MPNFL: Tyabb beats Crib Point to bank first win of season in Division 2

Tyabb’s captain went ballistic and his teammates followed as the Yabbies stormed home to win their first game of the season in MPNFL Division 2.

Tyabb's Buchan brothers, from left Nathan, Corey and Jarryd. They wore specially designed jumpers as part of Reconciliation round. Picture: Facebook

The captains led from the front.

The Yabbies had a sniff.

And that’s all they needed.

A fast-finishing Tyabb broke through for its first win of the season on Saturday, beating Crib Point by 24 points, 12.15 (87) to 10.3 (63), in Round 7 of MPNFL Division 2.

Yabbies co-captain Brad Williams kicked three goals in the last quarter as his side, after leading by a point at the last change, outscored Crib Point 4.5 to 1.0 to run away with it.

In the rooms, the celebrations were through the roof.

After going almost a year without a win, the Yabbies were back, and it was time to celebrate.

“To be honest, mate, it was almost like a premiership win at the end,’’ Tyabb coach Anthony Agius said.

“It gave me more of an understanding of how much the club has suffered over the last 10 years.’’

Tyabb co-captain Will Hose playing against Hastings last month. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Agius poured praise on his entire team, saying it was an “even display from everyone’’.

But he said Williams’ last-quarter magic was pivotal.

“That lifted everyone,’’ he said.

Agius said Tyabb’s young gun Will Hose, who is co-captain, excelled in the ruck yet again, and the consistent Ethan Rahilly “was very good, he always is’’.

“Will Hose is this skinny guy who goes up into the ruck every week against monsters,’’ Agius said.

“He’s a super local footballer actually. We’re very happy to have him.’’

Tyabb coach Anthony Agius.

Agius said the win was deserved reward for Tyabb’s young players who’d stuck at it despite enduring six straight losses by an accumulated 475 points.

“Even though I know where we’re at, as you lose each game you’re thinking, ‘geez when are we going to get win’, so we definitely needed it, it was at the right time,’’ Agius said.

“The more losses we have the more the spirit drops. And I started sensing that last week, despite all my work to keep them upbeat and always looking on the positive side.

“We needed a win and we got it.’’

Agius said the Yabbies were a work in progress.

“All I’m working on at the moment is defence,’’ he said.

“Once we can work out how to defend then we can start to be really creative.

“Yesterday that was our key, to make sure when the opposition have the ball we set up well enough to defend and when we get the ball let’s run away and try and go fast. That worked at times but Crib Point were extremely combative.’’

Another highlight for Tyabb was the great occasion of the three Buchan brothers playing together for the first time.

Corey, Jarryd and Nathan wanted to play together to honour their dad, Yabbies great Gavin, who died last year.

And what better way to do so than with a stirring victory?

“They were desperate to play at least one game together to celebrate their dad,’’ Agius said.

Tyabb climbs off the bottom of the ladder, leaving Crib Point as the only winless side in the competition.