MT HELENA have shown progressive improvement over the first five rounds of the 2026 season.

They were up against a Midland group which is still stabilising and gaining fitness due to only having access to their training facilities on one night per week which left them with a distinct disadvantage.

The Midland Tigers have had to rely on game gained fitness, which can take time.

The Tigers went down 8.7 (55) to the Mt Helena Lions' 18.15 (123).

Midland Tigers forward Niklas Geracitano opened strongly with an early goal.

Tigers player Shannon Coyne returned after FIFO commitments.

Lion Hamish Duncan delivered a precise centre clearance to teammate Charlie Read, who found teammate Clem Cook for another major.

Cook proved a focal point in the Mt Helena Lions forward structure throughout the afternoon, helping ease some of the load off Lions player Ryan Watters who has been a lone key forward across recent seasons.

Mt Helena built a 14-point lead at quarter-time but the Tigers managed to stay in the hunt after the break.

Although being outscored they were showing patches of consistency.

Tigers Tyronne Smith and Travis Collard presented as forward targets.

Lions Ryley Maturo, Zac Read and Ryan Schwagereit combined to move the ball out of their backline over the centre allowing teammates Charlie Read and Blade Elzer to be able to gather possessions and run the ball deep into their forward line where Lion Julian Maturo was waiting to mark and kick one of his three goals for the game.

The Lions played a balanced game with an almost even spread of goal across the four quarters while Midland continued to show improvement compared to the teams’ earlier meeting this season.

Although disappointed with the loss they can feel somewhat pleased with their improvement.

Following the match, both sides were addressed by the umpires on the importance of wearing seatbelts as part of the Belt Up football round initiative.

The game ball was presented to Blade Elzer from the Mt Helena Football Club.