely defeated the Tarwin Sharks by one goal in a low-scoring, nip-and-tuck encounter, at Tigerland on Saturday.

Mirboo North's narrow victory was a tale of a battle won with grit, guts and determination through strict compliance with its game plan..

For spectators, there was tension in the air all afternoon, as both sides went hammer and tongs at each other, with hard bumps and heavy tackling aplenty, in and around the packs.

The visiting Sharks wore black armbands in memory of Val O'Loughlin, following her recent passing.

Taj Wilkins, who was playing his 50th club game for Mirboo North, led the mighty Tigers on to the field for their first home match of 2025.

After Mirboo North was seven points ahead at quarter-time, scores were level at the long break, with the Tigers one point clear going into the final quarter.

Both defences had been as tight as Fort Knox, with each allowing just four goals apiece to three-quarter time.

Beau Peters, Jacob Blair, playing coach Damien Turner and Wilkins, had repeatedly turned back countless Shark attacks, with vision and precision..

Ben Chalmers, Lachie Jones, Mark McCall and Nathan McRae, were equally busy across all lines for the visitors.

Two minutes into the last term, a lovely long kick from Shane Peters found Clancy Snell, who brought up the Tigers' fifth goal and pushed their lead out to seven points.

As well as skipper Hudson Kerr's skill and determination in the midfield, Mirboo North was relying on its speedy younger brigade of Jesse Chila, Ethan Woodall, Archie Woodall and Harry Mahoney to run the ball at a rate of knots into its forward 50.

Plenty of fast hand passing became a key part of Mirboo North's quick ball movement.

Yeoman's work carried out at the stoppages by giant Mirboo North ruckman, Patrick Lewis, was also influential.

When Chila passed to Snell for his third major at the 11-minute mark, Mirboo North was 14 points clear.

However, it would be the Tigers' last score for the day.

Four minutes later, the Sharks found space and rushed the Sherrin downfield for their fifth and final major, that reduced the deficit to eight points.

As weariness set in, larger than normal packs were gathering, with more and more ball-ups occurring.

Mirboo North's forward thrusts had dried up, but strong defensive work from Beau and Shane Peters, Blair, Wilkins, Joe Brooks and Turner, continually repelled the Sharks' inside-50 advances.

Shortly before the final sounded, there were two narrow misses from Tarwin, that reduced Mirboo North's winning margin to six points.

In a game of dominant defenses, Snell with his three majors for the Tigers, was the only multiple goal kicker from either side.

This Saturday, Mirboo North travels to Yinnar to confront the Magpies on their home turf.

MN Goals: C Snell 3, J Taylor, J Blair, J Chila,

MN Best: H Kerr, J Chila, C Snell, Beau Peters, J Blair, T Wilkins

Tarwin Goals: B Ellen, J Cann, F Brosnan, R O'Loughlin, M Williams

Tarwin Best: B Chalmers, L Jones, M McCall, N McRae, T Krause, D Houston

Reserves

Tarwin 8 – 12 – 60 d Mirboo North 3 – 5 – 23

Although Mirboo North's Toby McDuffie kicked the first and final goals of the match, Tarwin proved too strong in all departments of the game, in its solid 37-point victory.

Early on, the momentum was with the Tigers to lose, and before long it was lost.

There was plenty of upside for Sharks, who imposed themselves on the inside and exposed their less-equipped opponents on the outside, with lots of slick ball movement..

Spectators were treated to a rare sight during the contest, with two Mirboo North players wearing #25 yellow and black jerseys.

It brought back fond memories of former football greats with that number on their backs — Alex Jesaulenko, Mike Patterson, Daryl Griffiths, Billy Picken and Steven Rogers, to name a select few.

One of Mirboo North's #25s on Saturday was Billy Jennings, who booted the Tigers' second major from the goal square, after receiving a double 50-metre penalty, 14 minutes into the third quarter.

Best performers for the Sharks included Luke Keily, Tomi Brosnan, Ethan Senior and Stuart Kilsby.

The Tigers were well served by Jasan Hysen on the last line, skipper Mitch Richardson in the ruck and McDuffie, with his two majors and creative play around the ground.

MN Goals: T McDuffie 2, B Jennings

MN Best: J Hysen, M Richardson, T McDuffie, L Gervasi, W Jacka, J Conlan

Thirds

Mirboo North 10 – 3 – 63 d Tarwin 1 – 11 – 17

Mirboo North's comfortable 46-point victory over Tarwin, was its first from three games for the season.

The mighty Tigers' Toby McDuffie and Lachlan Poljak were the standout players of the match, with Charles Crutchfield and Ollie Mahoney also dominating proceedings for Mirboo North.

McDuffie booted six goals and later followed up with two majors in the reserves.

Alec Francis, Indie Cameron, Ky Gow and Harrison Watt, were amongst Tarwin's best performers.

The inaccurate Sharks literally kicked themselves out of the game, scoring 1.11, with their only goal coming from Gow in the opening term.

This Saturday, Mirboo North plays Yinnar at Yinnar.

MN Goals: T McDuffie 6, T Heislers 2, C Crutchfield 2

MN Best: T McDuffie, L Poljak, C Crutchfield, O Mahoney, M Briscoe, B Jennings

Annie Holland