FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE gap’s getting even bigger in North Gippsland.
It’s across the board too, bringing further spotlight on the final month of the home-and-away season.
Sides eyeing a spot in the finals will not only be looking to display a full four-quarter brand of football the rest of the way home, but will also be taking careful consideration at other results across the period to see how they stack up and what’s required of themselves.
While games weren’t relatively enthralling in Round 13, it bodes well for realising who’s keen to challenge for the rest of the season, and who’s not.
Some clubs even arrived at the weekend with some slick Indigenous guernseys as North Gippsland held its annual NAIDOC round.
Heyfield 13.8 (86) def Sale City 7.8 (50)
ROOS striking when it matters most.
Heyfield most certainly wrapped up a double chance opportunity for finals, with a 13.8 (86) to 7.8 (50) defeat of Sale City at Gordon Street Reserve.
Not only that, but the Kangaroos are keeping pace with the two best sides in it, being only a game behind Traralgon Tyers United (who notably had the bye) and tied with Woodside in second on wins.
The Bulldogs nonetheless would still have gotten up for this match given they are still in the hunt for back-to-back finals appearances, having won their last four games heading in.
Play started off greatly for Heyfield, with coach Leigh Brown and Kyle Graham giving the Kangaroos an early two-goal lead, before Sale City responded and evened up the tally.
Mitch Bennett added another for Heyfield, which began the break away for the home side.
While momentum continued to go the way of Heyfield throughout a majority of the second quarter, the Bulldogs kept it close enough to halftime, with the Kangaroos leading by nine points as teams went into the sheds.
Spectators would have expected a tight affair to continue in the second half, but Heyfield turned it up a gear or two.
Graham and Brown picked up where they left off, extending the Kangaroos further ahead by 22 points.
Jack Christian joined in on the party to take them to a five-goal lead.
While Sale City added three straight goals in the final quarter, they were still outscored, with Heyfield finishing off with another five-goal quarter.
Tyson Graham was awarded best-on-ground for the Kangaroos, followed by Thomas Marchesi, Max Van Der Zwart, Kyle Graham (game-high four goals), Jack Christian and Robert McMillan.
While Heyfield continue their strong form, remaining near the top of the race for the premiership, the Bulldogs stick right among the heap of sides battling it out for the final spot in the top five.
On the opposite spectrum, Jaxsyn Whitehill, Hudson Tollner, Daine McGuiness, Brysen Nottle, Lachlan Carmen and Kaden McCulloch gave their all for Sale City.
Woodside 18.7 (115) def Rosedale 7.8 (50)
WOODSIDE keeping it a buck.
The Wildcats gave little chance for Rosedale to cause an upset, annihilating the Blues, 18.7 (115) to 7.8 (50) at Woodside Recreation Reserve.
The reigning premier banged six goals out of the gate to set up an important and needed win after falling to TTU the week before.
Woodside sustained that scoring output as play continued through to halftime, with the Wildcats siting on 77 points, while Rosedale failed to register another goal in the period.
Already leading by 10 goals, Woodside continued to strut their stuff, but the Blues negated some of their scoring to keep the margin as it was with three goals apiece in the third term.
The Wildcats added some necessary percentage to their ladder tally, still outscoring Rosedale in the final quarter, keeping them clear of Heyfield despite being tied for wins.
Dan Missen was best afield for the winners, followed by Michael Stockdale, skipper Ryan Foat (two goals), Josh Morgan, Robert Michaelides and Brody Stainer (four).
Stainer, Zac Richards and Michael O’Sullivan combined for 11 goals in the Wildcats victory.
Tom Northe, Brandon McConnell, Caleb Barnett, Harper Fox, Jay Diamond and Luke Stuckey were admirable in defeat for Rosedale.
Still holding onto fifth spot, Rosedale now turn their attention to a home bout against top-of-the-table TTU.
Cowwarr 14.12 (96) def Churchill 5.16 (46)
IF only there was a stronger start.
Cowwarr gave themselves a fighting chance at finals, producing their second straight win and fourth in the season’s entirety, after defeating Churchill, 14.12 (96) to 5.16 (46) at Cowwarr Recreation Reserve.
The Saints set up their victory thanks to an eight-goal first quarter effort, passing the 50-point mark during that period.
While Cowwarr added just one goal in the second quarter, the Cougars increased their forward pressure, but couldn’t capitalise in front of the big sticks.
The main break arrived with the scoreboard reading 9.6 (60) to 3.8 (26) the way of the home side.
Churchill’s inability to produce in front of goal continued to lessen their chances of a comeback, kicking five behinds in the third quarter, while the Saints added a further three goals to extend their margin beyond 50 points.
That same pace was kept through to the final siren with a further two goals apiece.
Cowwarr move two games back from Sale City and Rosedale for fifth position, with games coming against the Bulldogs, Yallourn Yallourn North, Gormandale and Heyfield before season’s end.
Jackson Davidson, Patrick Tainsh, Keenan Hughes (six goals), Ben Coffey, Jake Brown and Sean Alexander were among the best for the Saints.
Jordan Fenech, Lleyton Hecker, Sam Robinson, Rodney Croft, Blake Whykes and Chris ‘Willow’ Williams were admirable in defeat for Churchill.
YYN 24.20 (164) def Gormandale 5.3 (33)
DOING what is required, the Jets surpassed Gormandale.
Sitting outside of the finals picture entering the weekend (due in part to a week off the round prior), YYN knew they needed to get back to their winning ways after sustaining a brutal loss away to Sale City in Round 11.
The Jets worked themselves back into form with a 24.20 (164) to 5.3 (33) defeat of the Tigers at Gormandale Recreation Reserve.
Despite what the first quarter scoreline read, Gormandale produced some passages of great intensity against a finals contender early on.
The Tigers added three goals during the opening stanza, while YYN poured on 7.6 (48) through to the first break.
The Jets kept pace throughout the next two quarters, with seven goals in each period, to extend their lead beyond triple figures.
The third term displayed special scenes despite the game blowing out, with YYN under 18s player Archee Long arriving for his senior debut, and booting his first goal with a tough snap from the boundary line, sending the entire team his way.
Nothing could stop Lachlan Rees taking every mark that came his way, and he added seven goals in a best-on-ground performance for the Jets.
Tyler Brown, Barrie Burnett, Jai Massese, Dylan Bentley and Lachlan Little were others to play well for YYN.
The Jets now turn their attention to a pivotal home matchup against Heyfield, a battle between third and fourth on the ladder.
Matthew Carstein, Jesse Siddle, Flynn Roscoe, Cooper Jefferies, Riley Jenkins and Ben Freeman stood strong for Gormandale.
Yarram 20.8 (128) def Glengarry 5.10 (40)
YARRAM got back to their winning ways.
The Demons passed Glengarry with little worry in a 20.8 (128) to 5.10 (40) win at Fred King Oval.
Play began tight enough, with Yarram leading minor, 2.2 (14) to 1.2 (8).
The margin blew out quickly in the second quarter, as the Demons went ahead with six goals in the term compared to the Magpies singular major.
Yarram simply climbed at each turn, and finished with a 10-goal final quarter, giving them a strong percentage boost to finish off.
Cody Harrison, Ben Mattern, Liam Bentley, Lochie Roberts, Luke Hunter and Lachlan Earles stood out for the winners.
Many would have thought where the Demons would look to after losing to Cowwarr on their home deck the week before, but bounced back quickly to keep themselves in the finals race.
Jesse Lee, Hudson Whateley, Xavier Taylor, Thomas Harris, Noah Wasalski and Jordan Thomas played well for Glengarry.
TTU had the bye.
