FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

By TOM HAYES and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

AFTER another telling week of North Gippsland football, teams now have a better understanding of how they compare to the rest of the competition.

A clear top-four has formed, while the race for the fifth finals spot remains well and truly in the balance, and one of the big hitters of recent years might just be having their worst season in a long time.

 

Sale City 12.6 (78) def by TTU 14.7 (91)

TRARALGON Tyers United asserted themselves as second best.

A game behind Woodside, and a game ahead of Yallourn Yallourn North and Yarram, the Bombers are still well within the hunt for back-to-back premierships.

As we have seen in the NGFNL, since 2018 the eventual premier has only one lost one home-and-away game at most. With one loss next to their name, going by that reasoning, you can’t discount TTU.

Sale City proved to be a worthy opponent at the weekend, and almost etched that second loss in TTU’s record, going down 14.7 (91) to 12.6 (78).

The Bulldogs led at every change except the last, in a disappointing final quarter display which saw them outplayed by the reigning premier.

As seen in a few instances this season, TTU seem to find a way in the final term.

Sale City had double the scoring shots in the opening term yet was only able to kick 5.3 (33) to the Bombers’ four-straight.

Their lead was just big enough to hold onto at the halftime break too, as TTU showed signs of overrunning their hosts.

One goal extra had the Bombers within a kick at the main break, yet the home side led by three points still, and going into the second half, TTU would’ve known that the Bulldogs weren’t going to crack easily.

Sale City flexed their muscles in the third term and looked primed for a big upset.

Three goals to one in the third term meant that the Bulldogs led by 14 points as the final quarter was underway, and an almighty effort was needed from the reigning premier.

But, just as Sale City did to TTU in the previous term, the Bombers did right back in keeping their opponents to one goal.

Not only did the Bombers keep their hosts to a single goal, but they capitalised on their possession, kicking five of their own to storm home to a 13-point win.

Their endless number of forward options made it difficult for the Bulldogs to get a grip of things when they moved forward.

TTU had eight separate goal scorers, while five of them kicked multiple goals – captain Jye Neilson the most with three.

Michael Jacobsen, Quinn Sinclair, Frazar Brouns, Neilson, Hayden Willaton, and Oscar Aliotta were outstanding for the visitors.

For the home side, Jayden Allison, Cooper Whitehill, Kaden McCulloch (four goals), Jaxsyn Whitehill, Daine McGuiness, and Chris Kelf played admirably. Flynn Read also stepped up with three majors.

Falling into a three-horse race for fifth place is Sale City, who seemingly have to compete with Heyfield and Rosedale.

 

YYN 14.11 (95) def Heyfield 6.7 (43)

ANOTHER game of high notice for North Gippsland viewers was the matchup between YYN and Heyfield.

It ended with the Jets climbing to third position on the ladder after a 52-point victory at George Bates Reserve, 14.11 (95) to 6.7 (43).

The Roos jumped the Jets in the early stages of the first quarter. The unsuspecting Heyfield on-ballers pressured and cleared the ball at every contest, which enabled them to kick two of the first three goals of the game.

The Jets however would weather the initial storm to lead at the first break by a point – and they weren’t stopping there.

For the next three quarters, YYN would outscore Heyfield, 75 to 24, that included holding the Kangaroos to just two points through the second quarter.

 

Rosedale 11.10 (76) def Churchill 9.9 (63)

IS Churchill’s season over?

The Cougars suffered their sixth loss of the season as they travelled to Rosedale at the weekend, going down by 13 points in a final quarter rout.

Rosedale gave themselves a finals hope in the 11.10 (76) to 9.9 (63) win.

After a tight first half, Rosedale kicked out to a 15-point lead, and Churchill looked to be on their last legs.

The final quarter was just as even as the first, and although Churchill won the quarter, the lead was just out of their reach with Rosedale claiming the four points.

 

Woodside 15.11 (101) def Yarram 8.8 (56)

WOODSIDE got the better of their geographical rival.

Extending their unbeaten run, the Wildcats knew that Yarram would be no easy feat.

Nonetheless, they proved that they deserve to be league leaders, ticking off a solid 45-point win, 15.11 (101) to 8.8 (56) at home.

Known to be slow starters, Woodside was very much the opposite at the weekend, blitzing the Demons in the first quarter. So much so, Yarram was kept goalless, all while Woodside kicked five opening quarter goals to burst out to a 29-point advantage.

Despite kicking four behinds for the term, Yarram still only had half of the number of chances that Woodside did in the first stanza.

As the game progressed into the second term, Woodside asserted their dominance. It wasn’t so much scoreboard pressure, but more flexing their ability to limit Yarram’s rate of scoring.

While Woodside’s rate of scoring decreased, they were able to keep the Demons to less.

The home side added 3.2 (20) as half time approached, keeping Yarram to just 2.1 (13), as their lead sat at six-straight goals at the halfway point.

Chances went amiss after halftime, as neither side was able to capitalise on their opportunities.

Yarram had the chance to lessen the margin and have a real crack in the final quarter, while Woodside could have given themselves an unmatchable lead, which would’ve allowed them to cruise home.

Woodside managed to keep things going in their direction nonetheless, kicking 3.5 (23), all while Yarram could only manage 2.3 (15), which meant that Woodside held at 44-point lead with a quarter to play.

Many would assume this would be out of reach, and they would be right. For a team that had only kicked four goals up until three quarter time, it was highly unlikely that Yarram would not only be able to keep Woodside goalless, but just about triple their score to win the match.

Scores were free flowing in the final term however, as both teams kicked four goals. Woodside managed just the extra behind to win every quarter and claim a 45-point win.

Despite the defeat, Josh Swift still managed four goals of his own. Dan Farmer was kept quieter than usual (two goals) for Woodside, but Liam Hard and Michael O’Sullivan stepped up with four majors each.

Mark Collison, Liam Leeson, Ryan Foat, Hard, O’Sullivan, and Matt Dyke were the best for the ladder leaders.

Levi Munns, Liam Farley, coach Boadie Motton, Kayleb Pearce, Swift and Anthony Scott were those who stood out for the Demons.

 

Cowwarr 18.14 (122) def Gormandale 2.7 (19)

COWWARR are winners again.

The Saints saw off the bottom-placed Gormandale in smashing fashion, 18.14 (122) to 2.7 (19).

Six goals to one after halftime put things well beyond reach for the Tigers, and with a final quarter to play, Cowwarr led by more than 11 goals. The Saints closed out the game in style, keeping Gormandale goalless, and nailing another five goals to see the margin, and their own score, past 100 for the first time this season.

Kyle ‘Meatball’ Stamers (three goals) claimed best-on-ground honours in his 100th senior game.

 

GLENGARRY had the bye.