FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Traralgon stacked on six final-term goals on Saturday to upset rival Moe and claim a much-needed win, 13.9 (87) to 6.12 (48).
The Maroons held the hosts goalless in the first term and were helped in the second by inaccuracy on goal, with the Lions recording three goals from 10 scoring shots.
Traralgon had a slender lead of three points at the final break but found legs when it mattered most to storm home to record an impressive 29-point victory.
Nick Lowden bagged three for the Maroons while playing-coach Mark Collison, Dylan Loprese, Kody Wilson and Lee Stockdale all scored two.
The win helps Traralgon move into fifth place on the ladder, just behind Moe on percentage, with four wins and three losses.
The Maroons return home to host in-form Maffra this weekend in round eight and Moe will host Wonthaggi.
Drouin v Leongatha
The unstoppable juggernaut that is Chris Dunne has once again risen for Leongatha to lead the defending premiers to victory over Drouin on the road in round seven, 18.12 (120) to 13.7 (85).
Dunne has emerged as a match-winner for the Parrots on more than one occasion so far in 2018 but his eight-goal haul on Saturday was his best yet.
The power forward has a firm grip on the league leading goalkicker mantle with 30 majors for the season to date at an average of 4.2 goals a game – seven clear of Sale’s Brad Dessent in second.
Leongatha coach Paul Carbis said Dunne’s role in the side was a “fairly important” one.
“Over the last few weeks, [Dunne’s] role has gotten easier because we’ve got a few big tall forwards in there, so he’s feeding off them and isn’t the main target,” Carbis said.
“He picks up the crumbs from them or picks up his own contested mark, which he did really well on the weekend.”
James Lloyd and Julian Lockwood have provided support for Dunne up forward and the former kicked four goals in round seven – all in the first quarter – to take his tally to 12 from just three games.
“Lloyd has fitted in really well,” Carbis said.
“He got us off to a flyer on Saturday so it’s good to have that key target, which is probably what we were missing against Maffra and Traralgon.”
Josh Schelling and Cade Maskell were again key for the Parrots down back and were helped by the return to form of Sean Westaway.
The Hawks came at the Parrots in the third term to stand just 12 points in the red at the last break.
“We expected [Drouin] to be competitive and they really served it up to us and we didn’t have our best day but that’s credit to the opposition,” Carbis said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to win ugly and it’s a lot better than losing ugly.”
Sale v Bairnsdale
Surprise packet Sale have continued their impressive run in the early stages of season 2018 with win number six at the expense of Bairnsdale at the weekend, 16.9 (105) to 10.13 (73).
With just the one loss to date – against front-runner Maffra in the opening round – coach Shane Fyfe was pleased his side could string together six on the trot.
“I was really impressed with our second quarter,” Fyfe said.
“We needed to work hard for the win.”
Fyfe said the Magpies’ season was “getting there” but admitted they dropped their guard somewhat against Bairnsdale.
“We kicked six goals and restricted them, but they came out and played better footy in the third [quarter],” he said.
“I think just going back to our structures and set ups helped us, not thinking about what might happen.
“Bairnsdale are a good side and they made us work.”
Fyfe said Jordan Dessent and Jack Mclindin were standout performers for Sale in the win and praised the efforts of Zac Hurley in the backline.
Jack Mapleson and Jack Mclindin scored three each while Jordan and Brad Dessent and John Gooch kicked two.
Maffra v Warragul
It was business as usual for Maffra as the hot premiership favourites romped home to record a 99-point win over Warragul on Saturday, 25.9 (159) to 9.6 (60).
Twenty-three of the Eagles’ 25 goals for the day were split between four players – Daniel Bedggood (seven), Kade Renooy (six), Ben Brunt (five) and Mitch Bennett (five).
Maffra led by 54 points at three-quarter-time but an 11-goal barrage in the last term blew the game wide open.
Brayden Fowler and Luke Di Ciero did the bulk of the heavy lifting for the Gulls on the scoreboard and finished with three each while Tyssen Morrow kicked two and Nathaniel Paredes one.
Wonthaggi v Morwell
A luckless Morwell outfit have notched their first win of season 2018 with a win over Wonthaggi on Saturday, 14.12 (96) to 8.9 (57).
The Tigers burst out of the blocks in the opener and set themselves up with a three-goal-to-one first term to lead by 14 points at the first break.
They weren’t short of opportunities to kick away in the second quarter but kept Wonthaggi on a tight leash with two goals and four behinds to earn a 15-point buffer at half-time.
The advantage ballooned to 19 at the last break and a six-goal final quarter helped the Tigers over the line for their first points on the season.
Brandon Mcdonald, Tyler Hillier and Max Linton combined to kick nine goals to lead Morwell to victory.
