FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

THINGS are beginning to even themselves out as we pass the penultimate round of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League.

Just weeks ago, it would have been safe to assume the top two of Traralgon Tyers United and Woodside would run through the competition to prepare for a rematch of the 2023 Grand Final, however, with teams narrowing the gap, at least one shake-up could be in the works.

 

Churchill 7.6 (48) def by YYN 24.15 (159)

THE Jets are still lurking in the shadows.

Some may have predicted a decent hit out at Gaskin Park between Churchill and YYN.

The sides featured in some of the best games in recent country football less than a year ago, but how times see change.

The Jets throttled the Cougars, winning 24.15 (159) to 7.6 (48), making it two in a row north of 110 points.

As Churchill are anticipating their first year absent of finals since 2012, YYN would have still been expecting the Cougars to throw one last swing at their newfound rivals and disrupt the Jets recent run towards finals for the third consecutive year since moving into the NGFNL.

It began quite feistily, a hot contest around the ball early in beautiful conditions, YYN still found the edge but only marginally with Churchill keeping their chests out despite down 4.3 (27) to 2.2 (14) come quarter time.

If the Cougars thought they had what it took to cause an upset on their home deck, the second quarter would have created a headache between the eyes of the coaching staff and players on field.

The Jets tallied 8.5 (53) dominating at every corner of the ground and conceding just 1.1 (7) to head into the rooms full of bravado up 59 points already.

The second half opened and the game returned to a physical contest mirrored in the first quarter stretching across each zone and the Cougars found some success, booting 3.3 (21) but equally giving up an efficient 6.2 (38) leaving many Churchill onlookers shaking their heads.

Both sides were just looking to see out the game in the end, the second half finished much the same to how the first one did, with the Jets piling on goals and giving the opposing backs little time to recover while the ball saw little time down the other end.

YYN added a further six goals in the last quarter to hand Churchill their first 100-point loss of the season and their first 100-point loss in 14 years.

Dylan Bath was awarded best afield for the winners, followed by a dominant performance from Mitch Luck with five goals and James De Virgilio, Josh Keyhoe (three goals), Anthony Young (two goals) and Jai Massese.

The Jets had seven multiple goal scorers headlined by Luck and Dean MacDonald with five taking the latter out to a 13-goal lead for the league-leading goal kicker, on 67 with a round to go.

Ashley Di Ciero (two goals), Bailey Flanigan, Blake Slater, Brayden Kokshoorn, Chris Williams and Tom Sevenson were admirable in defeat.

YYN, in third, move to a game behind Woodside in second, surpassing the Wildcats’ percentage, but are still unlikely to leapfrog them in the last round, with Woodside facing 10th placed Glengarry.

 

Yarram 12.9 (81) def by Sale City 14.9 (93)

SALE City are a lock for finals.

The Bulldogs took down their closet opposition to a postseason ticket after defeating Yarram 14.9 (93) to 12.9 (81) out in the sticks.

The Demons, who had lost five of their last seven games after being positioned as the upstart team within the top four early in the season, trailed Sale City by a game for fifth spot pre-match, meaning Yarram’s final home game served as much as an Elimination Final as you’ll get.

It was a strong start on both ends with the ball flicking around in either teams’ hands with equal understanding of the stakes at play.

The Bulldogs kicked some timely goals to conclude the first quarter up seven points but knew they still needed to present plenty more if they were to cement their first finals berth since 2018.

The Demons finally awoken, and unearthed a style of play not seen from Yarram spectators (against a handy opposition) since the early stages of the season and booted 6.3 (39) to Sale City’s 3.3 (21) to end the first half with an 11-point Demon lead.

Both sides had full understanding that the next hour was set to be a bloodbath as the two staked to claim themselves as a worthy finals opponent.

Sale City found the edge they needed, holding Yarram to eight points through the third quarter whilst adding a clean five goals to lead by 12 points with a quarter spare.

The fire was there as players slammed into each other with no regard for their own or their opponents’ safety sensing that something had to give one way or another to claim victory.

Yarram gained and got within striking distance but the Bulldogs knew what was required at the appropriate moment and found time to sing the song due to their efforts when it mattered.

Seasoned gun and top-recruit Kane Martin (four goals) was a decisive piece for Sale City in their monumental road win followed by Jayden Allison, Kyan Sellings, Cooper Whitehill, Hudson Tollner and Nicholas Lerardi with Mitch Evans booting a match-high five goals.

Boadie Motton continued a strong season for the Demons with Kayleb Pearce, Chris Bruns in his 300th senior game, Kelly Griffiths, Dylan Garnham and Matt Clavarino as standouts for the home side.

After a phenomenal start to the year, Yarram will not be present for finals in 2024 but still have plenty to offer with such a young and hungry side. Their time will come with consistency when it matters most.

Sale City won their 10th game of the season, locking themselves into fifth position – with room to jump higher if given results in the final round of the home-and-away season go their way.

 

Woodside 8.11 (59) def by Rosedale 11.9 (75)

SURELY not, right?

Rosedale, with nothing to gain and also nothing to lose in their final game of regular season, found time to provide one of the upsets of the season defeating second-placed Woodside 11.9 (75) to 8.11 (59).

The Blues opened giving the Wildcats a taste of their own medicine, piling the ball into their forward line giving plenty of opportunity to cease an early score and did so, ending the first quarter ahead 3.4 (22) to 2.1 (13).

Much of the same followed through into the second term, with Rosedale punishing Woodside, forcing mistakes that led to a 7.5 (47) to 3.4 (22) lead that had the Wildcats searching for answers as they headed into the half time break.

Woodside answered the bell in the second half, returning to dominant form with relentless attack that contributed to eight scoring shots to two during the third quarter, bridging the gap to just nine points upon three quarter time.

From what occurred in the first half of football, Rosedale knew they had what it took to take down their opponents if they stuck to their guns.

As most final quarters play out in this situation, the game begins to tighten and whomever ceases in the biggest and most important moments end up on top.

In this circumstance, it was the Blues, who dug deep for a 3.3 (21) score line that was enough to subdue Woodside’s chances and give Rosedale a positive end to the season (with a bye in the final round).

Will Logan embodied the attitude that the Blues imposed finishing with a bag of eight goals for the day, followed by top performances from Riley Boyle, Blake Safstrom, Declan Barnett, Jay Diamond and Jake Pawley.

Woodside recognised Jon Fythe, Rowan Pepper, Matt Dyke, Thomas King, Cameron Whiteoak and Ben Johnson in defeat.

Woodside, who won their first 10 games to start the season as the premier side in the competition, offered a huge redemption arch following their Grand Final defeat. They have since managed three losses in their last five games to enter the finals with some doubt as to whether they can even get to the big dance again.

 

Cowwarr 16.10 (106) def Glengarry 10.10 (70)

COWWARR made it to three.

The Saints outdid Glengarry at the weekend 16.10 (106) to 10.10 (70) to determine ninth and 10th on the ladder for season 2024.

It was a modest start for the Magpies, who had patches of great effort the previous week against YYN, and ended the first quarter ahead 3.4 (22) to 2.3 (15) over Cowwarr.

However, that did wake the Saints, who weren’t about to let the chances of a rare victory slip away.

Cowwarr 5.3 (33) led Glengarry 2.1 (13) to end the first half ahead by 13 points and continued suit with a further five goals during the third term, 12.8 (80) to 8.9 (57).

The Saints did what was required to conclude, outscoring Glengarry by 43 points through the final three quarters of play.

It was a huge game from most of the Cowwarr outfit, but most notably Matt Johnston and Kyle Stamers who both tallied five goals on the day as the clear difference-makers in the contest.

Keenan Hughes with three goals, Connor Cook, Robbie Farnham, Nick Twomey and Hayden Hector were others to play well in the much deserved win.

For the Magpies, Callum Mitchell, Michael Ryan, Cassidy Bartley (two goals), Thomas Harris, Jesse Lee and Declan Massaro did all that they could.

 

TTU 25.27 (177) def Gormandale 3.2 (20)

TTU reign supreme.

For the top-positioned Bombers, it was business as usual at home, defeating Gormandale 25.27 (177) to 3.2 (20).

All would have been expecting an emphatic result from TTU, the question would be how much, given their eyes would already be set on the game against Heyfield and preparation for their finals oppositions, but you’ve still got carry out the game.

The Bombers had plenty of opportunities all game, but the Tigers did add a goal early on despite conceding 15 scoring shots for 7.8 (50) in the first quarter alone.

It was similar in the following term but to less emphasis and the first half concluded with TTU ahead 11.12 (78) to 2.2 (14).

The home side felt it was time to put their foot down (despite displaying clear dominance already), piling on 8.9 (57) to one goal in the third quarter, blowing the game out 115 points with one quarter still to go.

The Bombers added a further six goals and didn’t give up score at the other end.

Captain Jye Nielson had a field day with eight goals and the best on ground honour, followed by Michael (two goals) and James Jacobsen (three goals), William Curtain, Jake Albanese (three goals) and Flynn Shields as standouts for the winners.

Chris Potalej, Jai Foulkes, Hayden Richards, Steven Burgess, Isaac Copland and Tristan Salerno were noted as top players for Gormandale.

 

BYE – Heyfield.