FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Flag fancy and ladder leader Maffra have been pushed to their narrowest win of season 2018 by a resistant Traralgon outfit in round eight, 9.9 (63) to 7.10 (52).
The Eagles trailed at every break, but a four-goal final term ensured they remain the only undefeated side in the Gippsland league senior competition.
Mitch Bennett again sturdied for Maffra in the face of danger and kicked four goals to take his season tally to 34 while Lachlan Channing and Michael Coleman were key through the middle.
For Traralgon, Cory Stockdale and Chris Urie each bagged two majors and Rohan Hildebrand, Michael Jacobsen and Dylan Loprese chimed in with singles.
Maffra host Moe in round nine action this weekend while Traralgon will face Morwell.
Drouin v Morwell
The Tigers have a skip in their step after round eight’s journey to Drouin fruited their second win on the trot, 10.8 (68) to 10.6 (60).
Morwell coach Joel Soutar said the back-to-back wins were just reward for a run of “reasonable form”.
“I think the boys have gone on from the first win last week and we just couldn’t get a win on the board before that but I think we’ve got a really good mix,” Soutar said.
“The boys are really cracking in and if we bring that effort each week we’re going to be competitive most weeks, so to win two games in a row has been a real positive.”
Skipper Ryan Tatterson, who Soutar said has “probably been in the best each week” stood up again for the Tigers and kicked four goals while James Jacobsen was a pillar down back.
“We had 22 contributors again and that’s what it’s going to take each week,” Soutar said.
“We knew Drouin were going to be hard and they’ve been improving during the year and we weren’t playing our best in the first half.
“The fact we were down and found a way to get over the line is a real confidence booster.”
Morwell now look forward to consecutive home games starting with Traralgon in round nine.
Drouin will head back to the drawing board and face Wonthaggi on the road.
Will Kennedy was out “crook” for the Tigers at the weekend while Burkeley Macfarlane missed due to Gippsland Power duties.
Leongatha v Bairnsdale
As sure as the sun will rise so will Chris Dunne for Leongatha and round eight was no exception with the league-leading goalkicker adding six to his tally to lead his side to victory over Bairnsdale, 14.8 (92) to 5.13 (43).
Parrots coach Paul Carbis admitted his side “had a few things to work on” but said the wrinkles were ironed out well in round eight.
“I was really pleased with our approach and the boys executed quite well,” Carbis said.
“I think with our ball use we let ourselves down last week and had to win ugly because of that but we made sure we improved.
“We’ve been doing that at training and I think we lost our way a little bit and had to put some things in place and they came to fruition.”
Carbis earmarked the clash with Bairnsdale as a danger game for the Parrots in the lead-up to Saturday but said things fell into place when they needed to.
“We’ve been working on [winning] the contested ball and once we’ve got it use it really well, and if we don’t then defend well,” he said.
Captain Hayden Browne was key for Leongatha and “really stepped up” in the absence of key midfielder Tom Marriott while Josh Schelling was again a rock down back.
Three Parrots will miss this weekend’s headlining match against Sale.
Rhett Kelly, Brok Davidson and Chris Verboon will miss through travel and will be replaced by incomers Ryan Olden and Joel Norton.
Moe v Wonthaggi
A blistering six-goal-to-none opening term has helped Moe move a game clear in fourth spot on the Gippsland league senior ladder with win number five for the season at the expense of Wonthaggi on Saturday, 15.18 (108) to 9.2 (56).
The Power were left reeling and scoreless at the first break – 41 points in the red after the Lions went in hard with 11 scoring shots.
Moe coach James Blaser said the fiery start was no fluke and set clear expectations for the playing group leading into round eight.
“I was really pleased with the response from the players after I challenged them during the week,” Blaser said.
“A few players weren’t playing to their potential and taking their spot in the side for granted, so I was pleased that all 22 came out in the first quarter and played some really good footy and to be six goals up at quarter-time was fantastic.”
Midfielder Dylan Farrell made a triumphant return from injury and was best on ground according to Blaser and vice-captain Jacob Wood “led from the front all day”.
“After that I really could have picked any one of 15 players to be our third best for the day,” he said.
Eleven players scored for the Lions in the win with four of them multiples.
“It’s always good to have as many goal kickers as you can … it’s not a focus of our game but that’s the way things play out sometimes,” Blaser said.
Moe have hit promising form ahead of their biggest test yet – Maffra on the road in round nine – but will be near full strength with forwards Harrison Sim and Ash Dugan in the mix to make returns.
Warragul v Sale
Sale have escaped an upset by the narrowest of margins in round eight to hold off Warragul on the road by a solitary point, 13.15 (93) to 12.20 (92).
The Magpies went into the final term with a comfortable 22-point buffer up their sleeve but were stunned by the resurgent Gulls who stacked on five goals and seven behinds in a thrilling finish.
John Gooch was key up forward for Sale in the win and kicked four goals while Jayden Allison, Jordan Dessent and Jarrod Freeman all kicked two.
Brayden Fowler did his best to force the upset and scored four goals for Warragul and was helped by Luke Di Ciero who kicked two.
Sale take on Leongatha in what is shaping as a must-see top end clash in round nine while Warragul host Leongatha.
