FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
A somewhat depleted Rosedale side has showed no signs of slowing heading into the mid-season break and accounted for defending premiers Sale City with relative ease in round nine, 14.7 (91) to 11.8 (74).
The Blues were missing three of their best 22 in round eight including Sam Tudor and Adam Diamond, who are both overseas and Brad Scott who was out with a “leg complaint”.
Coach Sam Bristow led by example and bagged three goals in the win and had plenty of praise for his charges including brother Joel who played a key role across half-back.
“We had a young kid Nick Twomey who played really well for the second week in a row,” Bristow said.
“I think our midfield were good all day and it was a very even performance from the whole side but everyone stood up when they had to, which was pleasing.”
Bristow went down with a hamstring injury in the third term and said he would “probably miss” the Blues’ next clash, against Woodside, after the mid-season break.
Heading into the back-half of the season Bristow was content with where the side was at but admitted predicting results was made difficult by the evenness of the North Gippsland playing field.
“We’ve been in every game bar one against Yarram and we’ve really been involved and had chances,” he said.
“Across the competition it’s so even and Gormandale haven’t got the results they deserve but they can bob up and beat anyone.
“Heyfield beating TTU proves anyone can take it up to anyone and the only exception is Yarram – we couldn’t get near them and they’ve been the standout.”
Yarram v Cowwarr
Yarram have added further weight to their outright favouritism for the 2018 flag with a complete drubbing of bottom-of-the-table Cowwarr on Saturday, 26.18 (174) to 8.6 (54).
The Saints started with a score to settle and had the Demons rattled with a four-goal-to-one opening term but the glory was short-lived.
Things started to click for the home side in the second term and they piled on 11 goals and six behinds to all but seal the Saints’ fate.
Playing-coach Matt Scholz missed with an ankle injury and was of six Demons missing in action.
Power forward Griffin Underwood was also missing as was ruckman Dan Vardy, David Coulthard, Will Bodman and prolific scorer Jarryd Swift.
The indomitable Demons were unfazed by the absences and Scholz said the incoming few “played their part”.
“Anthony Scott played really well and kicked two goals, Damien Quigley, Jeremy Babb and Clint Staley were also good,” he said.
“The first quarter wasn’t the best we’ve played this year and I really highlighted at quarter-time that the usual ball winners and experienced players aren’t going to be there to take charge and the younger fellas had to step up.”
The Demons were impenetrable up forward and had 30 more scoring shots than the Saints by day’s end.
Jack Moore did the most damage for the Demons and stacked on five goals and Chris Bruns added four and Scholz said watching the dominant performance from the sidelines was difficult.
“It was hard to watch and great to watch at times … I wanted to be out there but we were really clean coming inside forward 50 which was great,” he said.
Churchill v TTU
Traralgon Tyers United have consolidated second spot on the North Gippsland league senior ladder with an impressive win over Churchill in the highly anticipated second-plays-third clash on Saturday, 12.22 (94) to 10.6 (66).
The Bombers had no shortage of chances to blow the game open in the final term but wayward kicking on goal gave them just three goals and nine behinds from 12 scoring shots.
Playing-coach Michael Duncan enjoyed some form up forward and slotted two goals along with three others including Adam Bailey, Quinn Sinclair and Tim Aitken.
For Churchill, Ben Skinner and Blake Slate led the way with two majors each while singles went to six others.
Slater’s pair takes him to second spot on the league leading goalkicker board with 24 for the season to date behind Sale City’s Stuart Buckley.
The Bombers will face downtrodden Glengarry when play resumes after the mid-season break while Churchill will play Yarram.
Gormandale v Woodside
Ryan Foat has bagged four goals in a leading performance to take Woodside to victory over Gormandale on Saturday 12.8 (86) to 11.12 (78).
The Tigers were in the thick of the action for most of the day and trailed by just nine points at the last change but could not wind back the deficit.
Cameron Whiteoak was big for the Wildcats up forward and scored three majors while six other players scored singles.
Chase Saunders did his best to keep Gormandale in contention and went home with a four-goal haul to take his total to 22 for the season.
Brayden Duve and Chris Potalej nabbed two each.
Gormandale will be earmarking their round 10 home match with Cowwarr after the mid-season break as a chance to notch their third win of the season while Woodside will travel to take on Rosedale.
Heyfield v Glengarry
Heyfield have delivered Glengarry their eighth defeat of season 2018 with a commanding home ground performance in round nine to run out 29-point winners, Heyfield 9.7 (61) to 4.8 (32).
Adrian Cox and playing-coach Mark Stevens did most of the damage up forward for the Roos and snagged two goals each while singles went to Charlie Driffield, Kodie Woodland, James Beha, Joel Dinsdale and Ben King.
Brayden and Jack Woodland, Scott Anderson and Mark Johnston were a few of the better contributors for the Roos in the win.
Win number four for Heyfield gives them two games breathing space in seventh sport on the North Gippsland league senior ladder and leaves them two games shy of the top four.
