FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
RETURNING after the Easter break (bar Yarram and Glengarry), Round 3 of North Gippsland senior football featured matchups of potential finalists as well as a special Anzac Day fixture under lights.
While it’s still way too early to write anyone off or throw any team up as clear flag favourites, the league looks fit to be seeing a much more evenly shaped sector of teams that will likely make up the top five.
TTU 10.9 (69) def Rosedale 3.1 (19)
NO misgivings about it, Traralgon Tyers United are still well in the premiership window.
Despite losing a plethora of players to neighbouring Traralgon in the Gippsland League following their Grand Final loss to Woodside last September, the Bombers are showing the depth they’ve had all along, starting off the season two-for-two.
In an Anzac Day Friday night feature, TTU obliterated Rosedale to the tune of 50 points, 10.9 (69) to 3.1 (19), which could have been worse if not for the match being called off midway through the third quarter due to nearby lightning.
Carrying over from their Round 1 revenge over the Wildcats in the Grand Final rematch, the Bombers booted the opening seven goals of the game and kept the Blues scoreless in the first quarter under lights at Tyers.
It was hot around the contest from the get go, but TTU showed their poise as they were able to cleanly dispose of the ball while Rosedale failed at the basics to begin the game, with many kicks falling short or missing entirely.
The one-sidedness of the first term was that bad, the Blues only managed one opportunity inside their forward 50, which was stopped before it even got started, with a player taking too long to bounce the ball.
Leading by nearly 50 points after just half-an-hour of play, the result was well and truly fixed, however Rosedale did secure three of the first four goals of the second quarter.
While they did find results for their efforts finally, the Bombers equalled Rosedale’s haul to keep the margin at bay.
The late night weather began to barrel down onto Tyers Recreation Reserve as players returned for the second half.
Play began to dip due to the rain, with little score seen to open the third term – the game was ultimately called off as thunder began near the ground.
Michael Jacobsen took home the Anzac Day Medal as best-on-ground through the first three quarters.
He was joined by Riley Denovan (first year out of thirds), Frazar Brouns, Trent Hourigan, Flynn Shields, and Will Curtain in the best.
Declan Barnett, Brandon McConnell, Spencer Fox, Lachlan McDonald, Caleb Barnett, and Mitch Caruana battled hard for Rosedale.
Heyfield 15.10 (100) def YYN 10.9 (69)
HOPPING along quite nicely.
In a battle of two premiership hopefuls, Heyfield collected the win over Yallourn Yallourn North, 15.10 (100) to 10.9 (69) on their home deck of Gordon Street Reserve.
Both sides were out to make a statement this early into the season, with the Kangaroos specifically looking for a 3-0 start with prior victories over Churchill and Sale City.
Despite how each midfield stacks up, Heyfield were determined to set themselves up out of the gate, and did so, with the first three goals including two from Brandan Manson.
A showdown between the predominately young Roos versus the seasoned Jets, Heyfield carried the ball strongly and effectively from end-to-end, as YYN scrambled to keep themselves in line with their opponent.
One of those young Roos happened to be Gippsland Power player Mitchell Stevens (playing due to a Power bye), who showed incredible flair and run-and-gun as a potential AFL draft selection later this year.
However, two late goals including one 50-metre bomb from Tyler Brown and a tough contested mark from Dylan Keyhoe, who sent it through as the siren sounded, kept the margin at one-point.
The second quarter proved to be worth the price of admission, as each team virtually went goal-for-goal, with Heyfield playing coach Leigh Brown beginning to assert himself.
Mitchell Bennett provided back-to-back majors that gave the home side a 14-point lead, only for returning YYN forward Keyhoe to again rise up and send through another to etch back closer.
With the match again tied at halftime, and then as Barrie Burnett booted the first of the third quarter for the Jets within seconds of play resuming, many would have presumed we’d be going the distance with these two teams.
The Kangaroos began to find poise and open teammates aplenty, penetrating the ball inside consistently – this was led by the entrance of Brown into the Roos’ midfield, patrolling the ground as a big body centre men (usually found deep in full forward) and the Jets unable to match his size.
Brown even still found time to get on the scoreboard again, not once but twice, as marquee signing Darren Sheen finally made his mark on the game with two goals for the term as Heyfield booted six unanswered goals through to three quarter time.
The Jets desperately scrambled to make up ground as the final term opened, with playing-coach Dean MacDonald collecting his first major and Tyler Brown yet another, but the Kangaroos showed the fortitude to see out an impressive win.
The young Stevens garnered best-on-ground honours in his first game for his home club since July last year, followed by Max Van Der Zwart, Shaun Humphreys, Jack Christian, Finn Stephenson, and Miller Eastham.
Jai Massese, Campbell McInness, Rohan Reid, Lucas Fry, Tyler Brown and Dylan Bath got the votes for YYN.
Glengarry 11.10 (76) def Churchill 5.13 (43)
THE Magpies are officially on the winner’s list.
After a surprise draw in Round 1 against Rosedale and a strong fight against Yarram on Good Friday, Glengarry secured their first victory over someone other than Gormandale or Cowwarr since 2022 with their win over Churchill, 11.10 (76) to 5.13 (43).
Out at Fred King Oval, both sides knew they had to dig deep if they were to sing the song.
The Cougars controlled possession and garnered more opportunities in front of goal through to halftime, as they led by eight points.
Once returning, the Magpies banged on six goals to one in the third term, including two from Thomas Harris to go ahead 62 to 41 with a quarter spare.
Only one extra goal was managed by either side in the final term, meaning Glengarry were victorious over Churchill for the first time since their premiership year of 2013.
Harris was best afield with his three goals for the game, followed by Ewan Williams, Michael Ryan, Luke Healy, Callum Mitchell, and Declan Massaro.
The best for Churchill was Jordan Fenech, Blake Whykes, Jack Hasell, Joe Whykes, Jye Williams and Ben Kearns (four goals).
Woodside 11.13 (79) def Yarram 7.6 (48)
WOODSIDE go on their merry way.
Despite a first half fright from Yarram, the Wildcats claimed an 11.13 (79) to 7.6 (48) win at Woodside Recreation Reserve.
While Woodside appeared to be letting their opportunities go awry, Yarram were kicking as straight as they possibly could, resulting in a 6.1 (37) to 3.5 (23) score line the way of the Demons at halftime.
The Wildcats fought through trying conditions in the third quarter to bring the margin back to two points in time for the final term, where they eventually overran their opponent with six goals.
Matt Dyke, Alex Walpole, Jeremy Morgan, Cooper Ryan, Michael O’Sullivan, and Chris Witchell were among the best for Woodside.
Kayleb Pearce, Tom Mattern, Levi Munns, Cody Harrison, Josh Swift and Dylan Garnham played well for Yarram.
The match was soured by an unfortunate collision that saw star Demon Boadie Motton concussed and subsequently taken to hospital with three breaks in his cheekbone. He will see the surgeon tomorrow (Thursday).
Cowwarr 8.12 (60) def by Sale City 13.16 (94)
AFTER some testy weeks for the Bulldogs, their bite is back.
Sale City bested Cowarr 13.16 (94) to 8.12 (60) as the only away victor of the round out at Cowwarr Recreational Reserve.
The Bulldogs’ victory was set up in the first quarter thanks to a 7.5 (47) to 3.1 (19) runaway that the Saints were unable to make up moving forward.
Despite only adding two goals in the second half, Sale City came out five-goal winners.
Daine McGuiness, Hudson Tollner, Jaxsyn Whitehill, Troy Carstairs, Ostin Waugh, and Kazuma Otsuka-Bignell were best for the Bulldogs, while Keenan Hughes booted seven of Cowwarr’s eight goals in defeat.
Hughes was their best, followed by Jake Brown, Haydn Hector, Patty Tainsh, Michael Bloss and Jai Foulkes.
GORMANDALE had the bye.
