Sport
17 June, 2026
Tigers look to finals
SIMPSON’S finals hopes received a strong boost on Saturday with an 11 point win over South Colac in the round eight Colac and District League senior football match.
After trailing at quarter time, the Tigers led at every change afterwards to record a 9.7.61 to 7.8.50 win at Elliminyt’s GJ Gardner Oval.
The match was played in wet conditions, with the lead changing hands several times in the second half.
“It was a good, hard fought contest in the conditions,” Simpson coach Grady Rooke said.
“It made it an interesting day for everyone watching it.”
South Colac wasted its first quarter dominance, only leading 1.3.9 to 0.1.1 at the first change.
From that point on, the Simpson midfield made use of the conditions and asserted their dominance.
“One of the things we tried to work on was our disposal after quarter time, we were trying to do dry weather stuff in the first quarter.
“So we just tried to go back to playing the conditions.”
The home team hit the front late in the game with a goal to Zak Day, coming after the Tigers had conceded a 50- metre penalty.
A Cody Mason goal with two minutes to go had the Tigers back in front, with Brodie Neal kicking a goal after the final siren.
“I was a bit angry when we conceded that goal from a 50.
“I knew we still had a little bit of time, but was pretty nervous, and with those conditions it was pretty hard to get goals.”
Spearhead Jarrod Garth was key on the day, kicking four goals in a low scoring game to be named best for the Tigers.
“Jarrod’s contribution was huge, I wish it was a dry day because he was just on, it was one of those days where you could just tell that he was up and about, ready to go.
“He probably dropped a couple of chest marks that he normally would gobble up, so there’s probably a couple of set shots he could’ve had there, but four goals in that sort of conditions as a big fella is pretty good.”
Tom Leishman was named second best in the win, with South Colac coach Brad Surkitt awarding him the opposition best player award at the after-match presentation.
“That was the old style Tom Leishman, he’s always pretty good in those sort of conditions.
“In the middle, Tom and Ryleigh McVilly set us up really well in there.”
Rooke also had praise for the performances of Reagan Jones and Tanner Fratantaro.
“Reagan has always done a job for us in the last few weeks, we put him on Zak Day (who had kicked 19 goals in the previous four games), and Day still got two goals, but he didn’t have much influence.
“With Tanner, we’re just trying to find a spot for him at the moment, so we tried him down back, he was very solid and clean, he didn’t let much go past him.”
After eight rounds, Simpson, South Colac and Birregurra are all on 12 points with three wins and five losses.
This Saturday sees a pivotal match at the Simpson Recreation Reserve, with the Tigers hosting Birregurra.
The reserves match saw Simpson score a strong 12.11.83 to 2.4.16 win.
Isaac Holland bagged six goals and was named best for the Tigers along with Zachary Anderson, Peter Bell, Jayden McVilly, Harry Fleming and Jason Kordupel.
The under 15 football saw Simpson win 5.7.37 to 1.3.9.
Lucas Woolstencroft, Fin Mahoney and Tyler Love were best for Simpson, with skipper Ben Vogels and Harry Vogels kicking two goals each and Ted Mahoney one.
Second-placed South Colac was too strong in the under 12 football, recording a 15.13.103 to 1.4.10 win.
While the football went well for the Tigers, South Colac registered wins in all of the netball matches.
The A grade netball saw South Colac win 41-27.
Chloe Woods, Paige Salmon and Amy Pemberton were the Tigers best in the loss, with Shelby Cameron scoring 15 goals and Eliza Duynhoven scoring 12.
The B grade game saw a 44-26 win to South Colac.
Samantha Holland, Sophie Cronin and Georgia Arndell were best for Simpson, with Arndell shooting 20 goals.
Simpson took out the C grade game with a 38-30 win.
Rachael Duynhoven, Casey Tesselaar and Chloe Cameron were best for Simpson, with Duynhoven scoring 17 goals and Kayla Hallyburton 13.
In D grade, South Colac had a 30-27 win.
Zalli Fisher, Kellie Meade and Kaylee Jansen were best for the Tigers, with Rebecca Foster shooting 18 goals.
South Colac scored a 37-23 win in the 17 and under netball.
Anna Robb, Tyra Sambell and Amelia Daniels were best for the Tigers in the loss, with Esha Crole shooting 12 goals and Kustom Robertson shooting 11.
South Colac got the points in the 15 and under netball with a 37-26 win.
Milah Crole, River Rothery and Imogen McVilly were best for the Tigers, with Mia Arndell scoring 10 goals.
The 13 and under netball saw South Colac win 22-18.
Nyha Ford, Ayla Crole and Mia Arndell were best for the junior Tigers, with Ford shooting eight goals.
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