THE vagrant Moe Lions might be homeless for the opening five rounds of the Gippsland League season but they’re hungry for points at makeshift hunting grounds.
Ted Summerton Reserve’s recent resurfacing has left the Lions languishing – able only to utilise the ground once a week at present for training in runners – with limited practice options throughout the pre-season.
Underdone as a result, Moe will host its first ‘home’ game of the season against Traralgon at Churchill on Sunday looking to scrap out some points before a return to the den.
“Without making excuses I think we were underdone at the weekend, probably because we haven’t had a football ground to train on all year – we’ve been training at parks and all over the shop like school ovals – but we’re looking to improve,” coach James Blaser said.
“I’ve only worn football boots three times this year and that was our three practice matches; going from runners to boots, it’s different kicking.”
Despite an imperfect training regimen the Lions’ newcomers slotted in well against Warragul in round one’s narrow loss.
Moe fielded six debutants, and another two with fewer than five senior games, led by under 18 player and best on ground Scott Van Dyk.
Recruits Daniel Risol, Michael Farrell and Joel Bragagnolo were also among the best, but Blaser said the group still needed more time together to fully click.
“We were okay but we looked like a new fresh group,” he said.
“There’s still a bit of work to be done. Our surface is brand new and we’re only able to train on it once a week. To do proper drills on it would be perfect for us but we’ve got to find some other ways to gel together.
“We know we didn’t play well, probably a few structural mistakes on my behalf, but we’ll get back to what we know, playing blokes where they play their best footy, and hopefully get two or three wins from the first five games.”
The Lions will come up against a wounded reigning premier out to atone for its first up loss to Leongatha.
The Maroons were also well served by their new blood, with TTU recruit Hayden Hector and young up-and-comer Jacob Vucenovic playing star roles.
Blaser said his troops would look to contain his opposite number, Mark Collison, who has been consistently superb since taking on the Maroons last year.
“He’s a really good player, we’ve got to shut him down if we can and a couple of others as well,” he said.
“They’re coming off a loss as well (but) they’re last year’s premier; we’ll prepare as the underdog and look to see what we can do.”
Traralgon currently holds an eight-game winning streak against Moe, all by margins of 30 points or greater, and has claimed 13 of the past 14 encounters.
The match is one of two Sunday fixtures along with Drouin and Warragul.
ONLY four wins separate the powerhouse clubs of 2013-14 in their 150-match history.
Sale holds the advantage 77-73 but the Tigers will be itching to reduce the margin on home soil, where they have taken four of the past five games between the two albeit by slender margins of two, five, 27 and 17 points.
Both young, rebuilding sides suffered round one losses to league contenders Wonthaggi and Maffra and will be keen to consolidate against a club in similar circumstances.
Since the departure of Dean MacDonald the Tigers perhaps lack a gun target forward and leant on soccer recruit Kuiy Jiath and former Mirboo North player Josh Piper for goals last week.
Coach Joel Soutar will be keen to test some options in the forward 50 arc.
LEONGATHA cemented early premiership favouritism with a strong win over Traralgon in round one and will face its second stern test in as many weeks against Wonthaggi.
A fierce rivalry has developed over the years; since 1995 Leongatha is narrowly ahead 23 wins to 19, but the home ground advantage has been telling for both.
The Parrots are 14-4 at home while the Power is 13-7.
This south Gippsland clash always draws a crowd and should make for a tight tussle.
The east Gippsland battle between Maffra and Bairnsdale has become a classic on the Gippsland League calendar since their LVFL clashes of the 1960s.
The overall record stands at 125-119 in Bairnsdale’s favour but Maffra has won eight of 11 since the Redlegs returned to the major league.
Impressive first round wins to both sets this up as another exciting tussle.
FOR a long time Warragul had the wood on Drouin, but the lacquer has been chipping in recent years.
The Hawks won both encounters last season to break a five game hoodoo between 2012 and 2014.
Both sides have rebuilt and will be keen to test their credentials.
Morwell v Sale
(1954 – 2015)
All matches: Played 150 Morwell 73, Sale 77
At Morwell: Played 67 Morwell 38, Sale 29
Last 10 matches: Morwell 5, Sale 5
Last win at Morwell: Morwell 2015, Sale 2013
Last 5 years at Morwell: Morwell 4, Sale 1
Last three matches
2014 (2nd Semi at Traralgon) Morwell 11.18 (84) d Sale 10.4 (64)
2015 (S) Sale 9.11 (65) d Morwell 4.8 (32)
2015 (M) Morwell 11.9 (75) d Sale 8.10 (58)
Present winning sequence: Morwell 1
Highest scores: Morwell 23.23 (161) (1985), Sale 29.21 (195) (2007)
Lowest scores: Morwell 3.6 (24) (1956), Sale 3.4 (22) (2002)
Greatest winning margin: Morwell 84 (1967), Sale 137 (2003 & 2007)
Most goals (match): Morwell 9 D. Jorgenson (1954): Sale 11 S. Loveless (1987 & 1991)
Drouin v Warragul
(1909-11, 1919-30, 1933-40 (CGFL), 1960-64 (LVFL), 2000- 2015)
All matches: Played 88 Drouin 18, Warragul 69, drawn 1
At Drouin: Played 44 Drouin 10, Warragul 33, drawn 1
Last 10 matches: Drouin 5, Warragul 5
Last win at Drouin: Drouin 2015, Warragul 2014
Last 5 years at Drouin: Drouin 3, Warragul 2
Last three matches
2014 (W) Warragul 9.9 (63) d Drouin 5.9 (39)
2015 (W) Drouin 15.10 (100) d Warragul 7.5 (47)
2015 (D) Drouin 19.14 (128) d Warragul 7.8 (50)
Present winning sequence: Drouin 2
Highest scores: Drouin 17.17 (119) (2010), Warragul 29.21 (195) (1930)
Lowest scores: Drouin 1.4 (10) (1920), Warragul 0.2 (2) (2010)
Greatest winning margin: Drouin 92 (1910), Warragul 174 (1930)
Most goals (match): Drouin 7 H. Steer (1962): Warragul 18 H. Farmer (1937)
Moe v Traralgon
(1936-53 (CGFL), 1954-2015)
All matches: Played 178 Moe 51, Traralgon 126, drawn 1
Last 10 matches: Moe 1, Traralgon 9
Last three matches
2014 (T) Traralgon 13.7 (85) d Moe 5.7 (37)
2015 (T) Traralgon 17.17 (119) d Moe 9.9 (63)
2015 (M) Traralgon 12.17 (89) d Moe 9.5 (59)
Present winning sequence: Traralgon 8
Highest scores: Moe 22.22 (154) (1971), Traralgon 36.25 (241) (1997)
Lowest scores: Moe 0.5 (5) (1997), Traralgon 4.7 (31) (1948)
Greatest winning margin: Moe 105 (1938), Traralgon 236 (1997)
Most goals (match): Moe 10 I. Jennings (1971 & 1972): Traralgon 14 P. McCulloch (1997)
Maffra v Bairnsdale
(1901-34, 1936-59 (GFL), 1960-98, 2011-15)
All matches: Played 247 Maffra 119, Bairnsdale 125, drawn 3
At Maffra: Played 115 Maffra 69, Bairnsdale 45, drawn 1
Last 10 matches: Maffra 8, Bairnsdale 2
Last win at Maffra: Maffra 2015, Bairnsdale 2013
Last 5 years at Maffra: Maffra 4, Bairnsdale 1
Last three matches
2014 (EF at Sale) Maffra 16.11 (107) d Bairnsdale 12.16 (88)
2015 (B) Maffra 16.13 (109) d Bairnsdale 7.7 (49)
2015 (M) Maffra 15.11 (101) d Bairnsdale 7.8 (50)
Present winning sequence: Maffra 4
Highest scores: Maffra 24.29 (173) (1937), Bairnsdale 30.15 (195) (1983)
Lowest scores: Maffra 1.5 (11) (1903), Bairnsdale 1.5 (11) (1919)
Greatest winning margin: Maffra 93 (1997), Bairnsdale 126 (1981)
Most goals (match): Maffra 12 H. May (1928): Bairnsdale 9 T. Somerville (1938), T. Bull (1995)
Leongatha v Wonthaggi
(SGFL 1927 – 31, 1955-68, GL 1995-2004, 2010-15)
All matches: Played 104 Leongatha 54, Wonthaggi 48, drawn 2
At Leongatha: Played 41 Leongatha 26, Wonthaggi 13, drawn 2
Last 10 matches: Leongatha 5, Wonthaggi 5
Last win at Leongatha: Leongatha 2015, Wonthaggi 2014
Last 5 years at Leongatha: Leongatha 3, Wonthaggi 2
Last three matches
2014 (L) (night) Wonthaggi 7.11 (53) d Leongatha 3.3 (21)
2015 (L) Leongatha 8.13 (61) d Wonthaggi 3.9 (27)
2015 (W) Wonthaggi 13.14 (92) d Leongatha 9.8 (62)
Present winning sequence: Wonthaggi 1
Highest scores: Leongatha 32.19 (211) (1995), Wonthaggi 22.13 (145) (2002)
Lowest scores: Leongatha 2.5 (17) (1931), Wonthaggi 2.5 (17) (1965)
Greatest winning margin: Leongatha 163 (1995), Wonthaggi 100 (2002)
Most goals (match): Leongatha 8 J. Talbot (1995), T. Traill (1998): Wonthaggi 7 N. Garnham (2002), M. Silver (2004)
