FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Leongatha coach Paul Carbis said it was “a lot better to win ugly than lose ugly” in the wake of his side’s win over Drouin in round seven and admitted the defending premiers would have to get back to their best if they were to push aside Bairnsdale this weekend.
“We’re going to have to respect Bairnsdale and it has been like that every week,” Carbis said.
“With the results, the way they’re going, you don’t know who is going to knock off who.”
The Parrots are five and two heading into round eight and Carbis said the side was “probably where we expected to be” at this stage of the season.
“We’ve lost a few players in the off season and with me coming in as a new coach … so to be sitting third [on the ladder], you’d take that,” he said.
“We’ve got a tough road ahead, we’ve got players going overseas in the second half of the year.”
Leongatha power forward Chris Dunne is in ominous form and has been well served by Shepparton recruit James Lloyd, who has made a name for himself as a go-to at centre half forward.
In more promising signs for the Parrots, reserves player Jack Hume debuted in the senior side against Drouin and had a real impact up forward with three goals, which Carbis said was “a credit to the depth of the side”.
Bairnsdale were overshadowed by an in-form Sale side in round seven and will be hard pressed to make the journey to Leongatha a successful one.
The Parrots, fully fit with the exception of “a few banged up bodies”, present a daunting challenge for the Redlegs.
Warragul v Sale
Sale coach Shane Fyfe said “it’s not easy when you’re expected to win”, but wasn’t taking the Magpies’ stellar form for granted ahead of their away clash with Warragul this weekend.
“We’re full aware that the competition is so even, so on their day, Warragul can beat anybody,” Fyfe said.
Sale sit in second spot on the Gippsland league ladder with just one loss to leader Maffra in round one tarnishing their season 2018 record.
After big back-to-back losses to Leongatha and Maffra by 103 and 119 points respectively, Warragul are looking to rebound on home turf in round eight and Fyfe expected a spirited Gulls outfit to front on Saturday.
“Obviously Warragul haven’t got the results they wanted against Leongatha and Maffra but those two sides are the benchmark of the competition and I expect them on their home ground to really put on a show,” he said.
Full-forward Brayden Fowler missed the first part of the season and returned to his dominant best in recent weeks and kicked three goals against Maffra in round seven.
Skipper Tom Muir is also back in fine form and will be a key cog for the Gulls this weekend as will midfielder Nathaniel Paredes.
Kane Martin is a possible inclusion for Sale and may return from a knee strain.
Fyfe said the next six weeks was a “really good block” for the Magpies and would test their mettle heading into the pointy end of the season.
“We’ve got Warragul, then Maffra, Moe and Traralgon … so it’s great to be six and one, but we know the next five are going to be tough,” he said.
“We’re happy with the way things are going but the competition is so even and it can soon change.”
Drouin v Morwell
The deadlock between Drouin and Morwell at the tail end of the Gippsland league ladder will be broken this weekend when the Hawks host the Tigers in round eight action on Saturday.
The Tigers endured a tough stretch of six consecutive games without a win to start the season and broke through in round seven for their first points with a 39-point win over Wonthaggi.
For Drouin, the pickings have been just as slim and a one-point win over Warragul in round four is the only joy they’ve tasted to date.
Morwell will be hard pressed to make it two-in-a-row this weekend and the journey to Drouin will make it all the more difficult.
Bob McCallum has been playing a swing role between ruck and forward for Drouin and has been key in the side’s engine room while former VFL player Ed Morris has been dangerous through the midfield.
Most promising for Drouin was the fact five players hit the scoreboard for two goals each in their loss to Leongatha, which bodes well for their date with Morwell this weekend.
Moe v Wonthaggi
Moe have been in seesawing form over the last three weeks but will look to return to the winner’s list when they host Wonthaggi this weekend.
The Lions were well and truly outdone by Traralgon in round seven and lost out to the tune of 39 points after trumping Morwell by just three points the week prior.
Lions are in fourth with four and three while Wonthaggi are trailing in tenth as one of three sides with a single win on the board.
Traralgon v Maffra
Maffra have taken all before them for far in season 2018 and will travel to take on Traralgon in round eight.
The Eagles are yet to be tested this year and Bairnsdale, who came within 30 points, are the only side to push them.
Mitch Bennett has been a force to be reckoned with up forward for Maffra this season and sits equal first on the league goal kicking leader board with Leongatha’s Chris Dunne with 30 majors so far.
Most ominous for the rest of the competition is the fact the Eagles have no shortage of forward fire power.
Ben Brunt has only played three games so far this season but has racked up 11 goals while Daniel Bedggood has been a reliable source of scoring week in, week out.
