FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

THE best time of the year arrived.

North Gippsland finals started at the weekend, as all qualified sides got busy to set up a hopeful month that sees only one eventually lift the cup.

By the time the main game arrived on both Saturday at the Qualifying Final and Sunday at the Elimination Final, the weather held up well to produce perfect conditions.

Much anticipation surrounded both matchups, as the top of the line battled it out with a few hoping for their first finals victory in some years.

 

QUALIFYING FINAL

Woodside 12.10 (84) def Heyfield 8.4 (52)

STILL hard to top.

Woodside looked at their very best to begin the 2025 finals campaign, with the reigning premier dismissing Heyfield, 12.10 (82) to 8.4 (52) in the Qualifying Final at George Bates Reserve, Yallourn North.

While Saturday morning shifted between clear skies and wet weather, by the time play arrived for the Wildcats and Kangaroos, it was as pristine as ever.

Such conditions would have left many suspecting it would produce a tight, back-and-forth affair between two of the top three sides, but Woodside proved too strong.

It appeared as though Heyfield would be in fine form, with playing-coach Leigh Brown getting out on a lead as the Kangaroos won the opening bounce and converting for the first goal within a few seconds.

The Wildcats sprayed a few opportunities as they controlled the ball in their forward half, but Michael O’Sullivan lowered his eyes to find Lee Stockdale closer to home, who subsequently slotted their first.

Following on, Woodside continued to pound the ball into its forward line, and despite not converting, they routinely intercepted upon the Kangaroos kick-outs.

Heyfield eventually worked the ball out and down into their forward 50 for only the first few tries, but Brown easily clunked a mark with a defender all over him, giving the Kangaroos their second and back the lead.

However, in 10 minutes of play, the Wildcats already had six scoring shots, giving signs to the dominance that was to come.

Even as Heyfield held strong, Woodside defenders easily picked off their exiting passes to get the ball back to an attacking position.

One thing that was working for the Kangaroos was the matchup between Brown and Woodside’s Rowan Missen, as Heyfield eventually worked together to get into their forward line, where Brown drew a free kick and added his third goal early.

Despite Woodside having most possession, the Kangaroos held a seven-point edge deep into the opening quarter.

Brody Stainer brought down his first major for Woodside after the Wildcats clinically worked the ball down the far wing, primarily from Ashton Janssen, and then Stainer added another shortly after to give them the lead before quarter time.

Upon the first break, Woodside returned in the same gear, perhaps a few above, while Heyfield continued to be second bested around the ground.

The Wildcats added four straight goals to begin the second quarter, with the last coming from Jeremy Morgan pinging one on the run from beyond the 50 metre arc.

After a close first quarter, Woodside had now gotten out to a 29-point lead, and could have made it worse had Stainer not hit the post from a short range set shot.

Heyfield began to connect through the middle of the ground, better than what they’d done most of the day, before Tom Marchesi scooped up on the run and bombed from deep for the Kangaroos’ first of the term.

Knowing his side needed some light, Brown moved himself to centre half back to give them more poise in attack.

A result Heyfield was looking for happened almost instantly, with Kyle Graham slotting one beautifully to bring the margin back to three goals before halftime arrived.

Still in position to create some nerves for their opposition, Heyfield had to start well to begin the second half.

However, Stainer collected a tough mark while falling backwards and subsequently slotted his third to push the Wildcats’ lead out to 26 points just three minutes into the third quarter.

Working as one unit, Woodside didn’t give Heyfield an inch, as the Kangaroos failed to produce anything sufficient with ball in hand.

Ryan Foat rose close to goal above the pack, taking down the mark and then sending it through as the Wildcats pushed out to a five-goal lead.

Matt Dyke then added another for Woodside, pushing doubt into the minds of Heyfield players, who needed to make up seven goals with a quarter-and-a-half to play, with 13 less scoring shots.

However, Brown got out in front for the first time since the opening term, adding his fourth, while further confidence entered as Graham slotted one on a tight angle.

With two goals straight and the margin back to 26 points, the Kangaroos had no other option but to continue to build and chip away at the deficit.

Woodside, deliberate in their approach, sent multiple defenders at Heyfield’s two key targets in Brown and Graham, which thwarted any attempt at scoring easily.

Kodie Woodland didn’t get enough on a tight snap, resulting in the Kangaroos first blemish deep into the third quarter.

Right as momentum appeared to be swaying Heyfield’s way, Stainer again took down a tough mark and slotted dead in front to shunt that swing.

At the next centre bounce, Foat won the ball out of the ruck and pounded the ball ahead, with O’Sullivan competing well and eventually getting on the end of a James Mattern handball to bang home his third goal for the day.

The three quarter time siren rung with Woodside ahead by 36 points.

While many would have assumed one side would run out strongly through to the final whistle, few chances were provided for major scores in the last quarter, with all bodies on the ground beginning to get sore.

Graham added his third goal at the seven-minute mark for Heyfield, but that was practically all she wrote for the game.

The Kangaroos had one final opportunity, but perhaps summed up their day, with Brown taking down a mark less than 10 metres in front of goal, electing to play on before getting smothered.

Even former AFL players can make mistakes, so get over yourself.

The last 15 minutes didn’t add anything either way, resulting in Woodside heading for a Saturday Grand Final rematch against Traralgon Tyers United at the Wildcats’ home ground.

Ashston Janssen, Foat, Stockdale, Rob Michaelides, Luke Johnson and Adam Janssen were some of Woodside’s best on the day.

Heyfield will have to go the long way around if they are still to win the premiership, facing Rosedale at Rosedale Recreation Reserve this Sunday in the first semi-final.

Marchesi, Dylan Patmore, Robert McMillan, Kail Hole, Caleb Ronan and Woodland held firm for the Kangaroos.

 

ELIMINATION FINAL

Rosedale 13.8 (86) def Sale City 7.14 (56)

BLUES back.

Rosedale garnered its first finals victory since 2019, knocking Sale City out of North Gippsland contention, 13.8 (86) to 7.14 (56) at Fred King Oval, Glengarry.

No love was lost even before the opening bounce, with a bit of biff between both sides, each seeking to advance in finals for the first time in a while.

Chirp was a constant either way, with players letting it be known when their opponents made a mistake.

The Blues nailed the first punch after Spencer Fox got behind his defender and played on to run into an open goal.

While play went back-and-forth through the opening 10 minutes, Will Logan was given a set shot from a downfield free kick, converting on a tight angle and giving Rosedale the first two majors.

Sale City eventually added their first through Chad Evans, sparking the Bulldogs.

The Blues combined well late in the piece, with Logan awarded a free kick right in front of goal and slotting his second with little time to spare.

However, out of the next centre bounce, Hudson Tollner sent a long ball inside Sale City’s forward 50 before Cameron Johnson laid off to Declan Cairstairs for the Bulldogs’ second, getting it back to a seven-point ballgame.

As play resumed after quarter time, each side continued to hit the contest with no regard, only wishing to see their season continue.

Rosedale playing-coach Michael Driscoll was as impactful as ever, not allowing anything easy for the Bulldogs into their forward line, and worked equally well in attack.

Mitchell Caruana produced some magic out of a boundary throw-in for the Blues, unmanned and cleanly picking up before connecting boot to ball for the first major of the second.

Josh Fraser Hanley rose above and slotted his first, giving Rosedale three straight goals to go ahead by 25 points.

Tempers began to flare for Sale City, who over the span of just 10 minutes, gave up four 50-metre penalties during the Blues’ scoring blitz.

The Bulldogs eventually found some life from veteran Kane Martin banging home from deep, bringing the margin back to 20 points.

Better signs than what they’d shown all quarter, Sale City would have been happy to see out the half down just shy of three goals.

Rosedale however kicked truly on the eve of halftime through Fox to stave off any Bulldogs momentum, and go into the main break up by 22 points.

Still within striking distance, Sale City would have hoped for a good start to the third quarter, but Rosedale’s Ned Heathcote had other plans, chipping one in for the Blues close to home.

Despite Driscoll exiting the ground with a hand injury, Rosedale continued to work, knowing their season was alive and well.

The Blues kept the ball in their forward half through the first eight minutes of the second half, before Fox manically swung the ball onto his boot through multiple players while getting tackled to add his third.

The Bulldogs responded instantly however, with Kaden McCulloch nailing his first and keeping them within 28 points.

Fox then equally responded for Rosedale, banging home his fourth from 45 metres out to keep their lead safely above 30 points.

The third term had to be the time Sale City made its move. The Bulldogs added two before three quarter time, however Rosedale did equally as much to keep the margin the same as it was at the half.

While the Bulldogs appeared to be out for the count, Rosedale revelled in their significant performance through to the end.

The Blues added three goals to one to the final siren, eventually electing to maintain possession and chip the ball around as Sale City players refused to man up.

Fox finished with five goals for Rosedale, while Tom Northe, Rohan Diamond, Jay Diamond, Luke Stuckey, Caleb Barnett and Blake Safstrom (former Bulldog) were key performers.

The Blues will play a home final against Heyfield in the first semi-final this Sunday.

Daine McGuiness, Martin, McCulloch, Tom Bowman, Jaxsyn Whitehill and Lachlan Carman performed admirably for Sale City.