MORWELL skyrocketed to the top of the Gippsland League ladder after a percentage boosting 121-point win over Moe in the competition’s first Anzac Day clash.
Moe was in the match early and trailed the visitor by just eight points after a high scoring first term.
A nine goal to none second term put the Tigers in the box seat.
Morwell added another four majors in an inaccurate third quarter performance to extend its lead to 87-points at the last change.
Moe coach Jason MacFarlane used his final address for the evening to remind his players of the importance of the day and urged them to dig deep in the last.
“It’s Anzac Day. It’s an honour to play on a day like today. Get out there show the spirit that they did, the courage, the sacrifice, one last quarter, dig deep and let’s try and outscore them this quarter,” he said.
It was not to be; Morwell slammed on six goals to Moe’s one in the last to run out easy winners.
Traralgon v Warragul
TRARALGON finally posted its first win of the year and did so in style with an 82-point victory over Warragul.
The victory followed consecutive losses to Sale and Wonthaggi, the latter at home last week by just two points.
“We were under prepared last week, we didn’t turn up to play. The guys were genuinely disappointed and our backs were against the wall but this week they stood up,” coach Paul McCulloch said.
The Maroons were bolstered by the return of former Fremantle and WAFL player Ryan Murphy who booted a bag of seven goals in a one off appearance for his former club at full forward.
“He played well… he was a good target for us and just a good honest leader,” McCulloch said.
The club is hoping to lure the forward back for more this season.
“We are in talks to get him back for more games,” McCulloch said.
Murphy returned to play alongside his good friend Matt Jones in his 100th senior game for the club.
Also in form was Maroons assistant coach Dan McKenna.
“Dan played a good game, probably the best game he has played in a long time; it was definitely his best performance for the year,” McCulloch said.
The match was played at 4pm and concluded under lights.
“The second half was like a night game, the conditions literally changed at the half,” McCulloch said.
Traralgon kicked five goals to one in the opening term, and never looked back.
However, McCulloch said the scoreboard was not reflective of Warragul’s efforts early.
“They are still a very young side, they play a good attacking brand of footy and we were lucky to have the lead that we did at quarter-time.”
Wonthaggi v Sale
WONTHAGGI served it up to Sale who faced a road trip for the second consecutive week.
The reigning premier burst out of the blocks and booted four goals to the Power’s one in the opening term.
The tables were turned in the second quarter.
Wonthaggi slammed on six majors to Sale’s one to take a 20-point lead into the main change.
The Magpies bounced back in a four-goal-to-one third term and by the last change the visitor was in front, but only by one point.
Sale repeated its third term effort in the fourth, a four goal to one quarter enough to secure the win by 18-points.
Bairnsdale v Drouin
FRESH from arguably its biggest win since joining the Gippsland League three years ago, Bairnsdale returned home to battle Drouin.
The Redlegs picked up where it left off last week against Maffra, with a four goal to one opening term.
However, with a first quarter tally of four goals and eight behinds, its 26-point lead could have been far bigger.
The home team kicked a more accurate six goals three in the second.
Drouin managed just the one, helping the Redlegs to a lead of 58-points at the half.
Bairnsdale booted three goals to none in the third, pushing the margin out to 80 points at the last change.
The Hawks’ first goal since the first term came early in the last.
The visitor kicked four in its best performing quarter of the day.
However, it was all the Redlegs, who posted their second win in a row to the tune of 79-points.
Mark Sellings booted eight majors for Bairnsdale and Dale Lynn four, while the coach Shaun Mooney kicked three.
Maffra v Leongatha
MAFFRA made amends for last week’s loss to Bairnsdale with a 37-point win over Leongatha.
Clearly upset by last week’s loss to the Redlegs, the Eagles got off to a good start with four goals to the Parrots’ none in the opening term.
Both teams added four majors to their tallies in the second and the margin hovered around the four goal mark at the main change.
Maffra won a tightly contested third term, but only just.
The Eagles lead was only marginally bigger at 28-points at three-quarter-time.
The home team went on to kick six goals to Leongatha’s four in a close last quarter.
Darren Sheen kicked a bag of six for the Eagles, but it was Daniel Bedggood that was named best on ground with his haul of five. For Leongatha, Cade Maskell stood up with five goals.
