FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
ARE we seeing the greatest season of all time right before our eyes?
Another scarcely believable round of the Gippsland League at the weekend left the competition with three ‘live’ games heading into the final round.
Morwell, Wonthaggi and Sale will all head into Round 18 with last round anxiety, as any number of possibilities are on the cards to determine their finals fate.
Finals may not be determined until literally the last kick of the regular season, in what is being described as the most competitive year in the league’s history.
Those taking part may not appreciate it now, but in time, historians may well look back on the Gippsland League 2024 in the same way the 2005 Ashes are remembered.
There is a documentary in this season.
Just so long as the finals aren’t a fizzer.
Morwell 13.9 (87) drew with Sale 13.9 (87)
IT can happen to anyone.
Even a VFL player.
Confronted with a kick of barely 40 metres after the siren, and needing any score to win, Sale’s Cody Henness fluffed his set shot badly, hooking the ball out on the full against Morwell.
The ball floated over the boundary line in front of the clubrooms at Morwell Recreation Reserve, leaving disbelieving onlookers dazed, and the scoreboard reading 13.9 (87) apiece.
It was the first time the Magpies and Tigers had played in a draw.
The reactions however were stark. The result was almost every bit a win for Morwell, who took two points to stay inside the top five by half-a-game, while Sale were arguably the greater losers in more ways than one.
The odds would have appeared every bit in Sale’s favour as the siren blew when Henness was running in, but now, the Magpies find themselves anchored in sixth position and two points adrift with just one game left.
Incredibly, this was the second draw Morwell has played in this season, on the very same ground.
By absolute sheer coincidence, and adding to what has been a season filled with mystical elements, the umpiring trio of Steve Esler, Scott Moorhouse and Dan Swallow has also been exactly the same for both draws involving Morwell.
The Tigers made most of the early running, kicking four goals to one in the opening term.
Sale then had its turn kicking with the scoring end, and went into the halftime break ahead by five points.
The consequence of the Magpies registering 6.7 (43) to 6.2 (38) by this stage was not yet known, nor would it be until the very last play.
Morwell took a nine point lead heading into the last, setting up a pulsating final term.
Sale had the ideal start, kicking two goals inside the first three minutes. The first came from Jarrod Freeman finding an uncontested mark inside 50, and then playing-coach Jack Johnstone snapping truly to give the Magpies back the lead.
Johnstone’s major made it 10 lead changes for the game, before a string of three misses from Morwell added to their frustrations.
Tiger’s livewire Brandon McDonald converted at the 11-minute mark, taking Morwell to a five point lead.
McDonald had been involved in some friendly fire only minutes earlier, cleaning up teammate and poster boy Tyler Hillier in a marking contest.
The intensity may have led to some critical lapses, as Sale got back the lead after a coach killer deep in defence saw Freeman all on his own and goal side after three Morwell players flew to spoil the same ball.
Hiller hit the post at the 15-minute mark, tying things up once again.
Entering red time, Sale’s Mitch Dowse set off down the wing and found himself with acres of space, kicking a great goal on the run to make it six points to the advantage of the visitors.
In what was a remarkably free-flowing game given the clock ticking well into red and what was at stake, Morwell made it all square once again after Brandon Mcaulliffe found himself all alone inside 50, who in turn passed to Tyler Brown, who made no mistake from a slight angle.
The Magpies weren’t done with yet, and the script appeared perfect for key forward Brad Dessent in his 100th senior game.
Dessent took a grab 45 metres out at the 26-minute mark. His set shot however went across the face, and Morwell rebounded without conceding a behind.
Some manic moments followed, and it looked certain the Tigers were going to score going from one end of the ground to the other.
Brown sent the ball toward McDonald, who was goal side and with Sale defenders Will Leslie and Jake Hutchins some distance away.
The ball however eluded him, and a free kick was paid to Leslie.
Leslie kicked to Hudson Holmes, who then passed to Jack Leslie at half back.
Leslie sent a long ball to centre wing, which was marked by Jonty McGuinness, who quickly played on and sent the ball inside 50.
The ball spilled to Johnstone, who then wheeled and found Henness unattended.
Henness, who has played seven games for Port Melbourne in the VFL this season, then made sure Round 17 returned with the biggest complexity imaginable.
Leading in, all predictions on the run to finals surrounded either a Morwell or Sale win.
No one had considered what would happen if there was a draw.
Dessent won’t be forgetting his 100th senior game any time soon, nor will Morwell playing-coach Boyd Bailey, who was celebrating the same milestone.
Best for the Tigers was Charlie Burr, Brown (three goals), Aidan Quigley, McDonald (four goals), Zac Anderson and Burkeley Macfarlane.
McGuiness was best for Sale, followed by Shannen Lange, Jack McLaren, Patrick Tainsh, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith and Will Leslie.
Maffra 6.8 (44) def by Traralgon 16.12 (108), Moe 11.15 (81) def Warragul 7.8 (50)
TRARALGON and Moe secured the double-chance in Round 17 of the Gippsland League.
The Valley duo will play each other in the Qualifying Final, but have one more game to get through before then.
Valley counterparts Morwell could make it a full complement of local teams come finals, but must beat Traralgon or rely on other results falling their way this weekend.
Moe meanwhile has a road trip to Wonthaggi to deal with, which could also be a finals preview.
The Lions and Maroons each won as expected last weekend, beating the two bottom sides.
Traralgon’s victory over Maffra confined the Eagles to their first wooden spoon since 1987.
Maffra officials weren’t entirely happy with this scribe at this year’s season launch upon learning he had predicted them to finish last.
While a small tick can be self-gloatingly given there, one prediction that has gone horribly wrong is Traralgon to finish well outside the top five.
First-year coach Troy Hamilton has taken his young team to 11 wins so far this season, the latest being a 16.12 (108) to 6.8 (44) pumping away from home.
The Maroons controlled things from the get-go, and had six goals to one on the board at quarter time.
There was no letting up, even as far as the fourth quarter when the game was well and truly over.
Traralgon did not concede a single behind, on their way to victory by 64 points.
A quartet of players kicked three goals for the Maroons. Josh Hamilton and Dylan Loprese were two, and were among the best players, along with Sam Hallyburton, Luis D’Angelo, Jordan Cunico and captain Tye Hourigan back from injury.
Alex Carr, Seth Smith, Thomas Scott, Jett Killoran, Lachlan Allman and Kade Renooy battled hard for Maffra.
The win capped off a good week for the Maroons, who re-signed coaches Troy Hamilton and Amy Harrison (A Grade netball), and whose members endorsed plans to finally build new change rooms following the 2021 flood.
Back in the Valley, Moe defeated Warragul 11.15 (81) to 7.8 (50).
As they had in their previous encounter, the Gulls looked to physically target a few Moe players, resulting in a number of spot fires.
The Lions however responded with an appropriate level of retribution this time around without ever going over the top.
Brock Smith, Trent Baldi, Jacob Balfour, Ben Daniher, Liam Masters and Scott van Dyk collected the votes for the winners.
Mitchell Smart, Lucas Carter, Lane Ward, Jack Lewsey, Riley Senini and Xavier Olsson were best for Warragul.
Drouin 5.7 (37) def by Wonthaggi 19.8 (122)
WONTHAGGI continued to keep all teams on edge, beating Drouin by 85 points.
The Power gave their percentage a good kick-along, and were favoured by fine weather to some extent, winning 19.8 (122) to 5.7 (37) on Drouin’s usually muddy oval.
Cooper McInness bagged six goals, and was helped by Jakeb Thomas and Jaxon Williams who each kicked three.
Jordan Kingi, Kye Quirk and Jaxon Huston were best for the Hawks.
The win made it seven victories from the last eight starts for Wonthaggi, propelling their momentum even further.
Prepared to go out on a limb here: if Wonthaggi wins the elimination final, they’ll make the granny.
Bairnsdale 7.5 (47) def by Leongatha 15.15 (105)
THE perfect career doesn’t exi….
Gippsland League modern-day great Tom Marriott played his 200th senior game at the weekend.
The bullocking Leongatha midfielder hit the road for his milestone, travelling all the way to Bairnsdale.
There, he celebrated as the Parrots won by 58 points, 15.15 (105) to 7.5 (47), on their way to securing yet another minor premiership.
Like most of his previous 199 games, Marriott was among the best players in the green and gold, and capped off the performance with a goal for good measure.
The Parrots took a quarter or so to get going, but put the game to rest with a five goal to none third term.
Ned Hanily and Jack Hume each kicked four goals, and received good support from Kim Drew, Jay Walker and Cade Maskell, who almost pulled down Mark of the Year after getting horizontal on top of a pack of players.
Bairnsdale was well-served by Ethan East, Will Mitchell, Max Neate, Lachlan Byrne-Jones and Tate Clay.
Redlegs coach Logan Austin has announced he will be moving on after the last game, as he and his wife head back to Adelaide. While originally from Canberra, Austin played three seasons for Port Adelaide in the AFL.
