Sport
2 May, 2026
Youthful Tigers continue their unbeaten debut
BEARS Lagoon Serpentine coach Jake Wilkinson has made no secret of his desire for more leg speed in his side, and Sunday’s 43-point loss to Macorna illustrated why.
BEARS Lagoon Serpentine coach Jake Wilkinson has made no secret of his desire for more leg speed in his side, and Sunday’s 43-point loss to Macorna illustrated why.
The Bears were run off their feet by the youthful Tigers, who shrugged off the absence of suspended coach Fergus Payne to continue their unbeaten run in the Loddon Valley league.
They ran in waves and used the ball cleverly with the assistance of the wind in the opening quarter before controlling the play against the breeze to set up the victory by half-time.
With key forward Josh Mellington missing again, Serp relied on Farran Priest for goals, and he responded with five.
However, unlike round two when the Bears had 11 goalkickers, against Macorna only five players could hit the scoreboard.
A six-goal last quarter burst against a tiring Tiger outfit which could manage only a single goal flattered the Bears, who were 74 points behind at the last change.
Powerful full forward Frasier Holland spent the last quarter in the ruck, with captain Nathan Twigg, the competition’s best big man, moving forward.
The Tigers saw Dimitri Fasoulis kick five after booting 10 goals a week earlier, and Seb Erharter finished with three although he spent most of the afternoon in the midfield.
Speedy and skilful youngster Sam Whifield again showed his precocious talent for Macorna and shapes as a real chance for Rising Star honours if he can maintain his form.
Senior assistant coach Dean McGowan took control of the Tigers and will coach the next two weeks while Payne serves his three-week ban for eye-gouging.
Macorna’s meeting with Inglewood shapes as a grudge match.
Payne, who coached the Woodies to their best finish in more than 20 years last season, left after a falling out with the club committee, and took Erharter and hard-nosed defender Josh Whittle with him to the Tigers.
Erharter had “committed” to returning to Inglewood before surprisingly signing with Macorna.
Serp is at home to unbeaten Bridgewater, with Mellington’s return from post-season surgeries still at least two weeks away.
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