TOM HAYES
FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By TOM HAYES
JUST when you thought the twists and turns would end, they became ever-present once again after Round 12 of the North Gippsland Football-Netball season.
Although the overall ladder didn’t change much, thoughts would have.
YARRAM are not done with yet.
The Demons might sit sixth and currently out of the finals, but they made a statement at the weekend, dismantling a hot favourite.
Despite their recent form not being the greatest, Yarram has found a way to bring themselves back into contention with back-to-back wins.
They welcomed Churchill into town and did not make life easy for their rivals, always showing up for this contest.
Yarram did everything they could to slow down the footy, and make the most of their opportunities going forward by putting something on the scoreboard.
The Demons took a 2.4 (16) to 1.3 (9) lead into the first break, causing alarm bells to go off in the Cougars camp.
It was only a seven-point margin, but things were not going to plan for Churchill, who hoped the tide would change in the coming quarters.
But the second quarter was much the same, the Demons continued to congest the play, not allowing the Cougars to get the game on their terms, taking a seven-point lead into the main break.
Yarram could have really punished the Cougars in the third term, but they were let off the hook.
Having seven scoring shots to three within a quarter in a tight game could and should have put the game to bed right there.
Yarram kicked 1.7 (13) to 0.3 (3), helpful, yet their lead remained at 16 points, meaning the game was still wide open.
Churchill had their best chance of the game to get back into it, when the Demons had a player sent off, giving Churchill 15 minutes against one-less player which carried over into the final term.
Alas, it was Yarram’s day as they finished off Churchill in style, kicking 5.2 (32) to 1.3 (9) in the final term to keep their finals hopes alive in a 39-point win, 10.15 (75) to 4.12 (36).
Liam Bentley was best for the home side, and was supported by Daniel Vardy, Dylan Garnham, Thomas Sheedy, Anthony Scott and Thomas Mattern.
For the Cougars, Andy Phelan was prominent once again, as was Jack Hasell, Pat Kearns, Ben Skinner, Bailey Flanigan and Kurt Holt.
Yarram will want to keep their run going when they travel to Yallourn North this weekend, while Churchill will hope to get some big names back on the park as soon as possible.
WATCH out for Woodside.
This weekend is shaping up to be one of the most epic first versus second battles, after Woodside made light work of the visiting Yallourn Yallourn North.
Despite the conditions at Woodside, scoring was free-flowing compared to what was seen in other games.
Woodside took a two-point lead into quarter time, as either team scored three goals in an entertaining quarter of football.
But it didn’t take the Wildcats long to get into their groove, as they stormed away, kicking 5.2 (32) to two behinds, restoring a massive lead that they’re so used to.
By three quarter time, the game was put to bed, with everything lying on Woodside’s terms.
A monster seven-goal to two third term just blew the game wide open, as the Wildcats registered a triple-figure score, taking a lead of 65 points into the final quarter.
YYN weren’t going to go away easy which was pleasing to see, winning the final term and kicking twice as many goals to see the game out.
Woodside claimed the four points in a 52-point win, 17.11 (113) to 9.7 (61).
In the best for the winning Wildcats were Rowan Missen, Thomas Mann, Michael and Lee Stockdale, Joh Fythe and Adam Janssen.
Jai Massese was best on for YYN, while other stand-outs were Josh Keyhoe, Lachlan Little, Barrie Burnett, Matt Twaddle and Anthony Young.
Woodside now set up a massive home game against league-leaders Traralgon Tyers United this weekend, with favouritism for the flag most definitely on the line.
As for YYN, things mightn’t be as calm, with themselves in fourth they have percentage on their side, but Heyfield (fifth and a game in hand) and Yarram (sixth) sit on the same points as them.
The race for finals has every right to go down to the wire.
ELEVEN straight.
Traralgon Tyers United have merely hit a bump in the road this season, after winning their eleventh game in a row this year.
The Bombers opened their doors to Sale City, who arrived knowing that anything less than a win could have their finals chances taken away from them.
TTU got off to a hot start, and in hindsight, they would have had Sale City covered on the scoreboard early into the first quarter.
A 47-point buffer separated the two sides at quarter time, thanks to seven goals to the home side while keeping the Bulldogs to a singular point.
The Bombers powered through the next 30 minutes, adding another 4.2 (26), while keeping the visitor’s to just the one scoring a shot – a major.
The Bulldogs were held to one scoring shot once again, adding another point, but this time in a tightly-contested quarter, with TTU only able to add 1.3 (9).
But a comeback looked unlikely here, as the Bombers were up by 75 points with a quarter to play, they would’ve wanted to finish with a bang.
Which is exactly what they did, booting 6.2 (38) to 1.2 (8), to remain on top of the ladder after winning by 105-point s, 18.13 (121) to 2.4 (16).
Rohan Hildebrand was a standout for TTU, as was Frazar Brouns, Oscar Aliotta, Beau White, Jake Cashmore and Brad Kelleher – who top scored with five majors.
For Sale City, Blake Safstrom, Jaxsyn Whitehill, Jai Nelson, Billy Quirk, Brysen Nottle and Matthew Walker did a good job.
TTU will be keen for a test this weekend, something that they have rarely had this season, when they travel to Woodside for an all-important fixture that could shape the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Sale City could put their season back on track when they host Gormandale this weekend, they have more winnable games than not in their run into finals.
COWWARR recorded their first win since April.
The Saints survived a see-sawing match against Gormandale, which could have gone either way at the Boneyard.
Essentially this was Gormandale’s last realistic chance to get a win this season, yet anything remains possible with six rounds to go.
The Tigers started strong, taking a one-goal lead into quarter time, changing the pace of the game that Cowwarr controlled so much in their Round 1 encounter.
The Saints did regain some control before halftime however, with six scoring shots to one, taking a nine-point lead into the main break, but things were not done with yet.
Gormandale smacked back, kicking 3.3 (21) to two behinds, taking a 10-point lead into three quarter time, setting up a blockbuster final term.
Just when it looked like the Tigers could pull off a miraculous win, Cowwarr denied them.
At what was seemingly the scoring end, Cowwarr had a plethora of chances to ice the game, kicking 3.6 (24) to no score in the final term, getting home by 14 points, 6.15 (51) to 5.7 (37).
Brayden Rioli was best-on-ground for Cowwarr, and he was supported by captains Ben Coffey and Kyle Stamers, Mathew Leicester, Luke Hegarty and Jake Brown.
Despite the loss, vice-captains Isaac Copland and Liam Deering led from the front, scoring three of Gormandale’s five goals.
Tristan Salerno was the most prominent Tigers player afield, in the best also were Ray Heywood, Copland, Wynn Harvey, Ben Heath and Flynn Roscoe.
The win pushes Cowwarr up the ladder into ninth, meanwhile Gormandale look all but certain to pick up the wooden spoon in 2023.
ROSEDALE ran over the top of Glengarry.
The Blues would have prided themselves over this finish, which saw them start poorly and walk away with the four points.
Glengarry took a two-goal lead into the first break, setting up the next quarter nicely while keeping Rosedale to just three behinds.
It was much closer in the second term, but thanks to their lead, Glengarry held onto a two-goal margin (or thereabouts) at the halftime siren, 6.3 (39) to 4.4 (28).
Rosedale bit back in the third term, squaring things up with a quarter to go by kicking 3.2 (20) to 1.3 (9).
And all of a sudden, this game was there to be won.
Rosedale took full advantage of this, kicking 2.2 (14) in the final term, completely icing out Glengarry, holding them scoreless to win by 14 points in an entertaining come-from-behind victory.
Thomas Northe was best on for the winning side, while Luke Stockey, Bailey Reid, Hayden Bell, Spencer Fox and Declan Barnett all had days to remember.
As for the Magpies, Jesse Lee, Callum Mitchell, Lachlan Jewell, Declan Massaro, Matt Scholtes and Cassidy Bartley were standouts in the loss.
With this game having no real effect on finals, there was nothing to lose for either team, but they can make things difficult for those making finals runs in the coming weeks.
Rosedale host Churchill this weekend, who are in a bit of a rough patch, while Glengarry travel to Heyfield who will be fresh off of the bye.
HEYFIELD had the bye.
