FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Leongatha have enjoyed a welcome return to form in round five after doing away with Moe on Saturday, 13.14 (97) to 9.12 (66).
The Parrots’ back line was at their indomitable best in the first half with the likes of Colin Sanbrook and Chris Verboon making the going tough for the Lions.
Centre half-forward James Lloyd played his first senior game for the season and did so in style, snaring five goals to help Leongatha to a commanding 33-point win on the road.
John Ginnane was given the top gong for best on ground and was joined by Tom Marriott and Sanbrook on the honour roll.
Coach Paul Carbis was buoyed by his side’s win despite losing two players to injury in the first half.
“We were two guys down from half-time on, and only playing with 20 in the second half, so to grind out a win and then extend on that lead was sensational,” Carbis said.
“Jake Mackie did a knee and Josh Schelling hurt his shoulder.”
Carbis highlighted the steely determination of the playing group as key when pressure mounted.
“I think we had a real theme around playing our brand of footy and not go away from that, no matter what the scoreboard was telling us,” he said.
“Our midfield group played really well, especially in the last quarter to give us first use.”
The inclusion of Lloyd from Shepparton was a resounding success for the Parrots and Carbis said having a key target up forward “made all the difference”.
“To have a marking forward is something we’ve been lacking, and if we look at the losses we’ve had we’ve probably had as much of the ball as the opposition but we just didn’t have that target,” he said.
Carbis also praised the efforts of ruckman Ben Willis as well as Chris Verboon and Tom Marriott.
The Parrots face Warragul this week in round six and will be sweating on the fitness of Schelling while Mackie is set to miss.
Sale v Drouin
A mammoth performance by Brad Dessent has helped Sale crush Drouin to notch their fourth win of season 2018, 18.16 (124) to 4.6 (30).
Dessent was menacing at full-forward and bagged nine goals courtesy of a barrage of clean entries into the forward 50 by the Magpies’ mids.
The Magpies swooped in the opening term and stacked on six goals to hold Drouin to two behinds and lead by 36 points at the first break.
The margin continued to balloon in Sale’s favour to stand at 52 at the main break, 76 at three-quarter-time and 94 at the final siren.
Playing-coach Shane Fyfe was awarded six votes for his best on ground performance and stellar shut-down role in the back line.
Fyfe was joined on the honours list by Ben Jones, Nick Dowse and Kane Martin.
“The way we started in the first, we sort of wanted to get off to a really good start and set the tone, and we kicked six to nothing in the first quarter which was pleasing,” Fyfe said.
“I thought Nick Dowse, who has come across from Heyfield, played his best game of the year down back.
“I think right across the ground with our setups and with the pressure being put on … we had about 90 tackles which is the highest for us for the year.”
Sale will face Wonthaggi in round six action this weekend while Drouin travels to Traralgon.
Bairnsdale v Wonthaggi
Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson has led Bairnsdale to their third win of the season in round five at the expense of Wonthaggi, 14.18 (102) to 4.7 (31).
Lovegrove-Hudson caused headaches for the Power’s back line and was in ominous form, finishing with a tidy five-goal haul.
Wonthaggi had a tough time in the first term and was allowed a solitary point to head into quarter time 15 points in the red.
The Bairnsdale back line, commanded Brayden Radford and Corey Timms, gave the visitors little leeway in attack and conceded just four goals for the day – three of them in the second term.
Brayden McCarrey helped out on the scoreboard and bagged three goals for the second week in a row while Russell Cowan added two.
Liam Giove was awarded best on ground plaudits for Bairnsdale in the win and was joined on the honours list by Timms and Lovegrove-Hudson.
Maffra v Morwell
Maffra have sold their case for favouritism for the 2018 flag after notching their fifth win for the season over Morwell at the weekend, 14.14 (98) to 3.4 (22).
The Eagles are the only side in the Gippsland league seniors to stand undefeated after five rounds, a game clear of Sale in second.
The home side could have taken their foot off the pedal in the final term with a 47-point buffer but put in their best quarter of the day with five goals to seal a 76-point win.
Ben Brunt snared a handful of goals and was assisted by Andrew Petrou with three and Alex Carr with two.
On-baller Kieran Jones scooped up the best on ground and took the six votes while midfielder Kelvin Porter was next best and scored a goal.
Warragul v Traralgon
Warragul led at every break during their round five match against Traralgon at the weekend and recorded their third win of the season, 14.11 (95) to 9.16 (70).
A five-goal haul to Brayden Fowler proved the difference for the Gulls who were propped up by another four multiple goal-scorers in Tyssen Morrow, Kim Drew, Jedd Serong and Matthew Ross.
Ashley Di Ciero was indomitable across half-back for Warragul in the win and was awarded six votes for best on ground while Morrow and Tom Muir were also serviceable.
Lee Stockdale did the heavy lifting up forward for the Maroons and kicked three goals and was helped by multiples from Connor Ambler and Kody Wilson.
Warragul will play their round six clash with defending premier Leongatha while Traralgon will return home to host Drouin.
