MFL | Mulwala ends Moama’s finals run

The Lions kicked 16 goals to Moama’s four through the first three quarters, holding a commanding 74-point advantage at the final change.

And while the Pies kicked four goals to one in the final quarter, it was too little, too late, as the Lions cruised to victory and a grand final berth.

“They gave us a hiding,” Moama coach Sam Sheldon said.

“They played the best that they can. They have some big boys in the midfield that did the job early.

“We were on the back foot and it just got too far gone too early. They had a plan and executed it well and we just couldn’t go with them.

“It’s disappointing to go out like that, but it has been a really good year.”

The result sees Mulwala advance to the Murray League decider where it will face minor premier Cobram for a chance at premiership glory.

For the Magpies, a third finals win in a row was a bridge too far. After thrilling wins over Congupna and Tongala, the disappointing loss to Mulwala sees their season come to an end.

Jack Russell put in an inspired performance for Moama, as did Mitchell Lake and Ned Osborne, while Mulwala’s Matthew Gorman starred and Jackson Gash earned best-on-ground honours.

Sheldon said Mulwala’s strength through the midfield was a key factor in the clash.

“As a whole, we weren’t good enough. We just couldn’t get the ball, their midfield was too strong,” he said.

“I don’t think it was poor on our behalf, Mulwala was just ready to go and we couldn’t stick with them.”

Conditions were great at Hardinge St Oval in Deniliquin, with a bumper crowd in to watch the preliminary final action.

Mulwala won the toss, and it was a sign of good things to come for the Lions as they booted nine of the first 10 goals of the game.

Bodhi Butts got the first goal inside two minutes for the Lions, before Jye Warren answered for Moama shortly after for his side’s first of the day.

But the rest of the term was all Mulwala as it piled on eight unanswered majors to blow the game wide open.

The Lions’ ability to find players in space made it seem as if they had two extra players out on the park as they opened up a formidable 49-point lead at quarter-time.

They shared the ball around and had seven different goal scorers in the first term, with Jack Sutherland kicking two.

Moama needed a strong response in the second quarter, but instead it was Mulwala picking up where it left off as Sean Robinson goaled early to extend his side’s lead.

Again, it was Jye Warren who answered for Moama, kicking a much-needed goal early in the term, his second of the afternoon.

The two sides then traded goals, with Gash kicking truly for Mulwala before Riley Murphy snagged Moama’s third.

The Magpies were starting to win more of the ball and most of the play was in their forward half, but they couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard.

Moama had eight scoring shots to Mulwala’s three in the second quarter, but its 2.6 to the Lions’ 2.1 meant it could only cut the deficit by five points to trail by 45 at half-time.

The Lions were razor sharp in front of goal in the first half, booting an impressive 11 goals and just three behinds.

The Magpies’ hopes of a second-half comeback took a blow early in the third quarter when Cameron Magher goaled to push the lead back out beyond 50 points.

The Lions kicked the next five goals of the game to blow out the margin to 80 points, before Mitchell Bell kicked Moama’s lone goal for the quarter late on.

The result was beyond doubt heading into the fourth term, and once again it was Mulwala which kicked the opening goal.

But Moama showed its fighting spirit, digging in and fighting to the end as it booted four consecutive goals to salvage some respectability on the scoreboard.

But it wasn’t enough, as Moama’s season came to an end short of the grand final.

Cobram and Mulwala will now face off in the Murray League decider, which will be held at Moama on Saturday, September 17, with the opening bounce at 2.30pm.