FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

By TOM HAYES

 

WHAT a season this is shaping up to be in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League.

Nothing is a given as another week of results has left us in a state we haven’t seen in some time.

For years now, the top five of the NGFNL has been fairly lopsided and easy to identify early into the season. Yet, this year a number of variables has created a more exciting competition, with more teams in contention.

 

Heyfield 18.16 (124) def Churchill 6.3 (39)

HEYFIELD are as damaging as ever.

The Kangaroos dismantled the Churchill side that visited Gordon Street Reserve at the weekend, not only boosting their premiership hopes, but leaving the Cougars rattled in the process, 18.16 (124) to 6.3 (39).

The home side continued their domination of Churchill, which started in the middle of last year.

To start the 2023 season, Churchill stamped themselves as a team to beat, beating the Kangaroos by 70-odd points. Yet in their next two meetings, Heyfield would right their wrongs and trump the Cougars on both occasions, one of those being a semi-final.

After three games in 2024, the Kangaroos are top of the ladder, and by some margin too. Alongside them is Woodside on three wins, yet Heyfield’s percentage boasts 253 per cent, to the Wildcats’ 137.

Heyfield had the upper hand over Churchill from the very first quarter, bursting out to a 16-point lead, before a late Cougars goal brought the margin to within two kicks.

Churchill could only manage the sole major in the second, unable to reply to the ferocity of Heyfield, who piled on 10.4 (64).

The Cougars showed they wouldn’t go down without a fight, and despite the score, kept in touch with Heyfield during the third term, both scoring 2.2 (14), as the margin remained at 68 points.

With the game far beyond reach, Heyfield continued to power through, despite the Cougars’ efforts, kicking three goals to two in the final term to run home 85-point winners.

Heyfield’s Thomas Marchesi was among the best for the home side, as was Robert McMillan, Kail Hole, Mitchell Bennett (four goals), Max Van Der Zwart and Liam Heasley. Playing-coach and former Collingwood premiership player, Leigh Brown kicked a game-high six majors.

For the Cougars, their best were Bailey Flanigan, Brendan Holt, Marcus Sbaglia-Smith, Chris Williams, Jordan Fenech and Patrick Kearns. Notably, the absence of Ben Kearns up front left their forward line thin, with no one to assist Blake Slater until the second half when Holt went forward.

The youthful Heyfield outfit displayed their damaging run and carry. While some clubs may see their youth as a weakness, they are using it to their advantage to go from strength to strength, week-to-week.

As for the Cougars, they are now in a difficult position of one win and two losses, and it doesn’t get any easier for them next week with reigning premier TTU coming to Gaskin Park.

Skill errors were the main talking point, as the season lies within the playing group’s hands to get better and grow as the season progresses.

Churchill doesn’t like to lose at home, and their chances will be boosted next week with the arrival of former AFL players, Heath Shaw and Stephen Milne for the one-off game.

Next weekend, Heyfield will face an also undefeated Yarram side who are too beaming with confidence.

 

Sale City 4.8 (32) def by Rosedale 8.7 (55)

JUST when Sale City thought they could break the mould, in steps Rosedale.

The Blues were able to hold on after a confident start, winning 8.7 (57) to 4.8. (32).

The Bulldogs were storming through their fixture with impressive performances, despite their 1-1 win-loss record. After their tight loss to 2023 Grand Finalist, Woodside, it was a small win in the scheme of things.

Rosedale meanwhile was 0-2 after big losses to premiership contenders Heyfield and Traralgon Tyers United.

Yet on their travels to Stephenson Park, the Blues were off to a flyer, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

The low scoring nature of the match made it difficult for either side to get on the scoreboard, but Rosedale made the most of their opportunities.

Rosedale kicked three goals in the opening term to Sale City’s one. Both sides displayed their ability to start with speed last year, so when the two locked horns it was sure to be a spicy contest.

Just when the Bulldogs needed a response, the Blues kicked away. The Bulldogs were unable to keep up with the visitors, who caught them by surprise kicking 5.3 (33) to one behind.

All of a sudden, Rosedale had a massive seven-goal lead at the main break. But in the third term, play was much tighter.

The script had flipped, but not to the same extent. Sale City fought back with a goal of their own, but it could’ve been more.

Kicking 1.3 (9) to one behind, the Bulldogs brought the margin back down to 34 points, which would warrant one hell of a fightback in the final term.

The match got interesting in the final term, as the leading Blues only managed two behinds, leaving the door open for the home side. But Sale City could only muster 2.1 (13) in the final quarter, falling short by 23 points.

Jay Diamond, Luke Stuckey, Caleb Barnett, Riley Boyle, Will Murray and Jake Suter were among the best for the Blues.

In defeat, Abe Schuback, Hudson Tollner, Troy Carstairs, Tom Bowman, Flynn Read and Mitchell Evans were admirable.

 

YYN 10.7 (67) def by Woodside 14.14 (98)

WOODSIDE keep trucking along.

The Wildcats improved to 3-0 after defeating Yallourn Yallourn North, 14.14 (98) to 10.7 (67).

In a slow start, Yallourn Yallourn North got the jump on the Wildcats at home, starting out with a 10-point lead at the first break.

With both sides in early premiership contention going into the contest, there was plenty on the line for either team to gain the four points.

Woodside weren’t going to go away anytime soon, and they made their presence known, kicking 5.3 (33) to the Jets’ 2.1 (13), taking the lead at the main break, completing a 20-point turnaround.

After the halftime break, Woodside grew from strength to strength and continued to put YYN to the sword, adding another 5.3 (33), this time keeping the Jets goalless, adding just two points to their score.

As the two sides entered the final break, Woodside had a clear advantage of 41 points, exactly double the score of the Jets.

YYN gave it their all in the final term, but it was always going to be tough to overcome that disadvantage.

Woodside added two more goals, despite being outscored by YYN, who kicked four themselves. It wasn’t enough, as the Wildcats rounded out a 31-point win.

Brody Stainer, Michael O’Sullivan, Liam Leeson, Lee Stockdale, Mark Collison and Liam Hard were stand-outs for the victors. Daniel Farmer established himself in front of the big stick with five goals.

For the Jets, Dylan Brooks, Dylan Bentley, Rowan Duguid, Dylan Bath, Jai Massese and Josh Hall were highlights in defeat.

Only three undefeated teams remain following this game, and as recent records show, losing two games in a season makes it very difficult to win the flag.

 

TTU 31.22 (208) def Glengarry 1.2 (8)

TTU have put their Round 1 jitters to bed.

The Bombers made their four points certain, defeating Glengarry at home, 31.22 (208) to 1.2 (8).

In a display of complete and utter dominance, TTU had 50 more scoring shots than the Magpies, going on to win by a monster 200 points.

The game was nearly over before it started, as the Bombers got out to a 41-point lead at quarter time.

It went from bad to worse in the second quarter, as TTU kept Glengarry scoreless, going onto score 9.6 (60) before the halftime siren, as the lead stretched past 100 points.

TTU continued to get more devastating as the game continued, kicking another 10.4 (64) to one behind, seeing the lead pass 150, to 164 points.

With a. percentage boost on their mind, TTU reached the 200-point margin in the final term, with the margin remaining the same as the lead as the final siren blew.

Michael Jacobsen, Beau White (five goals), Liam Michie, Mitchell Mustoe (three goals), Zach Kilgower and James Jacobsen had a day out for the Bombers. Captain Jye Neilson also kicked five goals, while Caleb Michie kicked four snags.

Ben Truin, Callum Mitchell, Lachlan Martin, Jack Burgess, Cassidy Bartley and Tahi Wilson were the shining lights for Glengarry.

A percentage boost it was, with the Bombers now holding the highest percentage in the NGFNL, with 258 per cent.

 

Gormandale 1.0 (6) def by Yarram 20.19 (139)

THE third and final team to remain undefeated.

Yarram took a trip down the road to Gormandale, smoking the Tigers after being granted a Round 2 bye, sealing the four points, 20.19 (139) to 1.0 (6).

The Demons flexed their muscles, all while keeping Gormandale scoreless for the first three quarters.

During that time, Yarram kicked 15 goals; scoring five in each quarter as they progressively dismantled the Tigers as the game grew old.

The lead extended past 100 points by three quarter time, reading 15.15 (105) to nothing at the final break.

Gormandale finally got on the scoreboard in the final term as the game begun to wind down, registering their only score of the game.

Meanwhile, Yarram added another five goals in a consistent display, before running out 133-point winners.

Kayleb Pearce, Josh Swift (eight goals), Dylan Garnham (three goals), Liam Bentley, Luke Hunter and Griffin Underwood were impeccable for the Demons.

When Gormandale needed someone to step up, Nicholas Millington, Kodie Owens, Caleb Isherwood, Tristan Salerno, Blake Hearn and Jet Krimhand were there to do so, earning themselves a place in their best.

Yarram join Heyfield and Woodside as the only three undefeated teams. Due to their bye last round, the Demons sit fourth on the ladder, thanks to the percentage of TTU.

 

COWWARR had the bye.