14/06/2026
MIRBOO NORTH FOOTBALL REPORT
by Rover
Seniors
Newborough 14 โ 12 โ 96 d Mirboo North 5 โ 3 โ 33
A RESURGENT Newborough reclaimed the Ron Skinner Memorial Trophy with an easy-peasy 63-point win over Mirboo North at Newborough on Saturday.
Following a stirring performance in front of its enthusiastic hometown crowd, Newborough sits outside the top six on percentage after five victories โ with another four points coming courtesy of a bye on 4 July.
Alas, Mirboo North lingers in ninth spot with three wins, five defeats and a low percentage at the halfway point of the 2026 Mid Gippsland season.
The Bulldogs' victory represented a stunning 253-point turnaround on their round eight 190-point loss to Foster, prior to the King's Birthday Holiday weekend break.
Later in a day of football ironies, North Melbourne booted 10.14.74 to beat West Coast Eagles 10.13.73 โ the same scores recorded 60 years before, when St Kilda defeated Collingwood in the 1966 VFL grand final by one point.
Newborough made four changes to the side that succumbed to Foster at the Foster Showgrounds on 30 May.
Into the Bulldogs' line-up came Kyle Jennings, Josh Pearce, Peter Ainsworth and Luke Webber, who collectively brought over 1000 games of experience with them.
Although none of these players featured in Newborough's list of best players against Mirboo North, their onfield presence must have given the Bulldogs a huge confidence boost.
It was an afternoon of disappointment for the visitors in skipper Hudson Kerr's 150th senior appearance for the mighty Tigers.
True to form, however, Kerr's play was as daring as a riverboat gambler and showed why โ for a decade โ he's been the darling of the Tigers' yellow and black army of supporters.
Other players in good form for Mirboo North included Darby and Rhys Kratzat, Beau Peters, Hayden Barnes and Joe Brooks.
In perfect conditions for football, Newborough burst out of the blocks full of enthusiasm coupled with a strong will to win the contested ball at any cost.
A subsequent four-goal first term by the home team, placed it 20 points clear at quarter-time.
There was no getting out of jail from here for the visitors, who trailed by 28 points at the long break.
The Bulldogs recorded another four majors during the third term, two of which came from set shots in the goal square from 50-metre penalties.
The final quarter included a superb solo effort from Kerr in his milestone game.
The dashing left footer grabbed the Sherrin at the centre circle ball up, then ran, bounced and weaved his way through heavy traffic, to kick Mirboo North's fifth and final goal from long range.
Newborough Goals: J Hecker 3, P Player 3, P Ainsworth 2, A Daley 2, J Robinson, M Heywood,
K Jennings, J Pearce
Newborough Best: M Heywood, L Cordner, M Brosnan, P Charles, N Wheildon, L Fitzpatrick
MN Goals: J Chila, R Oddy, J Conlan, H Barnes, H Kerr
MN Best: H Kerr, D Kratzat, B Peters, R Kratzat, H Barnes, J Brooks
Reserves
Newborough 12 โ 9 โ 81 d Mirboo North 3 โ 6 โ 24
There was frustration aplenty for Mirboo North supporters, as they watched the mighty Tigers go down by 57 points to the Newborough Bulldogs.
At times, Newborough's pressure-cooker style of football held nearly every onlooker captivated.
After just two wins from their eight matches this season, the Tigers sit in 11th place on the ladder with an unhealthy percentage of 42.97.
Despite brave-heart skipper Mitch Richardson's strong onfield presence, Mirboo North was unable to make any ground on the Bulldogs' authority during the match.
A huge drawback for the Tigers was too many of their field kicks โ although looking lovely in flight โ went straight to the opposition.
Will Lewis, Todd Alexander, Harry Reville-Gent and Jesse Rawlings, were a ray of sunshine for Mirboo North, but Newborough always managed to keep the Tigers at bay.
Newborough's 10-point lead at quarter-time had increased to 28 points by the main break and rose even further to 41 points at the last change.
The Bulldogs' cagey defenders restricted Mirboo North's power forwards, Tom Kelly and Trent Taylor, with extremely close shoulder-to-shoulder checking, whenever the ball entered the Tigers' scoring arc.
As a result, Mirboo North's effective avenues to goal were severely limited.
High possession accumulators for Newborough included Kain Weir, William Collings, Tyler Peters and Corey Beaver.
MN Goals: T Heislers, T McCallister, J Cummaudo
MN Best: W Lewis, T Alexander, H Reville-Gent, J Rawlings, M Aveling, N Jackson
Thirds
Mirboo North 14 โ 9 โ 93 d Newborough 5 โ 7 โ 37
MN Goals: P Player 13, J Unwin
MN Best: P Player, M Jackson, H Ludlow, H Maxwell, T Williams, A Evans
Fourths
MDU 12 โ 9 โ 81 d Mirboo North 6 โ 4 โ 40
MN Goals: R Filtness 2, L Roberts, L Elbers, L McCarthy, L Gray
MN Best: L Roberts, R Filtness, A Conrad, J Stoiljkovic, S Jennings, A Robertson
