A fantastic season ended on a disappointing note for the Mustangs who played off in their first Grand Final since 2013, going down to the Roos by 83 points.
By Ryan Long.
Mooroolbark
Ladder Position: 2nd (16-2, 164.99%)
Best and Fairest: Aaron Mullett
Leading Goalkicker: Jai Jordan (59)
Summary:
The Mustangs kicked off the season exactly where they left off last year, winning the first 13 games of the year.
Their stars were firing on all cylinders with both Jai Jordan and Aaron Mullett dominating up forward. The side averaged 96 points per game in the first 13 rounds before their first slip-up of the year. It came against East Ringwood, in a high-scoring shootout where the Roos kicked away in the last quarter to take back top position on the ladder.
Mooroolbark lost just one other game for the year, going into the finals series to take on Mitcham at Tormore Reserve. After an even first three quarters, the Tigers blew the Mustangs away late with a seven-goal final term. To make the Grand Final, they had to do it the long way. They met Montrose in the Semi Final where they were challenged for most of the afternoon in their fifteen-point win over the Demons. It set up another date with the Tigers in the Preliminary Final. It was a very different outcome with the Mustangs breaking the game open in the second half.
Grand Final Day, it was the best two teams all season with Mooroolbark and East Ringwood going head-to-head for the Division One flag. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, it was a dirty day for the club with the side managing just two goals for the afternoon as the Roos registered an 83-point win.
Key Players:
The Mustangs had plenty of representation in the Division One Team of the Year with five players selected in the team, Aaron Mullett, Jai Jordan, Cayden Maki Austin Smith and Ryley Monkhurst.
Aaron Mullet won the club’s best and fairest, the mid/forward kicking 58 goals for the season, kicking five or more in three games this year. He was assisted well by Jai Jordan up forward, having 59 goals for the season.
The Mustangs midfield was a dominant area for the side in 2022 with the likes of Smith, Noonan, Maki and ruckman Monkhorst all having great years.
The club also welcomed back Trent Georgiou from Silvan who was a key for the club’s defensive set-up, in the best eight times.
Best Win: Preliminary Final – Mooroolbark 13.12 90 def. Mitcham 9.9 63 @Tormore Reserve
After knocking off the Tigers twice during the home and away season, a Semi-Final loss to the Mitcham put Mooroolbark under the pump. Inevitably, the two clubs met two weeks later in the Preliminary Final.
Despite having four more scoring shots than the Tigers in the first quarter, the Mustangs’ inaccuracy saw them trailing by a point. The two clubs managed five goals each in the second quarter before the Mustangs took control of the match, setting up a 26-point lead at the last change. They were able to hold that lead for the rest of the afternoon, winning by 27 points and successfully moving on to the Grand Final.
Key goalkickers Jai Jordan and Aaron Mullett both finished with three majors each. The Mustangs dominated the midfield through Noonan and Smith getting first use of the footy from ruckman Ryley Monk. A great day for the club, qualifying for their first Grand Final since 2013.
Off-Season Focus:
The disappointing Grand Final loss does take a lot of the attention away from what was another fantastic season for the club. The club are certainly in that premiership window and will be viewed by other clubs as the ‘hunted’ with East Ringwood’s promotion.
They’ve added some extra height to their list with versatile tall Jesse Boyd joining the Mustangs while Bryce Muurling comes to the club from Yarra Glen and may be used in a similar role as Aaron Mullet.
They’ll be one of the clubs most looking forward to Round One next year to leave their last performance out of their minds.
Mooroolbark Senior Women’s
Ladder Position: 6th (2-10, 17.90%)
Best and Fairest: Joanne Vogt
Leading Goalkicker: Holly Wells (4)
Summary:
A fantastic achievement for the club saw the Mustangs have their first-ever senior women’s side in the competition. They competed in Division Three, winning two games across the season.
After losing their first seven matches, the club had a breakthrough in Round Nine, defeating Fairpark by seven points on a significant day for the club. Their form in the second half of the season was much better with the side showing plenty of improvement, they finished off the year with an eight-point win over Coldstream.
Key Players:
Joanne Vogt had a great season with the Mustangs, the club’s best and fairest.
She finished just ahead of Eleanor Eden Ann De Forest who was another one of the club’s best players this season, polling well in the league’s best and fairest. Jordyn Doevelaar was another of the side’s key players, winning the club’s most consistent player award.
Best Win: Round 14 – Mooroolbark 2.10 22 def. Coldstream 2.2 14 @Coldstream Reserve
Away from home in the final match of the season, the Mustangs pulled off a big upset against Coldstream. Despite being inaccurate in front of goal, Mooroolbark was in control all morning, having most of the play. They held Coldstream to just four scoring shots and won by eight points.
The Cougars went on to make a Preliminary Final showing just how big of a win this was for the club going forward.
Off-Season Focus:
It was great for the club to have a Senior Women’s team up and running, especially with the Mustangs also having a women’s Veterans side as well. Their focus over the off-season will be recruiting more numbers and then continuing to develop the side.
Mooroolbark Women Veterans
The Mustangs also fielded a Women’s Veterans side in 2023. Successfully, they went on to win the flag, defeating Chirnside Park in the Grand Final. The club won three games in the Home and Away season, defeating Blackburn three times. They finished second on the ladder and took on the undefeated Chirnside Park side in the Grand Final at HE Parker Reserve. While the Panthers were unable to capitalise in front of goal, kicking zero goals seven, the Mustangs made the most of their opportunities, and won by nine points, securing the premiership flag. Carolyn Glennie had a great year, winning the league best and fairest while teammate Fiona Rosel finished inside the top five of the count.
