Teams on both sides of the Victoria-NSW border were not expecting to play Picola and District Football League matches on Saturday, but when the announcement was made for them to go ahead, preparation went into overdrive, so clubs were ready for the revised fixtures.
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Despite regional Victorians unable to train until Friday and clubs not having the services of players from greater Melbourne because of COVID-19 restrictions, the league's board decided to review and revise the fixture and play all matches in NSW, including the all-Victorian affair between Tungamah and Yarroweyah.
However, that clash didn't end up going ahead, with the clubs agreeing to play it later in the year, and Waaia coach Mark Meyland expected the rest of the round to follow suit.
“I didn’t think we would be playing and even up to the start of the game, I thought it would be called off,” Meyland said.
“It didn’t feel right playing due to our lack of preparation and no other leagues were playing, but we had to deal with it.
“I didn’t think it would be possible, but they found a way.”
When the action started, it was hard to take your eyes off the match of the round between Mathoura and Katamatite, which the Timbercutters prevailed in by three points.
The home side won 7.6 (48) to 6.9 (45), as Jordan Flight led all-comers with four goals.
Flight now has 17 goals for the season for the Timbercutters, who have now recorded four wins from seven matches.
Jacob Keenan was named best afield for Mathoura, while the Tigers were best served by Trent Steers.
Despite knocking off two of the premiership fancies recently, Mathoura coach Darcy Robinson said there was still plenty of improvement in his group.
“I think Strathmerton were second when we knocked them off, and Katty were on top ahead of the weekend, and we knocked them off,” Robinson said.
“We’ve been rocked by injuries and we still are to a certain degree, we still had five players out yesterday (Saturday).
“That is a good sign as it shows we can bring guys in to play a role and still get the four points.
“We are getting three quarters of footy and yesterday Katty kicked a few late, which bought it right back.
“They are things we need to work on - consistently playing four quarters of footy - and when we can do that, we are going to be a very good football side.”
Despite the lack of notice, Robinson praised the league for getting players back on the park.
“I was happy to play,” he said.
“Just the effects 2020 had on mental health, country towns rely on country footy, so to have that swept from under your feet, to then now having it back, it was good to play, and it was great for junior sport.
“For our league to get our games up and going and doing a power of work to get them up in NSW to try and save that is fantastic I think.”
Picola United's injury curse was coach Darby Walsh's biggest concern about the lack of preparation, but it didn't stop the Blues from taking the four points for just the second time this season.
The Blues defeated Tocumwal 11.2 (68) to 9.8 (62), with three unanswered goals in the final term proving decisive.
Picola had seven different goalkickers, including Taylor Beard (three), Blake Jorgensen and Dylan Cunningham (two each).
The spread of goalkickers pleased Walsh, as did his team's ability to run out the game.
“It was a very close game,” Walsh said.
“We started well and Tocumwal came back well in the second quarter.
“We played our style and game plan and were able to run away with it in the second half.
“We like to share the work and the reward and the seven goalkickers we had was really impressive and showed that spread and teamwork that is a strength of ours.
“It was a good gutsy win by us.”
Katunga had the biggest win of the round, knocking off Blighty by 118 points and keeping them goalless in the process.
The Swans kicked 18.14 (122) to 0.4 (4), with Anthony Tautala (six goals) and Braydon Kearns (four) kicking 10 goals between them.
Swans coach Damien Kennedy said he was glad his team was able to get the win despite the lack of recent training.
“It wasn’t a pretty game of footy,” Kennedy said.
“We went there and got the points.
“Luke Bosse and Daniel Kemp played their first games for us and showed a bit and were our shining lights yesterday (Saturday).
“We weren’t prepared to be playing and we didn't train for two weeks, so it wasn’t the ideal preparation.
“It's an ever-moving jigsaw puzzle.
“Who knows what's in front of us going forward.
“For us, our aim is to keep winning games of footy and being a young group is an advantage for us to get up and play (at short notice).”
While Meyland may have expected his team's match to be called off, he was pleased with how the Bombers ran out the match against Deniliquin Rovers, which they won 9.11 (65) to 6.13 (49).
“It was really nice to get the four points, especially with the build up which was uncommon and not ideal,” Meyland said.
“I was very happy with our fitness, which was probably the difference in the end.”
Despite sitting in fourth spot and equal on wins with top-placed Strathmerton, Meyland said whoever they were up against next week would be a challenge.
“It's such an even competition, so if you're not on your game you are likely to be pipped at the post.”
Berrigan knocked off fellow challenger Katandra by six goals in their clash at Berrigan.
Will Gorman continued his impressive season, kicking three goals and taking his season tally to 28 as the Saints won 11.12 (78) to 6.6 (42).
“He's probably been our most consistent player all year,” Saints coach Ty Russell said of Gorman.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“He is as good in the midfield as he is in the forward line.”
According to Russell, a highlight of the match was a torpedo goal by Tom Beams, but before it sailed through he admitted he had mixed feelings about the choice of kick.
“Tommy Beams kicked a 70-metre torpedo goal at an important time in the game in the second quarter,” Russell said.
“I was about to lose my shit watching him from the bench, but it amazing to watch.”
Despite his group being able to train and work on some set plays, Russell was also in the camp of being caught off guard by the league's announcement.
“I thought we had no chance of playing,” he said.
“Who knows what going to happen in the future.
“For all we know that could be the last game we play all year as it changes from day-to-day.”
In the round's other match Strathmerton climbed to the top of the table, with a win over Jerilderie.
The Bulldogs were too good for the Demons, winning 13.10 (88) to 6.7 (43).
Marcus McMillan kicked five goals for the Dogs, while Mark Luci was named the best for the victors.
For the Demons, Lachlan Kennett was a standout as was David Gregory, who kicked three.
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