Poor showing lands Tigers in corner

A PHYSICALLY stronger and more experienced Yallourn Yallourn North comfortably defeated Mirboo North by six goals in Mid Gippsland’s qualifying final at Boolarra on Saturday.
Now, after 87 contests since 1969, both clubs have 43 wins and a draw between them.
An enthusiastic crowd paid $8280 at the gate to watch the Tigers and the Bombers battle it out on a well grassed surface in a flip-flop, wibble-wobble breeze.
Respective 100 and 150 Senior game milestones by multiple premiership stars, Kallum Nash and Kris Berchtold, ended in disappointment for both men and their teammates.
Although Berchtold booted the mighty Tigers’ opening goal just 28 seconds into the match, YYN was soon into full stride and led by 27 points at quarter time.
The Bombers’ first two majors came from Dean MacDonald, who was keen to add to his impressive 2016 season tally of 84 big ones.
Adam Bailey delivered superbly to Darcy Shellcott for goal number three and forward pocket dynamo, Tim Phillips, held a well judged chest mark before slamming home YYN’s fourth.
Dylan Bath completed a productive first term for the Bombers by bouncing a long running roost through the goalmouth, for their fifth consecutive major.
At times the Tigers’ nervous fumbles made their defensive structures look as brittle as bakelite.
Jack Casson, Bailey, Lachlan Little, Tyler Brown and Tom Hutton frequently sent quality disposals towards MacDonald, Phillips and Barry Brooks, inside YYN’s forward 50.
Elsewhere, tried and true YYN stalwarts, Barrie Burnett, Shane Galea, Derk Pol and Owen Budge were also ready, willing and able to risk life and limb for their side’s benefit.
YYN collectively placed Mirboo North’s possession gathering techniques under enormous pressure that often forced hurried, worried and flurried disposal outcomes.
So much so, the Tigers’ customary rhythmic and ingenious midfield play was rarely seen.
With YYN charging towards the goals, holding things together was no easy thing to do for Mirboo North’s defenders, Dwayne Gunn, Luke Palmer, Ben Richards and Daniel Taylor.
Clean overhead marking was prominent amongst the Bombers’ taller brigade, whose long arms rose like giant tentacles above the packs.
Josh Taylor kick started Mirboo North’s second term with a tidy pick up and successful long shot, but Shellcott quickly replied to stabilize YYN’s four goal buffer.
The Bombers’ incessant tackling pressure turned numerous Mirboo North transitions into costly transgressions where the ball was continually coughed up and given back to the opposition.
As the match progressed through the third quarter, the Tigers’ attempts to increase traction failed to materialize often enough to trouble the Bombers.
Hudson Kerr, Mitchell Wightman, Josh Taylor, Jeremy Salinger, Tristan Salerno and Dom Pinneri battled diligently, but stringing effective disposals together proved challenging for the Tigers.
A lone goal out of bottleneck congestion by Shane Peters lifted Mirboo North’s morale, but Hutton answered with YYN’s ninth major a few minutes later.
All afternoon it seemed anything the Tigers did well the Bombers were doing better.
Apart from Salerno across half-back, Mirboo North’s aerial work was no match for the high-flying Bombers’ authority in the skies.
At three quarter time, playing coach Clancy Bennett said it was time for the Tigers to pull the trigger on the Bombers.
Unfortunately for Mirboo North its firing chamber was full of blanks.
Any thoughts the Bombers’ purported lack of real pace may catch up with them, or their structural innovations could be destroyed by glitched processes, were incorrect.
Jacob Blair managed to snap a clever left foot goal from close range, but Phillips and Brooks calmly increased YYN’s winning margin to 36 points.
In the final analysis, YYN’s functional logistical options led to more and more responsive organizational concepts that the Tigers simply couldn’t eliminate.
Bent, but not bowed, Mirboo North can redeem its season with a victory in this Sunday’s cutthroat first semi-final clash against Morwell East at Willow Grove.
Reserves
Mirboo North defeated Yarragon by 33 points in the elimination final at Tigerland on Sunday.
Unfortunately the match concluded distressingly after 13 minutes of the final quarter, following a heavy tackle severely injuring Yarragon’s Kallym Canobie.
Play was abandoned by the umpires and an ambulance called prior to Canobie being transported to hospital.
Mirboo North opened with the advantage of a strong breeze and led by 22 points at the first change.
Starring for the mighty Tigers were Brendan Weston, Zac Porter, Brent Harriage, Damien Lockie and Adam Miller.
In a surprise move that baffled many onlookers, Yarragon left retiring skipper, Keith Clerks, on the interchange bench until quarter time.
The Panthers’ fortunes soon changed with Clerks’ onfield presence during the second term.
Immediately, Yarragon looked a different team with Paul Harvey booting four goals and Clerks also livening up the forward line as a vital procurement and supply chain coordinator.
Mirboo North had increased its last change 14 point advantage to 33 points when the game was prematurely halted.
The Tigers now play Yinnar at Willow Grove in the first semi-final on Sunday.
Thirds
Mirboo North had the first week of the 2016 finals off and now faces Yinnar in the second semi final at Morwell East, on Saturday.

For the cause: Tristan Salerno was one of the few bright lights shining on a day that was dimmed by Yallourn Yallourn North showing the power it has.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Aug 30 2016. 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