FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND POWER
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
GIPPSLAND Power Boys got their 2025 campaign off to a flying start, defeating Murray Bushrangers in Round 1, 13.12 (90) to 7.6 (48) on Sunday (March 30).
Out at Highgate Recreation Reserve, the Power Boys jumped out to a 27-point lead by quarter time, which set everything up for them.
Power continued steadily until halftime, but then pushed the margin out to north of 40 points through the third quarter as they outscored the Bushrangers five goals to four in the second half.
Foster’s Willem Duursma (brother of AFL/W trio Xavier, Jasmin, and Zane) started his draft year with a bang, compiling best-on-ground honours producing a game-high 36 disposals, 10 marks and a goal.
Traralgon youngster Marlon Neocleous added 23 touches, two goals and a game-high eight inside 50s after featuring in the Maroons senior premiership last September.
Heyfield’s Mitch Stevens was as consistent as ever off halfback with 20 disposals and six tackles.
To go along with his Victoria Country duties, alongside a number of other Power players including Duursma, Stevens ventured to South Australia in January as a part of Adelaide Crows’ Academies Father/Son program.
Both he and younger brother Will, sons of 1998 Crows premiership player Mark Stevens, travelled to West Lakes in the new year, accompanied by the offspring of Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin, Ben Rutten, and Simon Tregenza.
The older Stevens is eligible to be picked up by Adelaide as a father-son selection in the upcoming AFL draft, with his father playing more than 100 games for the club.
The Moe contingent of captain Tom Matthews (17 disposals, two goals), Luke Cheffers (17 touches, game-high 12 tackles), Jordan Shields (15 disposals), and Liam Masters (11 touches) were all incredibly effective in their first games for the year.
Morwell’s Goy Jiath, brother of Hawthorn’s Changkuoth and Collingwood’s Tew, added four disposals and a tackle from the back pocket.
The Power Boys play this Sunday (April 6) at Morwell Recreation Reserve alongside the Girls squad against Dandenong Stingrays.
