Goals: Mulwala: J. Meade 2, M. Hemphill 2, H. Haley 1, D. McNamara 1, J. Sutherland 1,. Congupna : K. Mueller 6, D. Campbell 3, J. Trewin 2, S. Poole 2, B. Gee 1, J. Norman 1.
Best players: Mulwala: C. McKenzie, M. Hemphill, D. McNamara, Z. Scott, B. Seymour, C. Griffiths. Congupna: W. Norman, B. Cooper, K. Mueller, I. Jones, S. Poole, S. Slavich.
Newly appointed coaches Bodhi Butts and Kade Rowe asked the playing group for more at quarter time, and they responded with a much better second quarter outscoring Congupna to make a game of it at half time.
The young cubs were electric during the half-time break, and it was great to see so many mini–Lion Cubs out there enjoying their football, ensuring the future of football at Mulwala is secure. They possibly could have stayed out there to challenge Congupna in the third quarter as they obliterated Mulwala across all parts of Lonsdale Reserve in a seven goal to one quarter to put the game beyond reach and eventually running out convincing winners in the end.
The massive crowd were all in agreement that it is better to play bad football at the start of the season than at the end and the loss will no doubt galvanise the group to better things throughout the season.
The Grand Final Rematch in which Mulwala lost in agonising fashion in overtime was always going to be a great prelude to the senior match.
This certainly seemed to be the case as both sides were ferocious at the ball in the first half as Mulwala gained a slight advantage on the scoreboard due to the silky skills of Sean Robinson and Thomas Wilson in the forward line.
Nathan McNair was punishing the Congupna ball getters in the middle of the ground and the smooth moving Tom Dow was gathering possessions at will and slicing the Congupna defence with his precise kicking.
Sam Hemphill in his first game for the club was great in defence and, along with Dylan Robinson, wasn’t allowing the Congupna forwards many options while the pair’s long kicking was making space for the Mulwala forwards to capitalise on.
The second half saw Mulwala run all over the opposition and exact their revenge for last year with a convincing victory which could have been more if not for the 19 behinds kicked, predominantly by the Robinson brothers.
Max Hemphill unleashes a big drop punt but Mulwala went down in the seniors.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
After a strong pre-season under coach Mark House the thirds were itching at the bit to get some quality game time into their legs.
The thought of Congupna not being able to field a side for the first game scared the boys more than their mother’s wooden spoon.
Congupna were a few players short and with good numbers in the Mulwala side we shared the group so that all the lads would get some quality game time.
Credit to the Congupna boys for making the trip over on Good Friday although their numbers were low, thus enabling the game to go ahead.
Several of the Mulwala boys that wore the Congupna jumpers were among the best, particularly Zach Wheeler who starred in the backline for Congupna, relishing playing against his usual teammates.
Max O’Bryan and Jai Sneddon performed admirably in the forward half for Mulwala and Jordan Ibbott in his first game in a Lion’s jumper played well all over the ground kicking a couple of snags himself.
Great to see a few of last year’s fourths players, Van Kreeck, Nash McNamara, Sonny Sneddon and Sonny O’Bryan all play well and contribute on the scoreboard.
Another convincing win for Mulwala to start the day, this time by 165 points.
The young Lions experienced one of the tougher pre-seasons for Under 14s since the glory days of Jim Partelle’s coaching career under new head coach Ryan Donovan.
It was very quickly realised however that Donno’s approach had all the playing group bought in to his regime.
From the first bounce Mulwala quickly began moving the ball in transition from the midfield to the forward line with precision.
Alex Richardson was on fire early at full forward and had numerous goals to his name before half-time.
Captain Axel Saunders, vice-captain Henry Donovan and senior players Nate Leith, Archer Kirchen and Tyce Woodhead were doing as they pleased in their respective positions and young Levi Purtle was showing skills that his father and fourths player manager Tom never accomplished in his playing days.
The boys ran away with a comfortable 122-point win and showed that they will once again be vying for a position at the top of the Murray League ladder in 2024.
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