Two deserving sides rewarded with an opportunity on the back of outstanding seasons, clashed in a preliminary final that would only offer one club the chance to take the next step, and a place in the 2024 MGFNL Grand Final.
Yinnar v Foster @ Morwell East
The Magpies had already tasted success earlier in the day, not once but twice, as the club's under eighteens and reserves teams had won their way through to the Big Dance in a weeks' time with victories over MDU and Newborough respectively, but there was little doubt, it was a senior win that they were after. and it was what they achieved in no uncertain terms.
Yinnar 11-9-75 to Foster 6-6-42.
There was a sense of urgency about Foster early, their ball use and composure under pressure setting them up with an early lead in tricky, windy conditions.
Two goals for the Tigers put the Magpies under some real pressure in the first ten minutes, as Yinnar struggled to find their way forward and even when they did, poor ball use and decision making was causing unnecessary turnovers.
It was only after some undisciplined play by Foster's gun forward Jake Best, that allowed the Magpie's Ben Cheffirs a free kick on goal, the youngster slotting it through for his teams first score of the game at the sixteen minute mark that had Yinnar up and about, but still trailing by eight points.
The Tiger's responded well, Todd Bastian goaled after being awarded a free kick thirty out from goal which put his side back out to a lead of fourteen. before Michael Cooke sent his side into the first break with Foster's fourth, a goal after the siren, a lead of twenty points and some real concerns for Yinnar.
Sam Davies, Foster Coach, "Started really well and thought we were on top for a lot of the first half - lost our way in the contest and set up in the second half and let yinnar play to their strengths."
Hayden Rowley was doing his best to work his team back into the game, but the finishing of his team mates were letting the side down, the windy conditions proving hard to navigate.
The talented Stuart Patten up forward for Yinnar wasn't having the best of luck and the frustrations of things not going their way was starting to spread throughout the side as they struggled to reel the Tigers in.
It was only a miraculous goal from Josh Bugeja that things started to roll for Yinnar, a second major for the quarter soon followed when Stuart Patten slotted through his first that sent his side into the main break, still trailing by eight points, but with a renewed belief that they were well and truly in the game.
Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach “it was a tight tussle early and Foster gained the early ascendancy. We managed to work our way back into the game late in the second quarter.”
The Tigers, Jake Best got his second of the day, and the first of the third quarter after a free kick was payed down field, before Yinnar's Flynn Schill goaled nicely, Foster finding it hard to shrug off the Magpie's side, and when Ben Cheffirs got on the end of some Kane Grimstead Jones magic to goal it was game on, with a grand final position up for grabs.
Stuart Patten goaled beautifully from the boundary just before time on and all of a sudden from nowhere, Yinnar had hit the lead, their running brigade causing some huge problems for Foster, before Jake Best momentarily stopped the Magpie’s momentum, reading the ball nicely off hands and converting his third to take the lead back for his Tigers, but just when you thought that would be it, Kane Grinstead Jones goaled to send his side into the final break five point leaders.
Sam Davies, Foster coach "Injuries got us again early to key players which killed our mid rotations, we definitely didn’t get any free kicks go our way or 50/50’s which meant we couldn’t maintain any momentum nor stop theirs. Always proud of the group and can never question their efforts."
Luke Cheffirs, got gifted a goal from team mate Grinstead Jones and Yinnar extended the lead to two goals in the early minutes of the final quarter, before Dean Linton quickly got another for the Magpies and the whole momentum of the game had changed and the Magpies were away with a grand final within their sights.
Sam McCulloch Yinnar coach “Our second half of footy was very pleasing, we gained some confidence and played our brand of footy. Great to bounce back after a disappointing loss last week and a lot of players who were down responded in the right manner”
The talented teenagers of the Magpies continued to run the game out and eventually it all proved too much for Foster, Yinnar too quick, too classy and the longer the game went, the greater the lead, eventually winning by thirty three points, and now with the rare honour of having all three grades through to the last weekend of the year.
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