Liam Durkin
ROSEDLAE kicked two more goals than Sale City, but also had 11 less scoring shots, meaning the 7.16 (58) to 9.4 (58) draw may have been a fair result.
The Blues made the early running at Stephenson Park, and skipped to a 17-point lead at the first change.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as the Blues kept the same margin heading into the long break, however, the six behinds kicked by the Bulldogs for the term told the story of what could have been.
Sale City got their system clicking in the third, kicking 3.6 and keeping Rosedale to a single behind.
The Blues lifted in the last, closing the gap to a one goal three quarter time deficit, before a pulsating finish saw the siren beat all comers.
The Bulldogs and Blues both had genuine reasons to believe they should have won.
Sale City will no doubt feel as though they kicked themselves out of it, while one bad quarter from Rosedale in the third potentially cost them victory.
Brandon McDonald kept Rosedale alive with seven goals, while Luke Stuckey, Jake Suter, Rohan Diamond, Bobby Marshall and Joel Bristow put in solid efforts.
Best players for Sale City were Ben Chivers, Troy Carstairs, Kerrod Macgregor-Davies, Justin McLay, Bohdi Walker and Blake Safstrom.
GLENGARRY took it right up to Yarram at home.
The Magpies fell short in the finish, 8.8 (56) to 12.18 (90), but won plenty of admirers in a performance that should see them on the right path to multiple victories in the near future.
Glengarry took a one point lead into quarter time, and were well in the match at half time, trailing by just seven points.
Yarram hit their straps after the main break, and slammed on five goals to two to take a comfortable, but by no means match winning, 29-point lead with one quarter to play.
The Demons did enough in the last, holding off a determined Glengarry to win by 34 points.
Adam Parry, Boadie Motton, Chris Bruns, Roland De Biase, Daniel Vardy and Tyler Chisholm stood out for the winners.
Ben Britten, Travis Patten, Hamish Busk, Spencer Poulton, Tom Harris and Colby Schmidt were best for Glengarry.
Those checking the clearances list may have noticed an interesting name get denied back to Yarram in the lead up to the match, with the red line put through former AFL journeyman Jed Lamb.
Lamb grew up in Yarram and the Demons were hopeful of getting him to play a one-off game, however, he was not released by current club White Hills in the Heathcote and District Football-Netball League, owning to him being a contracted player.
It is not all bad news for the Yarram faithful, who might still get to see another local AFL product in action this season, as Kyle Dunkley has nominated Yarram as his permanent club.
Dunkley, who played at Melbourne, is currently on Essendonn’s VFL list, and could play for Yarram when not required with Essendon.
THE match between the two reigning premiers lived up to expectation, with Yallourn Yallourn North and Churchill fighting it out to headline Round 2 of North Gippsland football.
The Cougars saluted on the day at George Bates Reserve, holding on to win 12.8 (80) to 10.8 (68).
Neither side could gain much ascendancy throughout the four quarters, as the teams went goal-for-goal.
The Bombers held an eight-point lead at the main break, but Churchill got the lead back to go into three quarter time four points ahead.
A further two goals in the last term by the Cougars ensured they did enough to hold on, despite a gallant and spirited effort from YYN.
Dean MacDonald was again prolific up forward for the home side, booting five majors, while Mitchell Luck slotted three to be among the best players.
Others to perform well were Dylan Bath, Dylan Bentley, Lachlan Little and Riley Byrne.
For the victors, Ben Kearns kicked four goals to lead the way, along with Chris Williams who found plenty of touches. Angus Mitchell, Ryan Lowrie and Michael Diaz also played well, as did Joe Whykes who may have surprised a few after playing the entire 2019 season in the reserves and looking to have his retirement transition sorted.
Churchill would have been happy to take the points, and with players the likes of Brad Tyas, Ben Skinner, Tristan Turpin, Allan Chandler and Brendan Holt to potentially come back in, should have reason to be confident moving forward.
TTU and Heyfield played out a classic.
The Kangaroos held on to win by 10 points at Tyers 10.18 (78) to 10.8 (68).
The Bombers made the early running, kicking five goals in the first quarter, and kept Heyfield at arm’s length throughout the first half.
Heyfield hit back in the third and dominated most facets of the game, kicking 3.10 to 1.3 to go into three-quarter time ahead by nine points. Those in the Heyfield camp would have been hoping the 16 behinds the Kangaroos had registered up to three-quarter time would not come back to bite them, and fortunately for those in blue and white – it didn’t.
The two teams traded three goals each in the final term, with Heyfield able to see out the match with a win.
Matt Bedggood, Daniel Burton, Tyson Birss and Brayden and James Woodland stood out for the Kangaroos.
The Bombers were well served by Jack Brown, Liam Willaton, Kieran Jones, Dougal Williams, Jake Cashmore and Jacob Albanese.
WOODSIDE put in a blistering second half performance to send Cowwarr packing.
The travelling Wildcats added 83 points to a solidary behind after half-time, on their way to a 19.12 (126) to 5.4 (34) shellacking.
As Saints and Woodside players walked into the rooms for the main break, and as dignitaries gathered for the president’s message at the afternoon tea break, no one in their right mind could have envisaged the onslaught that was about to unfold.
Cowwarr went into half-time only 10 points adrift, and would have been left scratching their heads at how the margin blew out to 92 points in the finish.
Woodside coach Michael Duncan kicked six goals, and found good support from Jordy Cameron, Brett Waddell, Josh Kennedy, Ryan Foat and Chris Mitchell.
The win puts the Wildcats on top of the ladder with a percentage of more than 400 after two rounds, although by the same token, many in North Gippy circles will say Woodside has had a soft draw to start the season, and matches against TTU and Sale City in coming weeks will tell us more about the Wildcats fortunes in 2021.
