By football writers MATT TAYLOR, MITCH RODD and TYM GLASER
Above: Tigers senior coach Ryan Doherty in the Red Cliffs huddle. Picture: Paula Mastrippolito
TIGER TOUGH
RED Cliffs opened the SFNL senior football season with a hard-fought 22-point win against Imperials at Quandong Park.
Midfield dynamo Tyson Old and full forward Jake Reed put in impressive performances on return to Tigerland.
On return from the VFL, Old put in a dominant second half alongside the Tuifao brothers, Vas and Peter, while Reed booted three goals.
Imps’ best player was former AFL player Matt Dea, who played most of the game at full back.
In one of the highlights of the opening half, Dea pulled off an acrobatic mark on the goal line to deny the Tigers a major.
The Tigers led by three points at half-time and only Dea’s presence in the stumbling Green Machine back line, which is now without stars Matt Mazzini and Ben Galbraith, denied the home side a bigger win.
Above: Robinvale Euston’s Jack Taylor spoils Wentworth's Jarrod Brander. Picture: Meagan Verstappen
EAGLES FEAST
ROBINVALE Euston piled on 13 unanswered goals to secure a 68-point win over fellow premiership fancies Wentworth.
Isaiah Johnson's eight goals and four from Ricardo Liparota led the Eagles to a dominant second half in which they held the Roos goalless.
In his first game back at his home club Wentworth's Jarrod Brander finished with three majors but suffered from a lack of supply in the second half alongside imperious defence from Eagles Jack Taylor.
Fellow Queensland recruits Benji Neal, Dylan Adkins and Isaacs Corvo also impressed during the victory. Wentworth's Finn Ellis Castle had an impressive first half in defence before a head clash with Liua Polata ended their respective days early, while youngster Rory Hopper was a shining light on a tough day at the office.
PREMIERS FIND THEIR POLISH
IRYMPLE overcame a sluggish start and a fair deal of profligacy in front of goal to get their SFNL premiership defence off to a strong beginning against South Mildura at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
The Swallows ground the Bulldogs out of the contest by halftime and ran out more than comfortable victors 16.21-117 to 9.6-60 and - despite early-season rust - sent out an early warning to likely challengers for their crown.
After a lacklustre first quarter which saw only four points separate last season's premiers and the wooden spooners, Irymple slowly clicked into gear and and advanced their lead comfortably throughout the remainder of the contest.
The champs' charge was led by usual suspects Daniel Coghlan, Nando Cirillo, Zac Wandin, Justin Robinson and Liam Garlick, who was lively in front of goals with four majors.
A game but outclassed Bulldogs outfit received solid service from Josh Koster, senior side debutant Archer Wootton, Austin Forbes and Liam Wood.
AND MAGPIES FIND THEIR MOJO
UNFORTUNATELY, we won't have a match report available from Ouyen on Saturday night, but we'll get it out there for you as soon as we can on Sunday.
What we can tell you is that Merbein defeated United by 21 points after trailing at half time. The final score was 15.14 (104) to 12.7 (79).
IN THE MILLEWA LEAGUE: Gol Gol defeated Bambill by 18 points on Friday night, while Werrimull were 58-point victors over Meringur and Cardross downed Nangiloc by 74 points on Saturday.
IN THE SUNRAYSIA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Bambill defeated Gol Gol by 27 points, Werrimull defeated Meringur by 119 points and Cardross had the bye.
SFNL A Grade netball results
Merbein 40 d Ouyen United 31
Wentworth 78 d Robinvale Euston 30
South Mildura 42 d Irymple 34
Red Cliffs 41 drew Imperials 41
MILLEWA MEN: MAGPIE SWAN FLIES HIGH WITH HAWKS
SUNRAYSIA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE: SAINTS HOLD ON IN SHOWPIECE SEASON OPENER
