Trafalgar topples Mirboo North to claim crucial Mid Gippsland win

TRAFALGAR remains in touch with the Mid Gippsland league’s top sides after a 24-point win over Mirboo North on Saturday.

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TRAFALGAR remains in touch with the Mid Gippsland league’s top sides after a 24-point win over Mirboo North on Saturday.

In heavy conditions at Trafalgar, the Bloods held the higher-ranked Tigers goalless in the first half and restricted them to just one goal in each of the last two quarters to triumph 7.8 (50) to 2.14 (26).

Trafalgar coach Jason MacFarlane said the victory proved the Bloods could match it with ladder leaders Newborough, Yinnar and the Tigers.

“Before the game, those three clubs had one loss each and we’d had three losses, so it was important for us to get this win on the board to stay in touch,” MacFarlane said.

“It bucketed down during the reserves so the ground was soaked.

“The conditions weren’t great but the boys adapted well.”

Bloods’ ruckman Dylan Farrell was named best afield in the Round 9 clash, which marked the halfway point of the Mid Gippsland season.

“Dylan rucked all day and dominated, not only giving us first use of the footy but he took a few marks around the ground as well,” MacFarlane said.

“And our captain Jace Butler, I just call him ‘Mr Ever Reliable’, he was great, too.

“It doesn’t matter where he plays, he always seems to get the footy.

“He’s the most awkward kick in the competition but he always seems to get the footy and deliver it to someone.”

Tyson Leys, the only multiple goalkicker in the match, booted two goals for Trafalgar.

MacFarlane said the win helped erase the pain of last week’s nine-point loss to ladder leader Newborough.

“We led all game and the only time they were in front was in the last two minutes,” he said.

“So it was good to get one back.”

MacFarlane said the Bloods’ forward line would be boosted by the return of former coach Matt Robertson, who played in the reserves yesterday.

Full-forward Robertson, who led Trafalgar to a premiership in 2010 during a two-year stint at the helm, started the season at Hallam in the Southern Football League.

“He just found travelling a bit hard and thought it might be easier finishing the year off here,” MacFarlane said.

“We’ve had to play our whole game around a small, mobile forward line and now we’re going to have a target to kick to.”