FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

AND we’re off.

Nothing could be predicted in Round 1 of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League, where despite mostly sunny showcases across all games, other weather conditions made free-flowing football tricky.

Teams arrived for the first lot of games riding a lot of anticipation, with the expectations of an even tighter competition in 2026.

 

TTU 8.5 (53) drew Gormandale 7.11 (53)

OH how the mighty fall.

Gormandale was just moments away from ending its 62 game-long losing streak at the weekend against Traralgon-Tyers United.

However, after a game of many turns, both teams left the ground unsatisfied, with the scoreboard reading 8.5 (53) to 7.11 (53) at Tyers Recreation Reserve.

A lot of noise surrounded both clubs heading into the season, for vastly different reasons, meaning both wished to exercise some of its feelings in the first match of the year.

A dismembered Bombers team, heading into the season a far cry from its four consecutive grand final teams with many new faces thrusted up into the main game due to exiting players, hoped to get its campaign off with a win.

Those hopes proved true to begin the game, as TTU opened with the first five straight goals, including three from Nick Fox in that first quarter period, holding a 20-point lead by halftime through heavy rain.

Gormandale, riding a four-year drought, were equally hoping for some early season success due to the aggressive offseason it undertook, and coach Shane Duncan and the Tigers fellow leaders must have reminded the group of this opportunity when in the rooms.

The away side returned to the field a polar opposite team, slamming on 10 of the 12 scoring shots of the third quarter to truly shake the nerves of the Bombers.

The Tigers should have taken the lead during this time, with the ball virtually living in its attacking end, but only returning one major from new recruit Chris Wangman.

Gormandale had to continue to buckle down, with TTU holding a seven-point edge into the final term.

Flair returned to the contest with it all on the line, after 10 solid minutes in the last quarter with no scoring to be seen, Wangman again arrived for his fourth goal of the day to tie it all up.

Despite all momentum going the Tigers’ way, with the Bombers not producing a goal since the backend of the second quarter, they finally responded with two majors to create a decent cushion with limited time remaining.

Liam Deering then rose for Gormandale and club stalwart Chris Potalej added another through the big sticks to tie it back up again, shooting life once more into the Tigers.

Teams began to scramble to break the deadlock, before young Brady Poel was found inside 50 for the Bombers with seemingly no time remaining.

Going back, Poel lined himself up well around 30 metres out and went through his routine, as his teammates watched on hopeful of any score.

With a slippery and heavy ball, it missed everything and the siren went just seconds later.

If the Bombers can’t get it done against a side itching to get off the bottom of the ladder, it may be a long season ahead for them, with premiership contender Heyfield up next in their schedule.

Liam Michie, Riley Payne, Dylan McLure, Fox, Josh Segond and Trent Hourigan were deemed best for TTU.

Gormandale had Wangman, Tyler Kanara, Riley Hughes, Judah Leak, Trent Baldwin and Hayden Richards perform well.

 

Woodside 12.11 (83) def Heyfield 10.9 (69)

A POTENTIAL grand final preview played out in the first week of the season.

As Woodside celebrated the hoisting of its 2025 premiership banner, the Wildcats followed up by besting Heyfield, 12.11 (83) to 10.9 (69) at Woodside Recreation Reserve.

Each with flag aspirations by season’s end, the two sides went back-and-forth to open the match, unable to get ahead of one another.

With the wind behind them, Woodside began to create separation into the second quarter, booting four goals to two, leading by 16 points by the main break.

The two new coaches for each side, former Maffra teammates Hudson Holmes and Daniel Bedggood at Woodside and Heyfield respectively, would have realised that with another half to play, both wanted to get their seasons off with a win.

Holmes set himself up behind play in an effort to clear out the Wildcats forward line with some necessary space, meaning opportunities arrived in numbers for the likes of Michael O’Sullivan and Luke Johnson.

While Heyfield lifted its scoring output, with 2.5 (17) in the third term, Woodside additionally continued its own efforts to keep themselves in front by 13 points by the last break.

The Kangaroos pressed hard, but the Wildcats held on with some steady play in the backend of the match to pull out the four points.

Tom King, Ryan Foat, Johnson, Daniel Missen, Rowan Missen and Joh Fythe stood tall for Woodside, while Harry Tatterson, Liam Heasley, Kyle Graham (four goals), Jack Challands, Jack Christian and Tom Marchesi were best for Heyfield.

 

Rosedale 8.9 (57) def YYN 6.11 (47)

HEAVY turbulence for the Jets.

Rosedale started its season with a 10-point win over Yallourn Yallourn North, 8.9 (57) to 6.11 (47).

A tornado overtook Rosedale Recreation Reserve, which didn’t effect the efficiency of the Blues once the ball arrived into its forward line.

Due to the powerful set up by foot from Rosedale’s midfield, goalkickers came in abundance for the home team, kicking an impressively accurate score line of 6.1 (37) to YYN’s less so 3.8 (26) by halftime.

As play returned, the wind showed no signs of dying down, but the Jets pushed to keep themselves in the match with two goals to the Blues’ one during the third term.

With just four points in it with a quarter spare, it was anyone’s game.

Despite the momentum that YYN had seemingly gained, Rosedale controlled possession and acquired forward entry after forward entry, however, to no real show on the scoreboard.

After a few behinds from the Blues, Jets ruckman Hayden Mowat finally broke the tide, found free off a rebound to set long a goal and keep within six points.

Sidelined Rosedale coach Michael Driscoll ordered his troops behind the ball to save the game, and through the final 10 minutes of play, it proved a difficult task for either team.

The Blues returned to what was occurring earlier on, locking the ball in its forward half, but kept the Jets’ hopes alive by not capitalising majorly.

Every time YYN got the ball in its hands, they’d look up and see upwards of five navy blue jumpers in between them and full forward and playing coach Dean MacDonald.

Teams continued to kick it to each other, and as rain arrived late, the score didn’t change until the siren.

Tom Northe, Blake Safstrom, Zach Felsbourg, Declan Barnett, Rohan Diamond and Lachlan Speairs were among Rosedale’s best.

Brandon Mcauliffe, Mowat, Darcy Shellcot, Josh Keyhoe, Riley Byrne and Jai Massese did their all for YYN.

 

Cowwarr 18.23 (131) def Glengarry 1.2 (8)

GOOD trial run for the Saints.

Cowwarr overwhelmed Glengarry to the tune of 123 points at Glengarry Recreation Reserve, as the Saints debuted some of its major recruits in a major mismatch.

Introducing many new faces, there was no hiccups to begin, as Cowwarr poured on the first 13 goals of the game to win 18.23 (131) to 1.2 (8).

The Saints had nine goals to nothing by halftime, and the Magpies were graced with finally hitting the scoreboard majorly during the third quarter.

Six of Cowwarr’s goal scorers were some of its new recruits, including Caleb Michie with four, Shannen Lange and Goanar Ruach (three each), Jack Johnstone (two), and Traralgon premiership pair Sam Hallyburton and Tristen Waack.

The best was named with Johnstone, Waack, Lange, Hallyburton, Michie and Keenan Hughes, who produced three goals himself.

Callum Mitchell, Evan Pass, Michael Ryan, Lachlan Bond, Nathan Larkin and Ben Cheetham were Glengarry’s best.

 

Yarram 8.7 (55) def Sale City 1.14 (20)

PROBABLY the most surprising result of the opening round was Yarram’s victory over Sale City.

At Yarram Recreation Reserve, the Demons kept the Bulldogs to a measly 1.14 (20) while adding 8.7 (55) in their own right.

Some would have suspected Yarram would find wins difficult this season due to the loss of players and inconsistent numbers overall.

Previously retired Griffin Underwood chucked the boots on, while Ben Vardy (three goals), Kayleb Pearce (two), and Matt Clavarino, Cody Harrison and Luke Hunter were all damaging.

Nathan Whitford, Riley Mizzi, Joel Gray, Sam Treglown, Brysen Nottle and Jaxsyn Whitehill were named in the best for Sale City.

Despite the disappointing result for the Bulldogs, Whitehill miraculously returned to the team just six months after surgery from being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

 

CHURCHILL had the bye.