FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

IN the line of fire, certain teams picked up crucial wins in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League at the weekend.

Mid-tier sides took centre stage during Round 8, with the chance to increase chemistry and bolster their finals chances, while a showdown between second and third took place.

 

Woodside 11.12 (78) def Heyfield 6.8 (44)

THAT premiership spirit is alive and well.

Woodside travelled to Heyfield, handling the flying Kangaroos with a fourth quarter surge by 34 points.

Out at Gordon Street Reserve, the Wildcats meant business, winning 11.12 (78) to 6.8 (44).

Heyfield entered with the club’s best six-game start to a season in a decade, and looked to be a tough task at home during the first quarter.

If ever the Kangaroos were truly going to assert themselves at this stage of the season and really have onlookers eyeing them as a premiership contender next to Woodside and Traralgon Tyers United – now was the time.

Semblances of that were shown, and Kohen Anderson banged home the first of the last term, bringing the margin back to under a goal.

While that created a spirit within the Kangaroos, Woodside trifled all that with an utter demolition in the final 20 minutes.

The Wildcats scored the next and final four goals to the siren to secure a five-goal victory, although it could have been even more if they’d kicked accurately.

Ethan Stephens was best afield for the winners, followed by Daniel Missen, Chris Witchell, Matt Dyke, Adam Janssen and Cameron Whiteoak.

Woodside now move a game clear of Heyfield and are tied for first with TTU (albeit the Wildcats are still yet to have their bye and the Bombers boast an almighty percentage of 329.56).

Max Van Der Zwart, Jack Christian, Alfie Wojcinski (son of Geelong triple premiership player and Heyfield-born David Wojcinski in his first game for the club), Kail Hole, Miller Eastham and Nicholas Dinsdale were gallant in defeat.

 

YYN 8.10 (58) def Rosedale 5.4 (54)

AN almighty fright from the Blues.

Responding to a slow start to the season with three straight wins before their Round 8 match against Yallourn Yallourn North, Rosedale may have shown signs to put them above some of the other sides hovering for that fifth spot on the ladder.

The Jets snuck home despite a late scare from the Blues, 8.10 (58) to 8.6 (54) at George Bates Reserve.

Despite their rather consistent play since entering North Gippsland in 2021 always in finals, YYN came off consecutive losses the two weeks prior to Woodside (37 points) and TTU (79 points), meaning they weren’t going to take Rosedale lightly.

The Blues exclusively dominated the second quarter, while shutting out the Jets in the process.

Desperation was evident from both sides hoping to break free from the middle clump of teams on the ladder.

That desperation produces tightness, and in those limited opportunities, saw Rosedale rise to boot the sole two goals of the quarter and bring the margin to two points by halftime. YYN, despite still holding the lead, knew they had to dig deep and were one man down for the second half with senior games record holder Barrie Burnett side-lined for the remainder of the match.

While again, much like the second quarter’s antics, a strangle for control was there to be seen and lauded by both teams, the Jets still controlled the scoreboard with the two goals of the third term to again hold a 16-point edge heading into the last.

MacDonald added another for the Jets to extend that margin even further, only for the Blues to respond with two in their own right to bring it back to 10 points.

The YYN coach answered once again to ease the pressure of his side, and despite play becoming even more chippy than it already was, it appeared as though the Jets had done enough to hold on.

YYN found their footing by connecting through the corridor as well as at the contest, but their ability to convert specifically in the last half was impressive given Rosedale playing-coach Michael Driscoll sat himself in the firing line down back.

Driscoll, in only his seventh game for the club, was integral in giving Rosedale a hope at an away win with several difficult intercept marks, and created enough ground for the Blues to pip two last-minute goals, bringing the match back to four points.

Despite all their work, especially in the second half, the Jets were still in danger of dropping another game.

Rosedale had chances to steal a win with two set shots in the final minute, including one from Mitchell Caruana that kept right, resulting in two behinds.

Through grit and a bit of luck, YYN held on to the final siren.

Dylan Bath was a bull through the middle of the ground as best player for the Jets, followed by Lachlan Little, Jai Massese, Dylan Bentley (two goals), Rohan Reid and Rowan Duguid.

While every club is carrying injuries, YYN will welcome the King’s Birthday bye to give them an extra week of rest and potentially see more key players return for an important stretch mid season.

Jay Diamond, Luke Stuckey, Declan Barnett, Blake Safstrom, Oscar Smith and Liam Bargan gave their all for Rosedale.

 

Cowwarr 20.14 (134) def Glengarry 5.3 (33)

BOMBS away for the Saints.

Cowwarr nabbed their largest win of the season in a 101-point smacking of Glengarry at Cowwarr Recreational Reserve.

In a full four quarter effort, the Saints ran home 20.14 (134) to 5.3 (33) victors.

The Saints laid the law down in the first quarter with five goals to nothing, giving them all the faith they knew they needed heading forward.

While the Magpies have been a welcome surprise, competing in games more often than not this season despite sitting bottom-two on the ladder the last few seasons, it simply wasn’t their day.

Glengarry added their first major during the second term, but Cowwarr were not to be tried, adding four further goals to extend their lead to 50 points at halftime.

The Magpies returned with their heads down, ready to go again and respond to their downfalls in the first half.

Knocking on the first goal of the second half, they began to show signs of life with the ball in hand.

Cowwarr were not about to let this one slip in any way. In game 200 for the club, Sean Alexander bombed home a goal and the Saints kept the margin at 55 points with one quarter to go.

Turning into a party for Cowwarr, the Saints added a further eight majors to their tally before the day was out, producing their biggest score since Round 1, 2023.

Keenan Hughes again showcased his dominance in a Saints guernsey with eight goals for a clear best-on-ground performance, taking his season total to 36 and top spot on the league-leading goal kicker list ahead of the league bye.

The Saints brought in some added firepower for their first games for the club, including Timothy Johnston from VAFA club Glen Eira and Traralgon footballer Sam Hallyburton (most likely his only game due to the Maroons bye at the weekend).

Ben Coffey and Haydn Hector were also excellent, as well as Patrick Tainsh and Alexander in each of their 200th milestone games.

Austin Blackford, Callum Mitchell, Seth Healy, Michael Ryan, Jesse Lee and Declan Massaro made up the best for Glengarry.

 

TTU (31.21 (207) def Gormandale 6.4 (40)

THE Bombers continued on their merry way.

Despite a valiant first quarter effort from Gormandale, TTU are simply the best team in it at the moment, and produced a 27-goal three quarter rally to win 31.21 (207) to 6.4 (40).

After the Tigers only trailed 14-13 at Gormandale Recreation Reserve in the first 10 minutes, the Bombes stabilised to lead by two goals after the first quarter.

They then added eight goals to one in the second term, which gave them the leeway to begin to assert themselves.

TTU continued with an even better finish, with 19 second half goals to run home clear winners by 167 points.

Michael Jacobsen, Jye Neilson (six goals), William Curtain (four), Frazar Brouns, Trent Hourigan and Flynn Shields were best for the Bombers.

Riley Hughes, Cooper Jeffries, Liam Deering, Tom Said, Nicholas Millington and Hayden Richards stood strong for Gormandale.

 

Sale City 18.10 (118) def Yarram 10.13 (73)

SALE CITY easily disposed of Yarram at Stephenson Park.

Despite an up-and-down beginning to the season, after returning to finals for the first time since 2018 last year, an 18.10 (118) to 10.13 (73) win was welcomed.

The Bulldogs shot 6.5 (41) to 2.2 (14) in the opening term to set up their 45-point victory.

Hudson Tollner was best afield for the winners, followed by Daine McGuiness, Jacob Schuback, Kane Martin, Flynn Read (six goals) and Ostin Waugh (four).

Sale City have a chance to keep themselves in the finals race with a capable win over struggling Churchill when play returns.

Liam Bentley, Dylan Garnham, Kayleb Pearce, Cody Harrison, Kelly Griffiths and Luke Hunter were best for the Demons.

 

CHURCHILL had the bye.