QUALIFYING FINAL
IT was a miserable weekend for the Latrobe Valley contingent contesting the first week of Gippsland League finals.
Traralgon bowed out after being overrun by Wonthaggi in the final quarter of yesterday’s elimination final, while Morwell’s campaign suffered a major setback when it conceded its second loss in as many weeks to Maffra in Saturday’s qualifying final.
“Obviously we were really confident coming into the game; we have beaten them twice and (on Saturday) we were our own worst enemy,” Morwell coach Harmit Singh said.
“We butchered the footy a bit and they are a good team and they made us pay.”
Maffra trailed Morwell by three goals at quarter-time, before wrestling control of the match from the Tigers.
“We were never really too concerned, we know how quickly we can score in games,” Maffra coach Hayden Burgiel said.
“Our backs were a bit loose early on, giving them too much space in the middle and it took us a little time to break that down.
“We put some preparation into this one; they’d beaten us twice this season.
“The best thing about it is that we knew how to beat them and to execute it was really good.”
The Tigers dropped the intensity in the second quarter and allowed the Eagles to fight their way back into the contest.
Maffra booted a league record eight goals to Morwell’s four in the second, to lead by five points at half-time.
It was a similar story in the third.
Maffra slammed on six goals while Morwell managed just one major for the term.
The Tigers matched their opponents in the final quarter and were able to get back into the contest, but it was too little too late as the favourites fell 27 points short.
Played in perfect conditions, the forwards put on a show with Tiger Dean MacDonald booting nine goals, a league record by any player in a qualifying final.
“He was great today. There is a reason why players are drafted… he showed that today. On his day I don’t think anyone can go with him,” Singh said.
At the other end Darren Sheen finished with a bag of seven for the Eagles.
Ben Coleman, who was cleared at the tribunal during the week, was Maffra’s best player.
The win earned Maffra a date with Sale this Saturday for the chance to book a spot in the grand final.
Morwell must now face elimination on Sunday against Wonthaggi.
“It’s not ideal at all really, it was disappointing, but I guess we have got to back why we won 14 games out of 18 and stick to that process and try and get another win,” Singh said.
“It will be a tough elimination final, we have just got to put our best foot forward and move on.”
Elimination final
Wonthaggi v Traralgon
Traralgon bowed out of contention in the opening round of the finals for the second consecutive year, after what Wonthaggi coach Rob Railton described as the “gutsiest win” he has even seen.
“It’s fantastic. I am just thrilled with our effort and ability to hang in, especially early we couldn’t apply any scoreboard pressure,” Railton said.
“I still felt we had our opportunities but particularly after half-time we really restricted them and were able to make the most of our opportunities.”
The Maroons got off to a dream start with a four-goal to nil opening term.
The Power trailed all day and was still eight points down heading into the final quarter.
However the underdogs produced one of their best last quarters of football to win the match.
Wonthaggi kicked five goals to Traralgon’s two in the last, to run over its opponent in the dying minutes.
“We were a man down as well, it just shows the character of the playing group. That’s a player-driven win. That’s how you earn respect,” Railton said.
Lee Warnett was the standout player for the Power while in a best on ground performance Dan McKenna booted seven majors for the Maroons.
“We led for most of the day. I thought there were things that went wrong that gave them the edge,” Traralgon coach Paul McCulloch said.
“Our turnover of the footy is what hurt us in every single game we lost including today’s cut-throat final.”
