FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
OF the five games across Round 11 of the Gippsland League, Maffra’s win over Moe attracted the most attention, it also meant something else happened: for the first time this season, Morwell and Traralgon took honours as the dual Latrobe Valley victors.
Round 10 also saw Wonthaggi solidify its credentials, while fellow South Gippsland club Leongatha did what was expected.
Clubs will now break for a league-wide bye this weekend.
Maffra 19.12 (126) def Moe 19.7 (121)
GOOD old Eagle Rock is here to stay.
And so is Maffra as a modern-day Gippsland League powerhouse.
It’s just in their DNA.
While country football might have moved to chequebook recruiting, Maffra Football-Netball Club has continued to do what has served it so well in the past.
Just about every Maffra player at the weekend was a junior premiership player with the club.
They saw success at that level over the last three to four years.
Others spent that same length of time gaining valuable senior experience under Anthony Robbins, who coached the Eagles between 2022 and 2025.
The gains weren’t immediate, nor were they ever going to be.
It was always going to take time, years even.
Another sign of Maffra’s time arriving (the first was arguably last year after beating reigning premier Traralgon) came last Saturday, after the Eagles defeated league-leaders Moe 19.12 (126) to 19.7 (121).
You don’t often see spectators storm the field after a home-and-away win.
You don’t often see wins like this either.
Speaking to one long-standing Maffra official after the game, he labelled it the best he’d seen in his time.
Another Maffra supporter quipped that they “beat the million dollar team”.
Recency bias aside, such sentiments were understandable.
It was as if the milkman’s horse had won the Melbourne Cup.
Yes, the Eagles have won premierships before – lots of them in fact – but they have all carried a general expectation of performance.
No one, not least of all probably even some Maffra players, thought they were any chance of beating Moe at the weekend.
Eagles officials said they would have taken a 10-goal defeat as a good showing.
Don’t forget, Moe beat Maffra by close to 100 points back in Round 2, and had not lost a game before last Saturday.
So the Eagles’ win was highly improbable, and will surely be spoken about for generations to come.
Robbins hasn’t been spotted much since handing over the reins to Hayden Burgiel.
He was surely nodding in approval though when he saw the scores come through.
In my relatively short time in the league (12 years), I can’t recall a greater regular season upset.
Finals lend themselves to upsets, as pressure mounts on favourites and there is no consideration for player management or the weeks to come.
Results like this are rare during the home-and-away, especially in midseason rounds when the separation between the haves and the have-nots has largely been established.
Maffra might not be a team of haves this season.
You can bet every dollar you’ve got though that they will be in two to three years’ time.
What happened last Saturday was another stark reminder of several well-established (if tiresome) football truisms:
Never take an opponent lightly;
Confidence and momentum can turn any team into a dangerous beast;
It starts with centre clearance, and;
The umpire is never going to change their decision.
Of course there was more to it than that, but from these pillars formed the basis of a famous Maffra victory.
Not that victory looked any high likelihood of occurring when players came in for the quarter time break at Maffra Recreation Reserve for Round 10.
By that stage Moe had kicked eight goals and led by 19 points.
Not a huge margin, although most in attendance felt it was only a matter of time before the floodgates opened.
The Eagles however had reason to be confident. They’d had more scoring shots (nine to eight) for a return of 4.5 (29).
Come halftime, it was really only Moe’s accuracy in front of goal (13.1.79) that meant it was still in front.
Lions coach Leigh Poholke told his players as much, following a fiery second quarter that saw the coach white carded for umpire abuse. (The white card is issued as an official warning to the bench).
Moe answered every Maffra goal in the second quarter, although there was some worrying signs beginning to show.
The Lions were getting dominated out of the middle, meaning its defense was put under constant pressure. Disorganisation ensued, and at times Maffra players were able to take uncontested marks in dangerous positions, or waltz into score after getting goal side.
By the end of the game, the number of Maffra goals that came from players working their opponent under the ball and getting ‘out the back’ was telling.
Maffra did have a new-look team from the one that Moe played earlier in the season.
Back in for this game was VFL pair Max Stobie and Zac O’Keefe, along with noted forward Noah Christy.
This clearly strengthened Maffra, but still, up against a Moe team that had ex-AFL pair James Harmes and Myles Poholke, and Luke Cheffers also back from the VFL, the odds appeared very much in the visitors favour.
So, just how did a Maffra team of 27 point players end up beating a Moe side coming off an eight-goal win against reigning premier Leongatha?
Well, they ran all day and stayed disciplined.
Morwell had poked the Moe bear back in Round 6.
Maffra went a step further and bagged it.
They did this with admittedly some unsociable tactics clearly designed to agitate Moe and generate a response.
It worked. Harmes was targeted physically, as was defender Brock Smith, who each had justifiable reason to feel as though they were playing against 25 people in red and black jumpers.
Moe players were given some quiet time at the main break to collect their thoughts. Poholke resisted unloading a trademark spray as many thought he would.
With the margin only 16 points, Maffra came back out a team chockful of confidence.
The home side added four goals, as the first real signs of panic were evident for Moe.
Harmes showed that even the very best players aren’t immune from pressure.
As three quarter time approached, he kicked off one step across goal, only for the ball to be intercepted by Tom Phillips, who goaled to made it a four point ballgame.
By now the Maffra cheer squad had well and truly come to life behind the goals, and provided the players with a noticeable lift.
Sensing a famous upset, the Eagles looked a team absolutely determined at the last huddle.
Over at the Moe camp, Poholke reassured his charges of their capabilities, saying it was just a matter of execution.
One of the many subplots of the day – the number of scoring shots – was still hard to ignore.
Maffra had 24 to 19 at three quarter time, meaning there was every chance they could in fact run away with the game.
Moe was also down two players.
Midfielder Trent Baldi sat out with concussion, while utility Taj Eden had injured his groin.
The odds were suddenly looking more promising for Maffra.
Those odds appeared very lucrative when the Lions were up by six goals in the second quarter.
Maffra overcame that seemingly insurmountable deficit within the first 90 seconds of the last quarter.
The Eagles hit the front for the first time since early in the match through O’Keefe, who snapped truly from a standing start.
With their confidence now sky-high, Maffra went forward from the next centre bounce, and very nearly made it consecutive goals.
Maffra was handed the ball a short time later following another case of umpire abuse. The ball was inside Moe’s 50 at the time.
Then as they say, you make your own luck.
A Maffra goal came after a high kick from Harper Walker, taking advantage after players appeared to stop. The ball bounced on its axis and gained enough momentum to evade any sets of hands.
The Eagles were now eight points up seven minutes in.
They couldn’t could they?
There was no doubting them three minutes later, after vice captain Jett Killoran won a sprint to the goal square from a Danny Butcher soccer that bounced perfectly, allowing him to blast the ball home from close range.
Killoran had laid a solid bump in the same passage of play, affecting a Moe handball at centre half back that allowed Butcher to soccer the ball forward. In the lead-up to that, Alex Carr had come forward to defend, gaining important territory.
Three pretty famous Maffra surnames there: Butcher, Killoran and Carr.
It’s that one tangible that has set Maffra apart from other Gippsland League clubs – a lineage of players who know each other so well on and off the field that it can’t help but create a high level of trust when it comes to crunch moments.
Moe looked done for, and gambled on taking Poholke out of the forward line (where he’d kicked more than 50 goals for the season) and put him into the midfield.
Harmes goaled at the 15-minute mark to cut the margin back to eight points, making for what felt like Moe’s first goal in an eternity.
Jack McQuillen responded however, getting goal side to kick one of his six majors.
Still plenty of time.
Poholke was back inside 50, and converted after taking a mark 40 metres out from the next centre clearance.
He let out a passionate “let’s go!” as the margin was again eight points just before red time.
It got back to two points after Nathan Scagliarini caressed a long range set shot through following a holding the ball decision.
But then … that man again McQuillen.
He goaled from a set shot straight in front to give Maffra some much-needed breathing space at the 23-minute mark.
Amazingly, the last three goals had all come from centre clearance, and in the last quarter, when heavy legs usually prevent such plays.
Moe rolled the dice, pressing all its defenders up to try and keep the ball inside its attacking half and risk getting exposed over the top the other way.
The message got out to players that there was three minutes left when Riley D’Arcy goaled for Moe to make it a one-point game.
Next goal wins.
Who else but McQuillen?
He again got goal side, guiding a high ball in with his right hand before throwing it on the left and dribbling it through from the top of the square.
Once again, another score from a centre clearance followed.
Luckily for Maffra however, it was only a behind to Moe.
Just to add further chaos – a draw looked a real possibility.
Maffra had a kick in at the 29-minute mark, as the instruction to Moe players was to keep the ball in motion and not have any stoppages.
The Lions had a few more chances, but the Maffra defense held strong.
A Hail Mary kick out of mid-air from Moe was punched away, while the very last passage of play saw the ball land in the arms of Cheffers inside 50 just seconds before the siren.
He handed off to Scagliarini, who unloaded from 50.
The siren sounded as the ball was in flight, and landed short of goal.
With that confirmed easily the upset of the season, possibly seasons, and an instant classic in the annals of Gippsland League football.
McQuillen was judged best-on-ground for his six goals.
Carr was also highly praised, as was O’Keefe (three goals), Killoran, Elijh Berry and Jack Armstrong.
Only adding to the high-stakes drama was this: Poholke kicked eight goals and D’Arcy four.
How on Earth do you lose a game when one bloke kicks eight and another kicks four?
Maffra may have found the answer.
And it could be so simple in its stupidity: you can’t stop Moe’s forwards, so you’ve got to keep scoring yourself.
Of course when you attack so much you are going to get scored against, but the Lions have been letting through an alarmingly high number of points against some pretty average teams it must be said.
Drouin kicked 84 points against Moe in Round 5, and Bairnsdale kicked 91 in Round 7.
In a very confusing paradox, Moe has arguably the best back six in the league, but has the most points against of any top four side.
Scagliarini was best for the Lions, followed by Poholke, Jordan Shields, Cheffers, D’Arcy and Blake Mullane.
Postgame, Leigh Poholke ordered his troops to have a drink with the Maffra players in their social room, and to “look them in the eye” to graciously acknowledge their defeat.
Moe players did this, although most were clearly not in the mood to honour a table booking at the local Maffra brewery later in the evening.
Naturally, there was talk that this was ‘the loss Moe had to have’.
Perhaps that will turn out to be true, but still … losing to Maffra … really?
People not at the game were convinced there’d been a mistake on PlayHQ.
Looking at things holistically, very few teams ever go through a season undefeated.
From a Moe perspective, they now know what it feels like to be challenged.
And hey, Maffra supporters running onto the ground to celebrate beating Moe?
The Lions should be taking that as a compliment given the context of history.
A few veteran Moe reserves players had never even won a game at Maffra until last weekend.
The Lions have also been off their home ground while Ted Summerton Reserve is being upgraded this season.
Training at Monash Reserve – a facility that only has lights for half the ground – has likely taken a toll.
In the washup from the weekend, perhaps the most glaring aspect was overlooked: Moe lost a game of football by five points and had 20 fit players by three quarter time.
After losing one match by under a goal, it’s hard to argue you’ve fluked your way to 10 wins in a row.
Maffra deservedly celebrated, and will probably do so over the next two weeks given there is a bye this weekend.
One Eagles coach said training numbers certainly won’t be an issue from now.
The match will undoubtably carry its own significance within the bricks at Maffra Recreation Reserve, and highlight once again the beautiful uncertainties of football.
On paper, on form, and on experience, Maffra was very long odds. Probably 100-1.
But, James Harmes has two arms and two legs – the same as everyone else on the field.
The Eagles proved just how far belief and concentration can take a group all committed to a cause greater than oneself.
In an Australia where it is getting more and more difficult for the everyday battler, the importance of sport can surely not be lost in moments like this.
Morwell 30.21 (201) def Sale 6.2 (38)
JUST how far is the gap you ask?
Morwell (seventh) defeated Sale (10th) by 163 points.
The Tigers won just their third game of the season, and second since since beating Sale in the corresponding fixture earlier in the year, 30.21 (201) to 6.2 (38).
The home side put any thoughts of a Sale victory to rest after quarter time, and led by more than 70 points at the main break.
Morwell kicked eight goals in the third term, on its way to a record high score against the Magpies.
The Tigers’ 200-point effort shattered the previous club record of 161 back in its famous premiership season of 1985.
In what is becoming an unfortunate trend, just about every club is beating a record when it plays Sale this season.
Morwell broke three at the weekend.
As well as the record score, it was also the Tigers’ greatest winning margin against Sale (previous best 133) and biggest first quarter score (previous best 46 in 1968).
Morwell kicked 7.7 (49) in the first quarter, and went past 200 after Lachie Cloak kicked his fifth at the 32-minute mark of the last.
Cloak was best on with five goals, while ruckman Maclan McInnes continued his trajectory as a senior footballer with a strong performance.
In somewhat farcical fashion, 14 Morwell players kicked a goal.
Zac Anderson, Tyler Hillier and Cody Chapman all got on the scoresheet, and were ably supported by Blake Couling.
Fourths player Finn Granger had a senior debut to remember.
He kicked a goal in the last quarter, which was followed by an all-in brawl that saw a Sale and Morwell player both have their jumpers ripped.
While all this was going on, the ball was returned to the centre circle, where two Sale players were left to ‘contest’ the ball up.
Ben Hall then accepted the easiest goal of his career, taking the ball unopposed all the way to the goal square.
He ended up kicking all three of the Magpies’ goals in the last quarter.
Cooper Whitehill battled hard for the visitors, as did Adam Wallace, Josh Butcher, Mitch Thacker, Darcy Van der Voort and Archer Gerrand.
That Morwell was able to kick the double ton would have been noteworthy in ordinary circumstances – not least the fact Sale dropped bulk numbers behind the ball during the game.
At one stage during the third quarter, Isaac Caroleo was lining up for goal, and had no less than nine Sale players guarding grass.
The ease at which the Tigers scored was also telling.
Granger’s first senior goal came when he walked up to Campbell Blewett having a set shot, and simply asked for a handball.
Traralgon 15.13 (103) def Drouin 9.16 (70)
TRARALGON are hanging on.
The Maroons had to dig deep for the second week in a row against a bottom-five opponent.
Similar to the previous week’s win over Bairnsdale, it took Traralgon until the last quarter to defeat Drouin 15.13 (103) to 9.16 (70).
The Hawks refused to go away, and were only seven points down at three quarter time at Terry Hunter Oval.
A six goal to two final term saw the Maroons to victory, although there would surely be some alarm bells ringing in the Traralgon camp.
The Maroons are a game clear in fifth, but will be on edge after Maffra’s win against Moe.
Tom Hamilton was a clear standout for the winners at the weekend, kicking half-a-dozen.
He was supported by Liam Willaton, Matt Northe, Jye Neilson, Connor Ambler and Tate Marsh.
Best for Drouin was Brodie Atkins, Max Williames, Seb Amoroso, Riley Wierzbicki, Rylie Baker and Zayne Atkins.
First-year Traralgon coach Dylan Loprese might now be experiencing the greatest challenge that greets anyone who takes on the job.
His injury list is reportedly either mounting, or being a case of four players getting up at the same time four players go down.
Wonthaggi 10.4 (64) def Warragul 5.16 (46)
SEVEN in a row.
Wonthaggi continued on its journey after a solid win against Warragul.
What was billed as game of the round between two finalists delivered on general expectations.
The Power overcame a 12 point deficit to defeat an inaccurate Gulls 10.4 (64) to 5.16 (46) at Western Park.
Wonthaggi, as is their way, kept things low-scoring to keep the percentages in its favour.
The visitors kicked five goals to one in the third term, and withstood a wasteful Warragul, who kicked 1.5 (11) in the last.
In a game that saw Wonthaggi kick 10 goals, the five from Cooper McInnes were worth their weight in gold.
Nathan Muratore was best for the winners, using his experience from Koo Wee Rup to good effect on the home ground of West Gippsland club Warragul Industrials.
Josh Bates continued his good form, while Jayden Burns, Ethan Dickison and Kyle Reid were also prominent.
Warragul’s big guns led the way: Tom Hobbs, Sean Masterson, Liam Serong and Jordan Stewart were best, followed by Kai MacLean and Tom Logan.
Wonthaggi moved to outright second on the ladder after the win, and are now just one game off Moe.
The Power was also the recent recipient of a state government grant of $222,000 to instal new lighting at the club’s netball courts.
Leongatha 21.22 (148) def Bairnsdale 5.7 (37)
LEONGATHA won its third game of the season by more than 100 points.
The Parrots made it a very long trip home for Bairnsdale after winning 21.22 (148) to 5.7 (37).
Jenson Garnham kicked seven for the winners, and found plenty of supply from Nick Argento, Aaron Heppell, Sam Bradley, Tom Marriott and Kim Drew.
Tyran Rees, Jamie Dore, Jonah Walker, Cooper Harvey, Lachlan Byrne-Jones and Oscar Baylis battled hard for the Redlegs.
