FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

By LIAM DURKIN

 

GIPPSLAND League returned to play at the weekend.

Round 12 action followed a league-wide bye, completing two-thirds of the season.

Results took something of a back seat following a number of tragic incidents that rocked the football community either side of Saturday.

A construction worker was flown to hospital after an incident at Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe, while news of a car crash involving Wonthaggi players Daniel Bourke and Harry Dawson quickly circulated Sunday afternoon.

Players across the league also wore black armbands for late suburban footballer Nathan Fitzgerald at the weekend.

The Gippsland League also observed Indigenous Round to mark the conclusion of NAIDOC Week.

 

Moe 12.15 (87) def Traralgon 11.12 (78)

MOE and Traralgon played out an entertaining match.

The contest, especially the second half, was befitting for one between two of the competition’s heavyweights.

The Lions, back at Ted Summerton Reserve for the first time this season, won by nine points, 12.15 (87) to 11.12 (78).

A brand new surface provided the ideal stage for players to exhibit their skills. Some great goals were kicked as a result.

Moe’s Luke Cheffers snapped a clinical set shot in the second term, which was followed by an arrow straight finish from Harry Pepper right up against the boundary underneath the partially completed Can Bar.

Traralgon players kicked a number of burrito contenders as well, most notably Connor Scandrett.

His first came in the second term, when he dobbed a long range set shot from just inside 50 hard up against the boundary near the new movie screen size scoreboard. He kicked an even more important goal in the third, coming through at pace to snap on the run at the 17 minute mark to cut the margin back to 16 points.

Moe had got out to a game-high 28 points, yet four consecutive goals, including one after the three quarter time siren from Frazar Brouns, gave Traralgon a one-point lead.

The situation had some Lions supporters fearing a repeat of the previous round loss against Maffra (Moe’s only for the season), when Moe seemingly had that game wrapped up.

The home side appeared to lose its run in the third term, something Maroons coach Dylan Loprese sensed.

“Keep running, all the boys are gonna help you, they can’t go with us,” he said at the three quarter time huddle.

Moe coach Leigh Poholke called for his team to be more aggressive with ball in hand.

“You’ve invited them into the game, it’s time to slam the door shut,” he said.

The Maroons sent panic into the Lions camp with a goal in the first five minutes, after Tom Hamilton took an insane contested mark, juggling it one handed.

Confusion reigned for Moe, as the next centre bounce saw four midfielders in a rotation mix up.

Usual Lions centre half back Declan Keilty, playing forward to negate equal number Tye Hourigan, tied the scores with a clever piece of play in the goal square. The ball was kicked in high by Myles Poholke, and Keilty had the presence of mind to throw out his boot while holding off an opponent to see the ball go through.

Traralgon lifted again, personified by Michael Jacobsen sprinting in off the line to tackle Poholke after he was called to play on after he’d received a free kick in the centre of the ground.

Poholke kicked a steadying goal at the 18 minute mark to give the Lions a six point lead.

Moe survived a scare when five defenders all flew for the same ball, only for Traralgon to miss, as well as another set shot that didn’t register a short time later.

Further misses at the other end ensured Traralgon at least had to kick two goals to win. The message got out to players that there was three minutes left, and with the Maroons needing to go for broke, time eventually ran out.

Hourigan and Keilty split the points as far as better players went, each getting recognition from their respective teams.

Brouns played arguably his best game for the season, and took a number of strong marks around the ground. Tom McMahon was also solid, as was Mitch Membrey, Mitch Mustoe and Connor Ambler.

Brock Smith was best for Moe, followed by Blake Mullane, Tom Long, Cheffers and Scott van Dyk.

Both teams again united for the annual Riley ‘Choppy’ Pearce Cup, played for in honour of the late Moe footballer and Traralgon student.

 

Morwell 12.11 (83) def Bairnsdale 10.9 (69)

MORWELL lost on the road.

The Tigers trailed at every stage against Bairnsdale, and were never really in the contest, losing 12.11 (83) to 10.9 (69).

While a 14 point margin indicates a close game, Morwell kicked just 0.2 (2) in the first term, and were 33 points down at three quarter time.

Hugh Dunbar battled hard, as did Cody Chapman, Aidan Quigley, Zac Cheffers, Max Linton and Zac Cantrill.

 

IN other games, Maffra again showed just how good they will be in a few years, falling only five points short against Leongatha on their home deck.

The Eagles were without gun forward Jack McQuillen due to a burst appendix, while fellow star forward Zac O’Keefe was on VFL duty.

The game may have very much reflected a changing of the guard.

Sale’s horror season continued, with the Magpies not even scoring a goal against Warragul at home.

Wonthaggi won its eighth game in a row, travelling to Drouin and beating the Hawks by 42 points.