Kate Withers
FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
The Tigers were mere bystanders and managed just three goals in round 14 as they watched the Maffra juggernaut roll on for another week, 17.18 (120) to 3.6 (24).
It was not until the 23rd minute of the second term that Morwell broke the goal drought and the Eagles cruised into half-time with a 49-point lead.
They added three majors in the third and another five in an unforgiving last quarter to run out 96-point victors to add some handy percentage points to their name.
The Eagles sit in first spot on the Gippsland League senior ladder, matched with Leongatha on 12 wins for the season with four weeks to go in the season proper.
Mitch Bennett finished the game with a five-goal haul to move three clear of Parrot Chris Dunne on the league leading goal-kicker board.
Daniel Bedggood also showed plenty up forward for Maffra and bagged three goals while Ben Brunt and Alex Carr scored two each and singles went to five others.
Drouin v Sale
Drouin provided a somewhat unlikely challenge for flag contenders Sale on Saturday and went toe-toe-toe with the Magpies all day before falling by 14 points at the final siren, 9.14 (68) to 7.12 (54).
The Hawks were kept at arms’ length for most of the game but took confidence from the fact they kept the Pies to their lowest score for the season.
Sale coach Shane Fyfe labelled the game “a grind” and paid tribute to the Hawks’ efforts.
“Drouin played some really good footy and it was quite soft under foot over there as well, so it was never going to be a pretty game,” he said.
“All credit to them, I said last week that they weren’t playing like a team that has only won one game and they were really good [on Saturday] so we were just happy to get the win really.”
Fyfe said the soft track at Drouin made for “hard work” when compared with the “hard track” at Sale
“It was really hard to get that sideways movement, and it’s not an excuse but it’s was just difficult,” he said.
“Drouin came out in the first five minutes and kicked three goals and then we kicked three-in-a-row.
“At three-quarter-time we said we just want to play hard, one-on-one contested footy and we were lucky enough to get the win.”
John Gooch was again among the better contributors for Magpies, as was Andrew Quirk and Chris Laverty.
Kane Martin and Brad Dessent shared the goalkicking duties and finished with two each while singles went to Jordan Dessent, Jordan Dowsett, Jayden Allison, Jarrod Freeman and Jack Mclindin.
Leongatha v Moe
Misfired shots on goal did not upset the rhythm of defending premiers Leongatha as they marched to win number 12 of the season at the expense of Moe on Saturday, 9.21 (75) to 6.7 (43).
The Lions went with the Parrots until the main break and trailed by just three and two points at quarter and half-time, respectively.
Leongatha kicked into gear in the third with six goals while restricting the visitors to two behinds to put the game to bed with a 38-point buffer at the last break.
The Parrots had 30 scoring shots for nine majors but it was their nine behinds from as many opportunities in the final quarter that saved the Lions from complete humiliation.
John Ginnane bagged three goals in a leading performance for Leongatha while Cameron Stone and Chris Dunne kicked two each.
Moe hang on to fourth spot on the Gippsland league senior ladder despite the loss, but sit ahead of Warragul with percentage the only buffer.
Traralgon v Warragul
Warragul have leap-frogged Traralgon for fifth spot on the Gippsland League senior ladder with a season-defining win on the road on Saturday, 8.19 (67) to 6.6 (42).
The Maroons weren’t able to make up for a slow start which had them goalless at half-time with four behinds on the board.
They broke the dry run early in the third for their first major and managed another five for the day but were saved from a blowout thanks to some errant kicking on goal from the Gulls.
The visitors were goalless in the final term and posted just six behinds.
Dylan Loprese was somewhat of a lone ranger for Traralgon and finished with four goals for the day while Warragul were best served by Matt Ross (three goals) and Tyssen Morrow and Brayden Fowler (two goals).
The race for fifth spot is well and truly on between Traralgon and Warragul.
The former is a game behind on the ladder and will make the trip to Drouin this weekend and then face Moe, Maffra and Morwell in the run home.
For Warragul, the hurdles to the post season include Leongatha, Maffra, Sale and Bairnsdale.
Wonthaggi v Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale led at every change during their round 14 visit to Wonthaggi and returned with the premiership points and a 40-point win, 10.11 (71) to 3.13 (31).
The Power were ultimately undone by their inaccuracy on goal and went into the main break with one goal from six scoring shots.
They came home with fire in the final term but a further eight behinds from nine scoring shots meant they fell well short at the final siren.
Kieran Vickery, Ethan East and Alex McLaren shared the goalkicking duties for the Redlegs and finished with two each while singles went to four others.
Elliot Staley was the only multiple scorer for Wonthaggi and finished with two while a single went to Ben Eddy.
