The Mulwala seniors ventured to Barooga on Saturday well aware that every time you play Barooga on their home ground they lift for the contest irrespective of the position on the ladder.
The Hawks have had a tough start to the MFL season coming up against some of the top contenders in the opening rounds.
Mulwala continue to build their side around the young players who have stepped up to cover injuries to some of the more senior players.
The Barooga ground was in excellent condition as usual and the perfect conditions meant there were no excuses for either team.
The local RSL subbranch had organised an ANZAC commemorative ceremony involving all senior and reserves footballers and the senior netball grades. It was a fitting tribute to all Service personnel and respectfully observed by all involved.
Mulwala got the better start of the two teams slotting early goals to jump out to a handy lead.
Dylan Robinson proved his versatility by moving forward and providing a strong leading target, he was getting great support from the likes of Zach Scott, Jack Sutherland and Jackson Gash.
A five goal to one first term really set the game up for Mulwala and they were never headed throughout the contest.
Mulwala’s backline had a huge challenge against a very tall forward line that included Johnson, Avard and Trengrove, all highly credentialled players.
Glenn Dominick, Beau Clarke and Josh Hammond were up for the challenge and shut down early opportunities in the Barooga forward zone.
The run from defence by Josh Hammond, Lewis Taylor, James Wilson and Damien Cook broke things up well, and their transition of the football helped Mulwala to set up scoring opportunities a plenty.
Jack Barnes and Jack Sutherland were fighting against the odds with the powerfully build Barooga talls but their determination to contest very issue enabled the Mulwala mid fielder to gain control of the stoppages.
Bradley Wilson, Jackson Gash, Rhys Moylan and Harry Crossley were getting their hands on the ball first to set up clearances on a regular basis.
Bradley was red hot from the start of the game until the final siren.
Barooga had periods of control throughout the day but the Mulwala midfield and defensive unit were up for the challenge on very occasion.
Late in the game the Hawks were able to string together a few goals to add respectability to their effort that they hadn’t been able to achieve earlier in the day.
Mulwala were comfortably in front during the second half of the back of a fast start with a goal to Adam Rouel with in the first 20 seconds of the half.
This set things in motion for a six-goal blitz that made the result beyond doubt. Ben Radford was in everything across the four quarters and topped off his effort with three goals in the third term.
The final quarter was a more even affair with Trengrove dominant in the centre winning the hit outs which allowed Barooga to kick multiple goals.
Mulwala changed the team around in the term to provide opportunities to test their skills in the midfield with some positive passages of play the result.
Connor Phibbs was injected into the contest and started to find his feet in the faster pass of senior football.
Connor has able to slot a very nice goal with a classy snap from deep in the forward pocket that saw every one of his senior teammates swamping him, congratulating him on his first goal at senior level.
Mulwala was able to secure the very important four points and will now turn their focus on preparation for the game at home against Rumbalara, who always play a fast and exciting football.
Reserves
Barooga 9.11.65 defeated Mulwala 5.7.37.
The Reserves looked good early as though the large Barooga ground was going to assist their youth and speed however the older Barooga players were making it a game in the trenches.
Bodhi Butts having a rare game in the reserves was proving that good players don’t need warm up games after injury as he was in everything.
Andy Miller was getting his hands on the ruck contests against much larger opponents and giving Mitch and Matty some good use on the ground.
Beaso was doing all he could up forward but the delivery from the midfield was not helping the Mulwala cause.
The bigger bodied Barooga players didn’t slow up in the second half and Mul just couldn’t finish off a lot of their good play in front of goal.
Goals: N. Beasley 2, C. Magher, N. O’Bryan, L. Martin 1 each.
Best: A. Miller, M. McLachlan, B. Butts, N. Beasley, J. Macdermid, M. DiPetta.
Thirds
Barooga 2.2.14 defeated by Mulwala 18.11.119.
The thirds started like the well drilled team they are becoming and took a 6 goal lead into quarter time thanks to some straight goal kicking.
It got even better in the 2nd quarter as Jyda House continued to mark everything and kick straight. Jett, Harry and Caleb were teaming brilliantly through the middle and the young men coming through in Dillon Kirchen and Tyler Jones were matching it with their older counterparts.
The boys eased off a bit in the 2nd half and it was great to see the unselfishness of the team that led to Mitch Adkins slotting one through the big sticks.
Goals: J. House 8, C. Mitchell 3, R. Bartlett 2, D.Psaltaris, J. Bramich, C. McKenna, C. Phibbs, M. Adkins – 1 each.
Best: J. House, D. Kirchen, D. Psaltaris, A. Scott, T. Jones, H. Nagle.
Fourths
Barooga 9.10.64 defeated Mulwala 3.4.22.
The young fourths travelled to Barooga full of confidence from their win the previous week and it would prove to be their undoing.
The boys were teaming up with some good handballs early however Barooga’s backline was repelling most of Mulwala’s attacks.
A couple of missed opportunities saw Mul 4 goals down at half time.
Coach Kreeck called on the boys to exert more effort in the 2nd half and the pressure index from Zach Wheeler, Ollie Watson and Max Holgate was keeping Mul in the game.
The boys all battled hard throughout the game and will move forward to next week.
Goals: V. Kreeck, L. Abikhair, J. Norrish – 1 each.
Best: M. Holgate, Z. Wheeler, J. Burns, O. Watson.
Barooga 1.0 2.1 5.1 10.7.67
Mulwala 5.5 7.8 13.11 16.13.109
Goals: Barooga: Jackson Trengove 3, Daniel Johnston 2, Billy Andrew 1, Riley Gow 1, Samuel Macheda 1, Cooper Trembath 1, Lachlan Wright 1.
Mulwala: Benjamin Radford 3, Harrison Crossley 2, Joshua Hammond 2, Dylan Robinson 2, Zach Scott 2, Jack Sutherland 1, Adam Rouel 1, Jackson Gash 1, Connor Phibbs 1, Bradley Wilson 1.
Best: Barooga: Jackson Trengove, Nicholas Dore, Xavier Hunt, Callum Leighton-Daly, Tomas O’Sullivan, Billy Andrew.
Mulwala: Bradley Wilson, Rhys Moylan, Harrison Crossley, Benjamin Radford, Zach Scott, Jack Barnes.