Mid Gippsland down by a kick

MID Gippsland football League was beaten by five points in a game that was close all day, never more than two goals difference at any stage.
The game was played in good spirits but in cold and windy conditions.
Mid Gippsland had its chances to win but inability to convert good play into goals was difficult and its final quarter of one goal, seven behinds tells the true tale in a nutshell.
Warrnambool DFNL fielded 13 new faces from the team that defeated Colac and District last season in a come from behind win, the same pattern to come from behind to beat Mid Gippsland.
Co-coach Karl Dwyer said the squad chosen reflected the standard of the WDFNL, which has arguably improved in recent years.
“The side we had out there is the best side we could pick and put on the park, and I’m very pleased at the way they fought back to snag another victory,” he said.
Warrnambool started off well with 1-1 on the board early as Mid-Gippsland tried to get forward.
Its disposal wasn’t the best although the swirling wind made marking difficult to judge.
It was a game of defences with forwards not allowed to move freely.
The Gippy side had trouble finding space as Warrnambool put it under pressure.
It was left to Tim Phillips to mark behind the pack to score the first major and within two minutes Sam Mills scored to give Mid Gippsland a first quarter break 2-3 (15) to 1-3 (9).
Mirboo North’s Josh Taylor put in a superb term with eight marks and 11 kicks.
Warrnambool played closer in the second term forcing Mid Gippsland into errors.
Defenders Luke Duncan and captain Leatham Robe were restricting Mid Gippsland’s avenue to goal with strong tackles and safe marking.
Mid Gippsland had trouble in the forward line with poor disposal.
Joel Bragagnolo was a saving grace will telling marks and good ruck work but there were too few willing to get the hard ball. Mid Gippsland went handball happy which at times went astray and Warrnambool was able to mop up and clear.
Tim Phillips scored his second and when Liam Carolan goaled it looked like Mid Gippsland was going to run away with the game, but a big challenge on Allister Porter saw a 50 metre apply and he goaled to bring Warrnambool 10 points closer.
Adam Bailey was playing well for Mid Gippsland as was Jason Stevens.
Warrnambool against the wind was making all the right moves and when co-coach Darcy Lewis goaled there were only four points the difference by half time.
Both teams went hard in the third but it was Warrnambool that got the break and hit the front when Justin Wallace was freed, kicked truly and Warrnambool led by two points in a game that saw many good marks taken by both sides.
Julian Blackford was doing most of the heavy work for Mid Gippsland and his team mate at Yinnar Tyler Hillier was also a hard and gutsy player.
The quarter produced only four goals as the lead changed four times in a fight to the death.
Dylan Farrell got close with a goal but Warrnambool kept its cool to lead at the break by four points.
Mid Gippsland regained the lead early in the last with a Dylan Farrell goal but generally the kicking for goal resulted in minor scores which kept Warrnambool in the match.
Too many times Mid Gippsland players made the wrong decision and became too hand ball happy which resulted in costly turnovers.
Warrnambool against the wind was able to make a last ditch effort and when James Keane goaled from 35 metres out Boolers was only one point down with the clock ticking away.
With a last throw of the dice Warrnambool went forward with Sam Doucas grubbing a poor kick, soccered the ball from 20 metres out and it just rolled through before a Mid Gippsland defender could reach it.
This goal put Warrnambool in front again by five points.
Mid Gippsland tried to get forward but Warrnambool kept it out to finish in front 9-8 (62) to 7-15 (57).
Mid Gippsland had chances in the final term but with 1-7 they kicked themselves out of the game.
Mid Gippsland wins the Under 18s
Mid Gippsland Under 18’s took out the game against Warrnambool in a close game for three quarters then with Dylan Brooks in good touch with three goals in the last quarter the Gippslanders were able to run away by 40 points.
It was good football by both sides with strong marking and long kicking.
Troy Tobin was effective on the forward line with two early goals.
Warrnambool attacked strongly in the second with goals to Bill McPhee and Jake Butler to level the scores.
Ruckman Emerson Hicks put Mid Gippsland ahead once more with a long bomb and a few more behinds.
The Valley team was nine points up.
A melee just before half time soured the standard of the match and it was few minutes before order was restored.
A four goal third term secured the points as Mid Gippsland broke away, Jarryd Kilday scoring twice.
Good skills were shown by both teams in a high standard match and when Dylan Brooks marked cleverly twice within a couple of minutes to score two goals the writing was on the wall.
He scored another later in the term to finish with three.
Although Warrnambool was down it was still competitive and made Mid Gippsland work hard for possession, but in the end Mid Gippsland ran out winners 12-14 (86) to Warrnambool 7-4 (46).
Vic Country player medals went to Mason Lardner (Mid Gippsland) and Justin Fedley (Warrnambool).

Regional pride: Mid Gippsland Senior Interleague team one an entertaining and hard fought encounter against the best Warnambool and District could field.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on May 26 2015. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry