Football
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
FRESH from a morale-boosting win over Bairnsdale, which saw it nab third spot on the Gippsland League ladder, Traralgon will return home to host one of its biggest rivals in Maffra.
With Traralgon’s ladder spot up for grabs, the clash between third and fourth should be a classic.
“There’s definitely a big rivalry. Traralgon and Maffra have had some cracking games over the past five or six years and there’s no doubt that on equal points on the ladder, it will be a massive,” Traralgon coach Paul McCulloch said.
The Maroons will have plenty of incentive to win with three special milestones to be celebrated.
“It’s definitely going to be a big game, obviously a milestone game for Jaime Aitkin (200 games) and with where we are situated (on the ladder) we need to get this win,” he said.
Traralgon will be bolstered by the inclusion of Danny Campbell who returns from Darwin for the match.
Morwell aims to stretch its unbeaten run to six when it travels to Drouin to take on the Hawks.
If successful, 2013 will mark the best start to a Tigers season since 1983, when it strung together nine wins.
However, Morwell has not beaten Drouin in their past four encounters.
The undefeated reigning premier Sale will host Bairnsdale under lights on Saturday night.
The Magpies are fresh from a huge win over Moe, which sent it to top spot on the ladder by a small percentage over Morwell.
Sale has dominated all four of its matches against the Redlegs since its return to the competition in 2011.
Bairnsdale will be desperate to win after a disappointing fortnight, which included losses to Morwell and Traralgon, saw the Redlegs drop outside the five.
Moe has another tough encounter in store when it travels to Wonthaggi to tackle the Power, which has beaten the Lions in every encounter since re-joining the league.
The Power is fresh from wins over Warragul, Leongatha and Traralgon all on the road, and tested the reigning premier in round four.
Warragul will be eager to make amends for its loss to Wonthaggi when it hosts Leongatha.
The Gulls will have their work cut out as the Parrots have dominated their recent encounters.
It has been a tough start for Leongatha. On the field it has lost three consecutive matches for the first time since the beginning of 2010.
