TOM HAYES
FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By TOM HAYES
THE finals picture has taken a turn in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League, as one side made a big statement at the weekend, proving why they shouldn’t be counted out of the race.
In other results, the big top-four sides got the job done and will already be looking ahead to Round 11.
HEYFIELD are now a serious finals contender.
The Kangaroos made a statement at the weekend by defeating Yarram on its home deck, moving a game clear of their opponents and into the top-five.
It was a monster opening term that set the tone and gave Heyfield enough to get over the line.
They kicked 9.4 (58) to 1.0 (6) in the first quarter, stunning the hosts to set up their day positively.
Playing-coach Leigh Brown kicked five goals in his return to the field, as Heyfield boasted nine goal scorers on the day.
The final three quarters were much more contested, as Yarram dragged things back, but only slightly, kicking 3.3 (21) to 3.0 (18), yet the hosts still trailed by 49 points at the main break.
A comeback was needed, but the result was written on the wall for the Demons after the first term, which will be their point of focus for sure.
The Demons continued to fight, but the Kangaroos weren’t going to let this margin slip, proving their validity as a potential finals side – and a dangerous one at that.
Heyfield took a seven-goal lead into the final change, before running away as 43-point winners, 17.10 (112) to 10.9 (69).
The visitors were powered through Mitch Bennett – who kicked three goals. Robert McMillan, Brayden Woodland, Kyle Graham, Bailey Escreet and Max Van Der Zwart also did a good job.
Yarram’s best were Jake McFarland, Tyler Chisholm, Boadie Motton, Tanner Chisholm, Shem Rendell and Josh Swift – who led their goal scoring with three majors.
Now that Heyfield has boosted itself into the top five, it’s only fair to say they are the real deal when it comes to a finals run. As they say, you want momentum at the right point of the season, and there is no better time than the second half.
Yarram showed promise at the start of the season, knocking off reigning premier Yallourn Yallourn North on Good Friday, but that was only one of four wins this year, and they now have a negative win/loss ratio.
The Demons are in jeopardy of slipping even further too, with the potential of Sale City – who are still equal on points with the Demons.
Heyfield’s next three weeks consist of Rosedale, a bye and Glengarry, before they will be tested by Churchill – their next monthly block could determine their year.
WOODSIDE are rampant.
The Wildcats showed no mercy to Glengarry, humiliating their visitors in a triple-digit demolition.
As consistent as ever, Woodside kept the scoreboard ticking at most times, kicking six goals in each term, while keeping the Magpies to a goal per half.
The Wildcats had a steady rise throughout the game, beginning with a 32-point lead at the first break, which was translated to a 64-point lead at halftime.
In the third term, Woodside had plenty more chances but were just unable to get more goals over the line, kicking 6.7 (43) to the behinds, taking the margin past 100 points with a quarter to play.
It wasn’t getting any easier for the Magpies, who only managed a single goal in the final quarter, allowing Woodside to pile on another 42 points and win by 141, 24.16 (160) to 2.7 (19).
Michael O’Sullivan displayed his class with another seven-goal haul, claiming best-on-ground honours, while his strike partner Daniel Farmer kicked four.
O’Sullivan was highlighted alongside Jeremy Morgan, Thomas Mann, Josh Kennedy, Ben Johnson and Zac Richards.
As for Glengarry, Jesse Lee, Callum Mitchell, Tom Poulton, Tom Harris, Hunter Carman and Ben Truin were prominent in defeat.
Woodside made sure that they held on to second, setting up an all-important second versus third fixture this weekend against Churchill at Gaskin Park.
As for the Magpies, they will want to have a red hot crack at a nervy Yarram side, who have lost to Rosedale and Heyfield after their bye in Round 8.
CHURCHILL gave Sale City a tune up.
The Cougars maintained their perfect away record this season, with a seven-goal win over Sale City, putting a dent in their finals hopes.
The home side started strong, flexing their muscles early by taking a quarter time lead of a point, before tempers flared at the first break.The Cougars regained stability in the second term, taking the lead by 10 points at halftime, setting up their second half well.
Half of the Churchill side kicked goals on the day, six of those were multiple goal scorers.
That shows how good their second half was.
The Cougars kicked six goals to two, stretching the lead past 40 momentarily, but settling for a 37-point buffer with the quarter to play.
Goals came a-flowing in the final quarter, but not enough to scare Churchill away from the four points they had earned.
Despite five goals from the home side, Churchill did one better, kicking six, re-establishing their 40-point buffer to win by seven goals, 19.17 (131) to 12.17 (89).
Andy Phelan was best-on-ground for Churchill, he was helped out by Ben Skinner – who kicked three goals, Blake Slater, Billy Wight, Tyson Leys and Jack Hasell down back.
Sale City’s best were Cameron Green, Billy Quirk, Matt Walker, Lachlan Carman, and Joel and Blake Safstrom.
The visitor’s got the job done, but not convincingly by any means, and will need to step up their game for when they face one of the most dangerous teams in the senior competition, in Woodside.
There is more on the line in this one, as Woodside put the final nail in Churchill’s coffin last season, sending them out in straight sets in the semi-final.
Sale City has a tough run ahead, with Yallourn Yallourn North and Traralgon Tyers United before a hit-out against Gormandale.
YALLOURN YALLOURN NORTH recorded back-to-back triple digits wins.
After facing the bottom side last week, the Jets were blessed with Cowwarr – another fixture they would’ve licked their lips over.
On the road, the Jets made no mistake in the final three quarters, crunching the Saints on their own turf. Oddly enough, neither side registered a major in the first quarter, as Yallourn North led by a point: 0.2 (2) to 0.1 (1).
They turned things around for the better in the second, kicking seven goals and leaving the Saints in the dust to take a 48-point lead at the main break.
The Jets kept Cowwarr goalless for a third straight term, while adding another 5.6 (36) to four behinds, creating an 80-point buffer with a quarter to play.
Despite the Saints kicking two goals in the final quarter, the Jets continued strongly, scoring another six goals to send the margin past 100, winning by 103 points; 18.16 (124) to 2.9 (21).
Dean Macdonald was back to his best for the Jets, kicking eight goals and claiming the best-on-ground.
He was complimented by Darcy Shellcot, Jai Massese – in his 50th senior game, Cambell Staff, Matt Twaddle and Campbell MacInnes.
For Cowwarr, Ben Coffey, Siaosi Lay Blake, Rhys Luxford, Brayden Rioli, Sean Alexander and Wayne Swan were stand-outs in defeat.
YYN are now on top of the minor finals battle they have on their hands from fourth to seventh, but remain three wins away from third. They will want to keep their momentum going with a win against Sale City this weekend, before they will be tested against Woodside.
As for Cowwarr, they have one of the toughest fixtures to play this season on the weekend, TTU at TTU.
TRARALGON TYERS UNITED made no mistake in Gormandale.
TTU dismantled a spirited Gormandale outfit, flexing their muscles, still undefeated.
Despite a strong first term by the Bombers, their 38-point buffer was the tamest quarter of the lot, as things went from bad to worse for the Tigers. It was always going to be tough in a first versus last contest, but this certainly highlighted that gap.
TTU went large in the second term, kicking nine goals to one, to take an 87-point lead at halftime.
After the break no momentum was lost, as the Bombers piled on another nine goals to sail past both the 100 and 150-point marks, as well as blowing the margin out to 138 points. You guessed it, TTU kicked nine goals in the last quarter, boasting a massive 46 scoring shots for the outing, winning by 191 points; 33.13 (211) to 2.8 (20).
Liam Willaton was best-on-ground for the Bombers, and was helped by most teammates, those highlighted were Michael Jacobsen, Brad Kelleher – who kicked 10 goals, Ricky Cochrane, Trent Hourigan and Frazar Brouns.
For the Tigers, Liam Deering, Isaac Copland, Flynn Roscoe, Tristan Salerno, Jai Foulkes and Mathew O’Toole were in the best. TTU’s percentage gets ever closer to 300, but it’s still only the second-best in the league, as Woodside has a percentage of 326.20.
The Bombers should keep their winning run going, when they host Sale City this weekend, while Gormandale will be waiting for Round 12, when they have their best chance of a win against Cowwarr.
ROSEDALE had the bye.
