FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By Sam Darroch
THE Queen’s Birthday has become a grand occasion for more than just the royal family in the Gippsland League.
Traralgon and Morwell’s annual Monday match on the long weekend has earned drawcard billing on the football calendar.
Despite the Latrobe Valley rivals’ disparity on the competition ladder in 2016, their encounter at Morwell Recreation Reserve on Monday will still headline round nine.
After dominating the 2013-14 era, Morwell is rebuilding and trying to find form in any capacity, while reigning premier Traralgon is chasing its best form ahead of finals.
Maroons coach Mark Collison’s mantra has been improvement every week, and he is not taking the Tigers lightly in pursuit of that goal.
“It’s an important match for both clubs; it’s a drawcard sort of day. They get good crowd numbers down there and get a lot of support, so it’s important in that aspect, the club side of it,” Collison said.
“Obviously we love playing against Morwell, it’s a bit of a rivalry in the comp and it’s always a big game when we play them on a Monday.
“They’re a proud club, enjoyed some recent success, and I’ve got no doubt they’ll come prepared to play a tough brand of footy so we have to keep working hard on the training track and searching for our best form offensively and defensively.
“That will come the harder we work and I’m sure we’re not too far away from hitting our straps.”
The past three years of regular season encounters between the two combatants have been clean sweeps for one side.
In Morwell’s premiership seasons the ledger was 4-0, while Traralgon bagged twin victories, albeit in close matches, en route to last year’s flag.
Collison said the Monday clash was a double-edged sword for players, but the game itself was something to revel in.
“It’s different, obviously you can’t go away which is probably the negative of it, but in terms of being on a Monday and a marquee game I’m sure the players enjoy playing in front of a big crowd,” he said.
The Maroons will be close to full strength, having rotated through a deep roster in recent weeks.
They should welcome back Dylan Loprese, Haydn Hector, Matt Lewellin and leadership group member Michael Burge for Monday’s encounter.
“There’ll be a few changes, our best side will help us find our best form,” Collison said.
In weekend matches Moe faces Sale, Maffra tackles Warragul, Bairnsdale hosts Wonthaggi in the long leg of the round and Drouin is tasked with containing Leongatha.
The Hawks are coming off a win and are desperate to compete with the league leader on home turf.
Drouin coach Bob McCallum said his side would look to ask questions of the Parrots.
“Coming into Leongatha obviously it’s a huge game but it’s at home,” he said.
“They haven’t really been tested this year so we’ll be looking to stick to our structures again and bring that same sort of intensity and hopefully at least keep up with them.”
(1954 – 2015)
All matches: Played 146 Moe 55, Sale 90, drawn 1
At Moe: Played 68 Moe 36, Sale 31, drawn 1
Last 10 matches: Moe 2, Sale 8
Last win at Moe: Moe 2015, Sale 2014
Last 5 years at Moe: Moe 3, Sale 2
Last three matches
2014 (M) Sale 13.12 (90) d Moe 6.4 (40)
2015 (M) Moe 13.15 (93) d Sale 8.18 (66)
2015 (S) Sale 25.16 (166) d Moe 5.6 (36)
Present winning sequence: Sale 1
Highest scores: Moe 24.13 (157) (1956), Sale 39.20 (254) (1997)
Lowest scores: Moe 4.3 (27) (2006), Sale 1.5 (11) (2001)
Greatest winning margin: Moe 112 (1956), Sale 225 (1997)
Most goals (match): Moe 14 I. Jennings (1968): Sale 14 A. Richardson (1996)
(1960-1999, 2005 – 2015)
All matches: Played 105 Maffra 51, Warragul 54
At Maffra: Played 52 Maffra 29, Warragul 23
Last 10 matches: Maffra 9, Warragul 1
Last win at Maffra: Maffra 2015, Warragul 1997
Last 5 years at Maffra: Maffra 5, Warragul 0
Last three matches
2014 (W) Maffra 17.10 (112) d Warragul 3.7 (25)
2015 (W) Maffra 28.13 (181) d Warragul 8.7 (55)
2015 (M) Maffra 30.15 (195) d Warragul 2.3 (15)
Present winning sequence: Maffra 7
Highest scores: Maffra 33.16 (214) (2010), Warragul 29.20 (194) (1978)
Lowest scores: Maffra 3.3 (21) (1966), Warragul 1.3 (9) (2010)
Greatest winning margin: Maffra 184 (2010), Warragul 155 (1978)
Most goals (match): Maffra 13 D. Sheen (2015): Warragul 12 J. McGrath (1960)
(1995 – 1998, 2011 – 2015)
All matches: Played 18 Bairnsdale 4, Wonthaggi 14
At Bairnsdale: Played 9 Bairnsdale 2, Wonthaggi 7
Last 10 matches: Bairnsdale 2, Wonthaggi 8
Last win at Bairnsdale: Bairnsdale 2011, Wonthaggi 2015
Last 5 years at Bairnsdale: Bairnsdale 1, Wonthaggi 4
Last three matches
2014 (B) Wonthaggi 15.6 (96) d Bairnsdale 7.5 (47)
2015 (W) Wonthaggi 16.15 (111) d Bairnsdale 5.3 (33)
2015 (B) Wonthaggi 15.18 (108) d Bairnsdale 16.7 (103)
Present winning sequence: Wonthaggi 3
Highest scores: Bairnsdale 22.10 (142) (1995), Wonthaggi 26.22 (178) (1998)
Lowest scores: Bairnsdale 1.5 (11) (1998), Wonthaggi 5.8 (38) (1995)
Greatest winning margin: Bairnsdale 89 (1995), Wonthaggi 167 (1998)
Most goals (match): Bairnsdale 7 J. Gibbs (2013): Wonthaggi 12 D. Wheildon (1998)
(1934 – 1940 (CGFL), 2005 – 2015)
All matches: Played 37 Drouin 7, Leongatha 30
At Drouin: Played 17 Drouin 3, Leongatha 14
Last 10 matches: Drouin 1, Leongatha 9
Last win at Drouin: Drouin 2008, Leongatha 2015
Last 5 years at Drouin: Drouin 0, Leongatha 5
Last three matches
2014 (D) Leongatha 13.12 (90) d Drouin 1.2 (8)
2015 (L) Leongatha 22.15 (147) d Drouin 10.10 (70)
2015 (D) Leongatha 19.15 (129) d Drouin 9.5 (59)
Present winning sequence: Leongatha 8
Highest scores: Drouin 20.15 (135) (2010), Leongatha 33.20 (218) (2014)
Lowest scores: Drouin 1.5 (11) (2014) Leongatha 5.10 (40) (2006)
Greatest winning margin: Drouin 62 (2010), Leongatha 207 (2014)
Most goals (match): Drouin 5 T. Kneebone (2010): Leongatha 17 J. Fraser (1935)
(1936 – 1953 (CGFL), 1954 – 2015)
All matches: Played 196 Morwell 73, Traralgon 122, drawn 1
At Morwell: Played 81 Morwell 32, Traralgon 49
Last 10 matches: Morwell 4, Traralgon 6
Last win at Morwell: Morwell 2014, Traralgon 2015
Last 5 years at Morwell: Morwell 3, Traralgon 2
Last three matches
2014 (T) Morwell 12.8 (80) d Traralgon 8.17 (65)
2015 (T) Traralgon 13.8 (86) d Morwell 9.13 (67)
2015 (M) Traralgon 12.16 (88) d Morwell 9.6 (60)
Present winning sequence: Traralgon 2
Highest scores: Morwell 24.18 (162) (1997 Prelim.F), Traralgon 32.18 (210) (1998)
Lowest scores: Morwell 2.2 (14) (1991 Grand F.), Traralgon 3.4 (22) (1936)
Greatest winning margin: Morwell 116 (1936), Traralgon 167 (1998)
Most goals (match): Morwell 10 G. Trembath (1980 2nd Semi-Final): Traralgon 12 B. Cleaver (1976), M. Stockdale (1991)
