Round Three v Stony Creek

MIRBOO NORTH FOOTBALL REPORT

by Rover

Seniors

Stony Creek 15 – 11 – 101 d Mirboo North 3 – 6 – 24

STONY Creek recorded a comprehensive 77-point victory over Mirboo North in Saturday's battle of the big jungle cats at Stony Creek's superbly-surfaced racecourse oval.

Balmy 17C autumn sunshine and an ever-so-slight south westerly breeze meant weather conditions were as perfect as perfect can be for footballers, umpires and spectators alike.

From the outset, it was clear for all to see that Stony Creek had a better understanding of its game plan specifics and implementation of same, than the Tigers had of theirs.

In short, nothing much meant right for the visitors, especially after getting jumped at the start of the match by Stony Creek.

To help bolster its ranks, Mirboo North brought in past senior premiership representatives, Alex Windsor and Dom Pinneri, plus Beau Peters, Leigh Jowett and newcomers, Thomas Harris and Connor White.

Mirboo North was unable to close down Hayden Bull and veteran 326-game club stalwart, Jacob Byrnes, who booted seven and four goals respectively for Stony Creek.

The pride of the Lions' fast-moving running play was on full display in the first quarter, when they banged on 6.2 to the Tigers' one major in 28 minutes of one-sided football.

Although Mirboo North only managed two behinds in the second quarter, the Tigers fought back hard and restricted the home side to two late goals, that increased Stony Creek's lead to 44 points at the long break.

Dominant players in the first half for the Lions other than Bull and Byrnes, were Cameron Stone, Julian Stone, Tylah O'Connor Linke and John Phillips.

Stony Creek consolidated its authority in the third quarter with creative handball, hard running and classy foot disposals into and through the corridor, adding 4.1 to Mirboo North's 2.3.

Carrot-top, Taj Wilkins, brought up Mirboo North's third and final goal of the game with a long set shot, just before the three-quarter time siren.

Mirboo North's only score in the last term came from its gallant giant ruckman, Patrick Lewis, whose booming 50-metre set shot missed by a whisker to the left side of the big white sticks.

Unable to overcome Stony Creek's overall dominance, Mirboo North's search for solutions was no hypothetical crisis; the Tigers' plight represented football reality.

Despite being outplayed nearly all afternoon, Mirboo North didn't stop running, jumping and tackling and striving to the end; they simply couldn't put enough goals on the Alf Bright Memorial Scoreboard to be competitive.

Best players for the Tigers were Jeremy Salinger, Lewis, Harry Mahoney, Windsor, Joe Brooks and Wilkins.

This Saturday, Mirboo North travels to Toora, in search of its first win of the 2024 season.

Stony Creek Goals: H Bull 7, J Byrnes 4, J Stone, T Stone, J Stuart, A Dyke

Stony Creek Best: H Bull, C Stone, T O'Connor Linke, J Byrnes, J Stone, J Phillips

MN Goals: T Wilkins, J Salinger, J Brooks

MN Best: J Salinger, P Lewis, H Mahoney, A Windsor, J Brooks, T Wilkins

Reserves

Stony Creek 23 – 13 – 151 d Mirboo North 1 – 3 – 9

They say a week is a long time in reserves football and so it proved to be for Mirboo North on Saturday.

Just seven days earlier, the mighty Tigers had celebrated a solid 29-point home win over Foster, only to go down to Stony Creek at the Lions' racecourse oval by a whopping 142 points.

Footy trivia buffs will note that's a massive 171-point turnaround, caused mainly by multiple turnovers and too many transition failures.

Angus O'Loughlin was Mirboo North's lone goal kicker when he booted the Sherrin through the wide opening during the second quarter.

Dominant amongst the Lions' goal scorers were Matthew Coutts and Colby Michael with 10 and seven majors respectively.

Others in superb form for Stony Creek were Brad Renden, Adam Atkins and Matthew Portelli.

For the Tigers, Shane Peters was their best performer after coming out of retirement, with plenty of quality possessions and accurate disposals to his name.

Xavier Spaull, Bobby Devine, skipper Mitch Richardson and Will Lewis all battled away as best they could against the red hot Lions.

Stony Creek Goals: M Coutts 10, C Michael 7, B Renden, G Gray, M Portelli, A Wright, ​ R Harrington

Stony Creek Best: M Coutts, C Michael, B Renden, A Atkins, M Portelli, J Monaghan

MN Goals: A O'Loughlin

MN Best: S Peters, X Spaull, R Devine, M Richardson, W Lewis

Thirds

MDU 12 – 16 – 88 d Mirboo North 5 – 1 – 31

MDU outclassed Mirboo North with 28 scoring shots to six by Mirboo North in the Demons' 57-point victory at Stony Creek.

Best performers for MDU were captain Hunter Fennell and Jarvis Lacy, whilst Xavier Spaull, Jesse Rawlings and Billy Jennings played well for Mirboo North.

Major goal kickers for MDU were Angus McInness with five, Timothy Hibbersom three and Fennell two.

This Saturday, Mirboo North meets MDU again at Meeniyan.

Such are the vagaries of a five-team draw.

MDU Goals: A McInness 5, T Hibberson 3, H Fennell 2, L Hamilton, K Helms

MDU Best: H Fennell, J Lacy, R Marshman, L Hibberson, A McInness, B VanderZalm

MN Goals: J Huther 2, A Mahoney, L Poljak, H Malady

MN Best: X Spaull, J Rawlings, W Jennings, T McGrath, A Mahoney, Z Jones