FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Traralgon set the tone early in their round nine meeting with Morwell and built on a 14-point quarter-time lead to run out 27-point victors on Saturday, 11.16 (82) to 8.7 (55).
Lee Stockdale enjoyed his most fruitful day out since round five, bagging three goals for the Maroons at Morwell Recreation Reserve while Rohan Hildebrand kicked two.
The visitors had the lion’s share of the forward 50 entries in the second half and could have put the result beyond doubt with 13 scoring shots for four goals.
Traralgon move a game clear on the senior ladder with five wins for the season, even with Moe and a game clear of Bairnsdale.
For Morwell, the loss brings an end to a run of consecutive wins after they went through none and six to start the season.
The Tigers wore purple strips in the senior football and A grade netball contests in support of Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision.
Traralgon come up against Bairnsdale this weekend in round 10 while Morwell will enjoy another home game when they host Warragul.
Bairnsdale v Warragul
Bairnsdale have moved a game clear on the Gippsland League ladder after making away with the points against Warragul in round nine, 16.13 (109) to 9.16 (70).
It was all Redlegs in the first term and the home side stacked on four goals before the Gulls hit the board with their first major 13 minutes in.
A nice spread of goal kickers helped Bairnsdale to the seven-goal win with Link Robinson and Ricky Tatnell leading the way with three each while Ethan East, Kieran Vickery and Brayden Mccarrey each kicked two.
For Warragul, Kim Drew was the only multiple goal kicker and finished the day with two and singles went to seven others.
Simon Deery continued on with a hot run of form and was among a handful of the best for the third week in a row for Bairnsdale.
Maffra v Moe
Maffra were given an almighty fright by Moe in round nine before hitting their straps in the second half to secure win number nine of season 2018, 13.18 (96) to 10.11 (72).
Moe nearly pulled off what all others have failed to do this year, but relinquished a four-point half-time lead.
Lions playing-coach James Blaser did his best to get his side over the line, leading by example with a five-goal haul while Scott Van Dyk kicked two.
Mitch Bennett again reared as a danger man for Maffra and kicked four goals for the third consecutive week to take his tally to 38 for the season to sit square with Leongatha’s Chris Dunne on the league goal kicking ladder with an average of 4.2 a game.
Jack Johnstone also chipped in with three goals for the hot premiership favourites while Ben Brunt, Kade Renooy and Daniel Bedggood all kicked two.
Maffra will face a formidable opponent in Sale this weekend while Moe will travel to take on Drouin.
Sale v Leongatha
The weekend’s clash between Sale and defending premiers Leongatha was touted as the match of the season and didn’t disappoint with the Parrots edging out the home side to take the win, 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83).
Leongatha started a see-sawing final term 17 point ahead and rattled off four goals in the opening 11 minutes to lead by 42 before Sale could add to their three-quarter-time score.
The tide then turned dramatically as the Magpies returned the favour and kicked five straight in just eight minutes to get within 12 points.
John Gooch was valiant for the Magpies and bagged five goals, including two in the last quarter, while Brad Dessent and Brad Mckay kicked two apiece.
Leongatha come up against Wonthaggi on the road next week while Sale will travel to take on league leaders Maffra.
Wonthaggi v Drouin
Wonthaggi have made up for a low scoring first term against Drouin on Saturday to run out 12-point winners, 9.8 (62) to 7.8 (50).
The Power managed two goals and a behind in the first term but emerged a force in the second and stacked on another five majors to lead by 23 at half-time.
Kane McCarthy was key in the midfield for Wonthaggi while Shannon Bray played a pivotal role across half back.
Drouin captain Bob McCallum did his best to get the visitors over the line and scored three goals, as did Michael Laszczyk.
A spread of goalkickers gave Wonthaggi the edge in the end and Patrick Ryan was the only multiple scorer while seven others scored singles.
The win is Wonthaggi’s second for the season and puts them a game clear in ninth spot on the ladder while Drouin languishes in last spot with just the one win to date.
The Power face a daunting task in defending premiers Leongatha in round 10 while Drouin return home to face Moe.
