LIAM DURKIN
FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
AT least two games involving Latrobe Valley based teams raised a few eyebrows in Round 7 of the Gippsland League.
Morwell’s victory over Wonthaggi was full of merit, while Moe’s performance against Drouin arguably left more questions than answers as to just where the Lions sit in the overall scheme of things.
Traralgon had little trouble accounting for Bairnsdale, and has established a stable platform on which to build, boasting the second-best percentage in the competition.
MORWELL was the talk of the town last Saturday night.
The Tigers prevailed in a nail biting contest over Wonthaggi, getting up by the barest of margins, 10.7 (67) to 9.12 (66).
A youthful Morwell showed great maturity to fight back from a 22-point deficit at half-time, hanging on for a memorable win in front of their home crowd.
Morwell had the fate of the game taken out of their hands, as a Power set shot right on the final siren faded in for a behind.
The kick netted a huge sigh of relief for those wearing the yellow and black, and also provided a good leveller after last week’s narrow loss to Maffra.
Wonthaggi took the ascendancy after an even first quarter, capitalising on a few Morwell errors in the second.
The Power added five goals to one heading into the main break, and looked to have the contest under control.
However, with the Tigers then lifted around contested ball, they were able to get back into the game as the scoreboard began to take care of itself.
Morwell could not miss in the third, adding six straight goals, while at the other end, the work of Tiger talls Dan Musil and Ryan Hearn dropping back in defence choked the Power’s forward movement.
The Tigers took a slender six-point lead into the last, and held on for dear life in a pulsating finish.
Both teams managed just one goal in the fourth term, but this was arguably due to an increased pressure rate employed by Morwell.
Up to three quarter time the Tigers had laid an estimated 50 tackles for the game. They laid around 20 alone in the last.
Tristen Waack was instrumental in the win, and received good support from Brandon McAuliffe, Tyler Hillier, Cody MacDonald and Tyler Brown.
Those checking the Morwell goal kickers would have noticed one name stand out in the form of Anthony Rosato. The former Morwell captain was thought to have played his last game for the club in 2021, but now that he has made an appearance, interest will abound to see how many times he pulls on the yellow and black this season.
Noah Anderson kicked two goals for Wonthaggi to be named best. Others to play well were Tim Knowles, Aiden Lindsay, Jack Hutchinson, Ryan Sparkes and Toma Huther.
The win keeps Morwell within touching distance of the top five, and is sure to provide the young group with a great deal of confidence.
Conversely, the result continues to have the adjective ‘underwhelming’ most closely associated with Wonthaggi.
Granted the season is yet to fully materialise, the Power’s performances to date have hardly been in the mould of one tipped to be a genuine premiership contender, with a four-point loss and now a one-point loss in the last fortnight against opponents it was expected to defeat.
TRARALGON overcame the hardest road trip in Gippsland football.
The Maroons made the long drive to Bairnsdale and returned home after a resounding 18.10 (118) to 6.11 (47) win.
The win was enough to keep Traralgon locked in outright fourth position on the ladder, and also consigned the Redlegs once again to the foot of the table.
While a 71-point victory might have suggested otherwise, the Maroons did not simply waltz through the park.
Scores were virtually level at half-time, but Traralgon was able to break away, kicking five goals to none in the third to get the game back on their terms.
The scoreboard blew out in the last as the Maroons put in a 30-minute blitz, kicking seven goals to none.
Brett Eddy nabbed half a dozen majors, and Harvey Neocleous four.
Best for Traralgon was Luis D’Angelo, Adam Jaensch, Eddy, Luke Johnson, Tate Marsh and Tom Schneider.
Youngster Josh Hamilton, who made his debut last week, was able to get on the score sheet, adding a goal to be one of seven to send one through the big sticks for the Maroons.
Randal Stewart, Kieran Vickery and Cooper Vickery put in honest efforts for Bairnsdale.
Traralgon coach Jake Best kicked two goals in his return from injury, but being the perfectionist he is, will no doubt be looking to address the slow starts that have plagued his team on a few occasions this season.
MOE just can’t play well at Drouin.
In 2015 and 2018 the Lions didn’t kick a goal in the last quarter, in 2019 they were behind at half-time, and in 2017 they had to come back from a 31-point deficit at three-quarter time to win.
It happened again on the weekend, only this time the Lions had to come back from 18 points down at three quarter time to defeat the Hawks on their home deck.
Although Moe kicked five goals to none in the last quarter to win 12.11 (83) to 11.7 (73), it was hardly a performance to inspire any confidence given what had transpired in the preceding three terms.
Coming up against a Drouin team on the bottom of the ladder, the second-placed Lions’ very nearly paid the price for committing the deadliest of sins – pride.
The Hawks burst out of the blocks, kicking 5.0 (30) to 2.1 (13) to make the early running.
With their tails up, Drouin continued on their way, and took a 17-point lead into the sheds.
The first half was punctuated by Moe being unable to get their hands on the ball, while Drouin’s unlikely momentum provided possibly the most challenging beast in football to overcome – an underdog with the sniff of an upset.
Things went from bad to worse for the Lions’ in the third, as a somewhat bewildering five minute patch saw the Hawks kick three goals in red time.
The worst well and truly looked to be on the cards for Moe, as frustrations boiled over in the wake of what could be termed ‘confusing officiating’ that saw Lions midfielder Trent Baldi sent to the naughty corner for a 15 minute spell following an all-in scuffle.
Drouin had the match there for the taking, up by three goals with one quarter to play, while Moe would be starting the fourth quarter a man down.
Lions’ playing coach Declan Keilty brought his team together for some stern words before the main huddle, telling them to concentrate on matters more conducive to playing good football.
While this writer is loathed at seeing the ‘before we go in’ huddle, as it generally only reflects notions of a crisis meeting, it seemed to have the desired effect in this instance, as Moe was able to steadily eat away at the deficit in the last.
The Lions got back on top in general play and continually pumped the ball inside 50.
Hulking forward Matt Barrand took a number of telling marks, as the Lions did their best to hit the lead amid even more confusion that saw a Moe goal disallowed after the ball had been shepherded through only for the act to be deemed an off the ball hold.
At that moment even the most impartial spectator would have found it difficult to think anything less than ‘wow’.
More confusion was to follow as Lions captain Jacob Wood was stuck on the sidelines for a good 15 minutes before finally getting back on. One would have thought with the game on the line a team would want their skipper out on the ground.
Moe midfielder Riley Baldi lifted another gear, and kick a clinical goal from long range to see his side get in front by four points at the 22-minute mark.
Drouin more than likely became nervous as the Lions kept coming, to the point where they couldn’t hold on any longer.
Sensing a need to kill the game, Keilty went loose down back and denied a few last gasp efforts from the Hawks.
Somewhat fittingly, the match ended in even more confusion, as Barrand was given a 50 metre penalty after the siren for something no one quite knew what was for.
In an act that seemed to sum up the agitation most felt about how the game panned out, Barrand launched the ball from point-blank range over the net of the Drouin Recreation Reserve to see the final margin read eight points in Moe’s favour.
Barrand finished with four goals to be among the best players, while Bailey Humphrey, Scott Van Dyk, James Blaser, Ben Daniher and Riley Baldi stood out.
Tim Hancock, Aden Quirk and Tom Barr were best for Drouin.
Some fortuitous timing allowed Victoria Country representative Humphrey and Casey Demon Baldi to play for their local club, much to Moe’s benefit. It could be justifiably argued their presence played a significant hand in the result.
With this in mind, the Lions’ current 6-1 record perhaps puts them ahead of where they really are, with the margin in this game and a one-point win over Traralgon
highlighting a couple of times already Moe has needed to use the ‘get out of jail’ card – and you only get so many of them in football before your luck runs out.
Gippsland League pundit will be watching on with interest to see if the Lions’ luck does indeed run out, and it could well be due this week as the team takes on Leongatha, who are set to come at Moe like a freight train.
Regardless of what the Moe players think internally about how they are travelling, they will all surely know that if they play like they did against Drouin against Leongatha, they will get creamed.
And we are talking 15 goals creamed.
SALE made it five wins in a row.
The Magpies were too strong for Warragul and got the job done 16.18 (114) to 7.11 (53) at Sale Oval.
Things didn’t get off to the brightest of starts for Sale, as the Gulls kicked three goals to one in the first quarter.
From there however it was all the Magpies. The home side blew the match open in the second, adding nine goals to take a 38-point lead into the main break.
Sale playing coach Jack Johnstone was everywhere, and finished with 30 touches and five goals.
Best for Warragul was Nick Graham, Brayden Fowler and Nick Mulqueen.
The win over Warragul led in to a great night for Sale players past and present, who gathered for their annual reunion.
Johnstone addressed the audience, which was made up mostly of members and officials from the 2012 senior premiership.
Seeing the 2012 senior premiership cup and seeing the sheer size of it in the flesh, one couldn’t help but think – ‘be nice to have one of those.’
MAFFRA put up a good fight against Leongatha.
The Eagles stayed with the ladder leading Parrots for most of the contest, falling short in a competitive match by 20 points.
Maffra was only 14 points adrift at the last change before the professionalism and experience of Leongatha shone through as they won 13.11 (89) to 9.15 (69).
Looking at the team list, it is clear Leongatha did not take an overly weakened line-up to Maffra, with names such as Tom Marriott, Aaron Heppell, Josh Hopkins and Jackson Harry all in the best players.
Hudson Holmes continued his outstanding form to be among the best players for Maffra.
