FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

By TOM HAYES

 

THE season is over for six teams as the home-and-away portion came to a close in North Gippsland football at the weekend.

Now it all comes down to the final five, who had already been confirmed before the final round got underway.

The closest game of the round truly showed how this season is up for grabs, with only one point eventually separating first and fifth.

 

Heyfield 11.8 (74) def by TTU 10.15 (75)

EASILY the best game of the round ended in dramatic circumstances.

Between two sides that would finish the home-and-away season first and fifth, TTU prevailed by the smallest of margins, winning 10.15 (75) to 11.8 (74) at Gordon Street.

There wasn’t much separating the two sides at any of the breaks, as the Bombers led by five points at quarter time, but the Kangaroos ascended ahead in the second term.

Both sides kicked three goals in the third quarter, but TTU edged closer and trailed by just four points with 30 minutes to play ahead of them.

The final term began with a goal to Nicholas Dinsdale, putting the Roos 10 points up.

Despite their attacking efforts, TTU conjured up the next three scores, albeit behinds, cutting the margin to seven points. Going up the other end, the Roos rushed a score to lead by eight points with 13 minutes remaining.

But streaming coast-to-coast 90 seconds later, TTU found themselves within touching distance, when Zach Kilgower slotted his chance, cutting the margin to two points with 11 minutes still to play.

TTU had momentum and continued to surge forward, and despite getting close, managed to rush two scores, which tied up the scores with six minutes left.

As TTU dominated possession, they found themselves with another chance to score, and they did. Jye Neilson kicked a point with two-and-a-half minutes remaining, giving the Bombers a vital one-point lead.

Time would eventually expire, the Bombers claiming their 15th win of the season.

William Curtain was best for TTU, joined by Hayden Willaton, Trent Hourigan, Flynn Shields, Stuart Goddard, and Kade Duncan.

For Heyfield, they were well represented by James Beha, Brayden Woodland, Tyson Birss, Robert McMillan, Thomas Marchesi, and Kyle Graham (four goals).

 

Churchill 22.22 (154) def Cowwarr 4.5 (29)

CHURCHILL finished on a high note.

The Cougars dismantled Cowwarr at the weekend to finish their season with a massive 22.22 (154) to 4.5 (29) win.

A high-scoring first quarter saw the Cougars up by 19 points, as nine goals were scored between the two teams.

Churchill lifted ever-so-slightly, but they kept the Saints to just two behinds as they extended their margin out to 52 points by halftime.

As the rain poured all over Gaskin Park, Churchill somehow found it easier to get to goal, adding nine goals to one, seeing the margin past 100 points.

Churchill was the only side to kick goals in the final term, adding two to see the game out, victors by 125 points, a real positive to end a disappointing, injury-ravaged season.

Bailey Flanigan was best-on-ground for his defensive efforts. He was joined by Brendan Holt (seven goals), Chris Williams (three goals), Blake Slater, Ashley Di Ciero, and Tom Sevenson.

For Cowwarr, Connor Cook was their best, alongside Lee Bourke, Alex Saunders, former Cougar Nick Twomey, Haydn Hector, and Jackson Davison.

Churchill missed finals for just the second time in 29 years. Their last absence was in 2012, when they finished sixth. Two years later, they won the flag.

 

Glengarry 2.1 (22) def by Woodside 27.17 (179)

WOODSIDE made sure of second place.

A slip-up the week before to seventh-placed Rosedale was exactly why Woodside needed to win at the weekend, to ensure they have their confidence high with it all to play for from now on.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, when they travelled to Fred King Oval to face Glengarry, they weren’t presented with a hard task.

Woodside set the tone from the very start, claiming the four points in a monster 27.17 (179) to 2.10 (22) win.

The seven-goal to none first term had the Magpies flat and defeated with three quarters still to play.

Woodside kept the foot firmly down up until halftime, adding another seven goals, while Glengarry found their first.

The killer blow was dealt in the third term, as the Wildcats clawed at the Magpies, registering 9.2 (56) to three behinds to send their score and the margin over 100 points, up to 133 points with 30 minutes to play.

The storm began to settle for Glengarry in the final quarter, but Woodside made sure they won every quarter.

Kicking four goals to one in the final quarter, the Wildcats put a stamp on their 157-point victory.

Daniel Farmer contributed more than half of the Wildcats’ goals, scoring 14 to claim best-on-ground honours. He was joined in the best by Lee Stockdale, Liam Heard, Michael O’Sullivan (five goals), Brody Stainer, and Joh Fythe.

Glengarry’s best included Oscar Bradford, Michael Ryan, Callum Mitchell, Jack Burgess, Henry Bishop, and Liam Mitchell.

Unfortunately for Thomas Harris, the Magpies couldn’t get it done for him in his 50th senior game.

Glengarry senior coach Alex Birmingham re-signed for next season during the week, and will be looking to lift the Magpies from the bottom part of the ladder when he resumes in 2025.

 

YYN 17.7 (109) def Yarram 8.8 (56)

YARRAM finished closer to eighth place than fifth place.

Yallourn Yallourn North hosted Yarram at George Bates Reserve at the weekend, not only showing why they deserved to finish in the top three, but also showing why Yarram didn’t deserve to play finals in the end.

The Jets claimed a massive win going into finals, 17.7 (109) to 8.8 (56).

Picked as the favourite heading into the game, the Jets had the most to lose going into the final round, with the potential to drop to fourth, losing their double chance.

But it was in their hands to prevent that from happening, and all that was needed was to win against a side that lacked confidence throughout the second half of the season.

The Jets started well, but were by no means dominant on the scoreboard after the opening stanza, leading by 11 points at the first break.

That narrative shifted before halftime however, as the next 30 minutes ultimately decided the game.

YYN piled on 5.2 (32) to three behinds, opening up a 40-point lead at halftime. At this point, the Jets had one hand on a double chance berth.

If the outcome wasn’t decided already, it certainly was by three quarter time, after the Jets continued to run rampant.

YYN added another six goals, while the Demons mustered three for themselves. Yarram fought hard to finish the season strong, making sure to not let the Jets have it easy. The Demons won the final quarter, kicking three goals to two, but the game was over beyond doubt as the Jets got home by 53 points.

Tom Hutton (three goals) was named best-on-ground, and was assisted well by Dylan Bath, Darcy Shellcot, Anthony Young, Ben Morrow, and James De Virgilio.

During the week it was announced that Hutton would be stepping down from his role as YYN senior coach at the end of the season. The Jets announced Dean MacDonald would take the reins for season 2025.

MacDonald kicked four goals against Yarram in the final round of the season to wrap up the North Gippsland goal kicking in his name. He booted 71 goals from 16 games, 12 more goals than the next best.

 

Gormandale 4.4 (28) def by Sale City 33.23 (221)

WHAT a turnaround Sale City have been in 2024.

From being the distant outsider to surging well into the top five.

Sale City made no mistake when travelling to the Boneyard to take on Gormandale, obliterating them to the tune of 193 points, 33.23 (221) to 4.4 (28).

Sale City kicked eight goals to one to start the game, leading comfortably by 45 points at the first break.

The visitors only got stronger, kicking 9.7 (61) to a sole goal up until halftime, leading by 100 points on the dot already.

Seven goals to two in the third term showed some more competitiveness between the two sides, but the game was done and dusted.

Sale City led by 131 points going into the last quarter, before they added another 9.8 (62) to nothing to close out the near 200-point win.

In the 106 meetings between these two sides, they have both now won 53 games apiece.

Cooper Whitehill was exceptional for the Bulldogs, as was Kaden McCulloch, Hudson Tollner, Kyan Sellings (three goals), Brysen Nottle, and Flynn Read (seven goals).

The Bulldogs had 14 goal scorers, 10 of them kicking multiple goals, all while registering 56 scoring shots.

The netballers joined in with the footballers for the club song after the game, after they finished the season undefeated in the A Grade competition.

For Gormandale, their best included Tristan Salerno, Trent Baldwin, Darren Burgess, Malachi Dillon, Chris Potalej, and Hayden Richards.

 

BYE – Rosedale.