FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
The round six clash between Morwell and Moe promised plenty and Saturday’s game delivered with the Lions edging out their archrival to seal their fourth win of season, 7.15 (57) to 7.11 (53).
The Tigers – winless so far in 2018 – were 12 points in the red heading into the final term but came at the Lions in the dying stages only to fall four points short.
Moe coach James Blaser said “there was not a lot to be pleased with” after his side’s win but admitted he was “just pleased to get the four points”.
“Our ability to grind out the win against a team that were pretty desperate and pretty good on the day was good,” Blaser said.
“It’s hard at the moment in this competition and there are no easy games and we found that out against Morwell – they haven’t won but probably deserved to [on Saturday].”
Blaser earmarked the efforts of Mitchell Stanlake and Tyson Biffin as standouts in the four-point win but said the playing group was “a little bit tired and heavy after a few solid weeks”.
He also said the interleague break came at a “great time” for Moe and said rest and recuperation was on the cards.
Joel Bragagnolo was missed for the Lions and will be up for selection in round seven, as will Hayden Prestige and Dylan Farrell who missed the match with a broken finger.
Leongatha v Warragul
Defending premiers Leongatha have well and truly made up for a goalless first term against Warragul in round six by stacking on 21 majors to march to a 103-point win, 21.21 (147) to 6.8 (44).
An explosive 11-goal second term gave the Parrots a 55-point advantage at the main break and ballooned to a match-winning 69 at three-quarter-time.
Coach Paul Carbis drew confidence from the polished performance and poured praise on the Parrots’ playing group.
“We had 22 contributors on the day and it was just a really good team effort,” Carbis said.
“We played some really selfless footy and the fact that there were no individual standouts was just fantastic.”
Half-forward Chris Dunne put in his best performance of the season and led the way for the Parrots in front of goal with five majors.
In just his second game for the club, James Lloyd looked right at home at centre half-forward and snared three goals on the back of five last weekend.
“James has just slotted into the side and fitted in really well with the playing group and the things he does takes pressure off the other forwards,” Carbis said.
“If he’s not kicking goals then he is giving us first use of the ball, so he has just been fantastic.”
Luke Bowman was awarded best on ground plaudits for his work commanding the Parrots midfield and was ably assisted by Ben Willis, who had “another outstanding game” according to Carbis.
Gulls’ danger man Nathaniel Paredes was given six votes for best on ground but his impact was limited by the shut-down efforts Ryan Olden.
The win takes Leongatha to third spot on the Gippsland league ladder with four wins, one shy of Sale in second and two shy of Maffra in first, while Warragul are in seventh.
Wonthaggi v Sale
Sale travelled successfully on Saturday and led at every change to account for Wonthaggi and notch their fifth win on the trot, 14.10 (94) to 11.9 (75).
The Magpies were two goals down in the third quarter and coach Shane Fyfe was pleased with his side’s ability to bounce back despite some key outs, including key on-baller Kane Martin who missed with a knee niggle.
“I thought Jayden Allison was the best in the midfield and really stepped up to fill the spot of [Kane] Martin,” Fyfe said.
“We lost Brad Dessent in the first quarter with a rolled ankle so we had to structure up [front] because he’s our focal point up forward, but the sheer willingness to win the ball was fantastic and we just kept to our structures and kept competing.”
With just the one loss to Maffra in round one, Fyfe said the Magpies’ fiery start to the season was promising.
“The last couple of years have been hard in the back end because we haven’t won many in the first half,” he said.
“So if we happen to drop a couple of games, which can happen in this competition because it’s so even … it gives us a bit of breathing space.
“Winning these last five games gives the boys a bit of confidence and if they keep working hard they’ll get the rewards.”
With the interleague break on the horizon, Fyfe said the Magpies would use the week off to “mentally and physically recover”.
He also said Martin and Dessent were likely to return for the side’s round seven clash with Bairnsdale.
Traralgon v Drouin
A six-goal final term has helped Traralgon run over the top of a buoyant Drouin outfit in round six, 16.10 (106) to 14.10 (94).
The Hawks looked set to seal their second win of the season heading into the last quarter with a 19-point lead, but the home side kicked into gear and snared a 12-point win.
Jackson McMahon was electric through the midfield for the Maroons and was given six votes for best on ground and Bailey Cameron was pivotal in the backline and earned five votes.
Rohan Hildebrand led the way for Traralgon in front of goal and kicked five while Chris Urie and Will Broadbent kicked three each.
Ed Morris was among the best for Drouin and bagged four goals while backman Brendan Dower was the standout.
Traralgon sit in sixth spot on the Gippsland league ladder with three wins and Drouin is in ninth, ahead of a winless Morwell.
Traralgon have Moe after the break while Drouin are home to defending premiers Leongatha.
Bairnsdale v Maffra
Powerhouse Maffra have ground out their sixth win of season 2018 to remain undefeated atop the Gippsland league ladder in round six at the expense of Bairnsdale, 8.19 (67) to 5.7 (37).
It was all Eagles in the first term as the away side stacked on three goals to none to head into the first break with a 21-point lead.
The Maffra defence held Bairnsdale to just two goals to three-quarter-time but took their foot off the pedal in the last term and conceded three goals to allow the Redlegs within 30 points at the final siren.
Seven players hit the scoreboard for Maffra in the win with Alex Carr’s two goals the best of the day.
Eagle Jarryd Clohesy enjoyed his best run for the season to date and was given top votes for best on ground for his performance up back.
