FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT and TOM HAYES
Woodside 12.9 (81) def by YYN 13.8 (86)
IT’S not often during finals time players get to sit in the sun in front of and backed by their hometown fans and live through a game like this.
Yallourn Yallourn North hosted the first day of finals action in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League last Saturday.
This was the first time the Jets had hosted a final since joining the NGFNL in 2021.
The Jets defeated Woodside in the Qualifying Final, 13.8 (86) to 12.9 (81) in a match that displayed all types of swings and storylines culminating in YYN playing-coach Tom Hutton booting the match-winning goal.
In time for the bounce of the ball, you couldn’t have asked for a better day weather wise, which meant both premiership-hungry sides had little to fall back on if results didn’t go their way.
Little score was seen through the first seven minutes, with two top-tier midfields crashing and bashing yet either unable to break away.
Woodside nailed the first three goals of the game, catching the Jets defenders out of sync. The Wildcats’ Michael O’Sullivan found himself open twice in quick succession to extend their untouched lead.
The first fruitful run of things YYN produced saw Hutton roll back from centre half forward, sensing what the Jets needed to see themselves land their first punch. He marked the ball and led a switch play connecting with seasoned backmen Dylan Bentley and Campbell MacInnes sending the ball forward finishing with Dean MacDonald giving the Jets their first major.
YYN regained their edge, holding Woodside scoreless following their initial spurt and added the next seven scoring shots to finish the opening term ahead 3.4 (22) to 3.1 (19).
Preceding quarter time, the battle in the middle continued, as Ryan Foat (Woodside) and Ben Morrow (YYN) went shot-for-shot attempting to palm the ball down to their fellow on-ballers while also equally working themselves across the ground as atypical ruckmen.
It began to break the way of the Jets with Hutton finding Bentley on the fat side creeping forward for the first goal of the second quarter.
The Wildcats still weren’t about to give in despite conceding the last four goals of the match, as they positioned a ball up in the far pocket of the changeroom end where Matt Dyke check-sided a monster goal out of the stoppage along the boundary, bringing the game back within seven points.
YYN’s Josh Keyhoe responded with two magnificent passages, firstly working himself open for his first goal and then busting through two Woodside defenders to lace out Barrie Burnett open in the middle of the forward 50 that ended with MacInnes trailing, sending home the Jets’ third for the quarter.
However, with the game seemingly going their way, the Jets did appear slightly overzealous at times, with men getting free as Woodside controlled possession awaiting a chance to strike.
Inaccurate kicking saw two set shots from the Wildcats swing and miss before goals from O’Sullivan and Daniel Farmer saw Woodside jump out in front for the first time since their opening run.
The Jets took back their lead just in time for halftime, with Woodside’s Jeremy Morgan holding onto Hutton upon a mark, drawing a 50-metre penalty sending the playing-coach into an easy goal.
YYN led by a point, 7.6 (48) to 7.5 (47) at the main break.
While YYN presumed now was their time to run over the top of an underdone Woodside, who had faced some trying times leading up to their finals campaign while the Jets were winners of their last four games (ironically, their last loss came against Woodside), it was easier said than done.
After Keyhoe nailed his second, minutes into the second half, a dry patch followed as many players began to feel the heat with the sun barrelling down onto George Bates Reserve.
The first half saw a healthy amount of goals each way – the third quarter not so much, with only three majors to its name.
After a hard hit, Hutton came to ground and was ushered off by the trainer holding his ribs.
The Jets still found themselves above water, kicking two of those three total goals, but a late one from Farmer working hard back into Woodside’s forward 50 and passing two YYN defenders had him rewarded with a nice grab and set shot goal that kept the margin at six points with a quarter to play.
The Wildcats rolled on from this newfound life, running in numbers and connecting across the ground, desperately trying to avoid falling into an Elimination Final the following week.
A stoppage was won by Woodside along the half forward line, with the ball falling into Cam Whiteoak’s hands, who perfectly palmed the ball ahead to Rowan Pepper, allowing him to run straight ahead for goal tying the game up 62-apiece.
Added inspiration was presented to YYN as Hutton fought through pain and returned to the field, giving his side the feeling that they weren’t going to fall by the wayside. The time was now.
What Hutton was calling for from his team finally came to fruition as a workmanlike and confident YYN unit gained and gained on their opponents, responding with the next three goals, two coming from MacDonald and another from Burnett that sent it out to a hefty margin with the game nearing time-on.
Woodside answered the call out of the middle with it all-or-nothing at this point, and found the ball through the middle posts with Liam Hard in the goal square.
YYN preceded to withstand a decent chunk of time with several repeat entries into the Wildcats forward line before eventually working them down, chipping the ball around and finding Whiteoak, who bombed a deep goal home bringing the margin back to five points.
Pressure began to set, only minutes ago it seemed as if the Jets were destined to send themselves through to the Semi Final with little faze – but it was now thrown up in the air.
YYN supporters began to feel sick as Woodside were awarded a free kick inside the centre square and punted the ball into the pack.
Luck seemed to be going the Wildcats way as the ball fell out the back and Farmer snapped for his third with no defence in front of him, giving them a one-point edge well and truly into red time.
Another centre bounce was won by Woodside, causing a scramble atop of the Wildcats forward 50.
The ball found itself out and landed in Whiteoak’s hands, bursting straight ahead ready to send one through, however, YYN’s Riley Byrne came out of the woodwork, chasing him down for holding the ball, erupting the crowd as a goal there would have surely sealed the Jets’ fate.
That act gave YYN the jolt they needed, working the ball up further afield into a stoppage in YYN’s forward line.
Out of the pocket, Hutton picked up the ball, spun away towards the boundary line on the left side and let rip a shot on his favoured left boot that kept far before turning in.
Right in front of the YYN can bar, on-lookers leapt to their feet and roared with glee as the goal umpire reaffirmed what they knew to be true while plenty of teammates around the contest surrounded Hutton.
Less than a minute later, the siren sounded with Jets players and supporters’ hands in the air while Woodside appeared lost as to what had occurred.
Hutton, never one to take credit, said it was all about their collective fight.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the fight and grit the boys showed in those last six or seven minutes where we could’ve easily rolled over and taken the easy way out and fallen back on the fact that we have the double chance,” he said.
“But I’ve been really clear all along that the second chance is a luxury we’re not interested in using and the boys dug in and found something extra to get over the line which was very pleasing.”
Dylan Brooks received the best-on-ground for the Jets, streaming off half back, followed by Morrow, Jame De Virgilio, Byrne, MacDonald (five goals) and Lucas Fry.
Woodside performed admirably, especially through the guts with Mark Collison, Whiteoak, Josh Kennedy, Ben Johnson, O’Sullivan (three goals) and Dyke recognised in defeat.
YYN now set up to play TTU at Stephenson Park for a spot in the 2024 North Gippsland Grand Final.
Sale City 9.12 (66) def by Heyfield 18.16 (124)
WITH everything on the line, the North Gippsland football Elimination Final was quite the one-sided affair.
Sale City and Heyfield filtered into fourth and fifth respectively after 18 rounds, having to play each other for progression in the finals picture.
Heading to Rosedale Recreation Reserve, the fifth-placed Kangaroos stole the show, dominating the Bulldogs in a 18.16 (124) to 9.12 (66) scoreline.
The intensity between the two teams was high as the game got underway.
Both sides went inside 50 without a score, perhaps showing flashes of what was to come.
Four minutes into the opening term, Heyfield ran coast-to-coast on the far wing, as a kick inside 50 found Kyle Graham on the run, who ran inside and snapped truly for the first score of the game.
The Kangaroos doubled their lead just minutes later, and all of a sudden Sale City’s intensity was gone after only five minutes. The Bulldogs’ intensity was replaced with hot temper, which cost them dearly.
Heyfield made it three straight goals when a downfield free kick on the goal line made for the easiest of conversions.
With all of the run, Heyfield’s Liam Heasley rebounded from defence after the following centre bounce, kicking long inside forward 50. A bump on the possession sent a free kick downfield again.
Sale City players became frustrated, forcing a physical nature upon Heyfield which cost them another 50-metre penalty. Heyfield kicked their second from the goal line and fourth for the game after just 12 minutes had been played.
A quick kick out of the pack found its way through the big sticks for the Kangaroos minutes later. Even when it looked like they weren’t trying to score, they were.
Eighteen minutes into the first term, and Heyfield was first to the ball every time. Shaun Humphreys was excellent on the lead, marking out in front, and converting from the arc to make it six straight.
It was getting ugly for Sale City now, who were beginning to take the form of witches hats, and only 20 minutes had surpassed.
The Bulldogs barged their way forward for a rare inside 50, which was marked by Sale City playing-coach Jacob Schuback. When it finally looked like they would have their first score, his kick drifted, hitting the top of the behind post.
Five minutes later, the Bulldogs continued to put in work, making it more difficult for Heyfield to stretch upon their lead. But their good work was undone by split-second decisions that would hinder their progress.
An arrant push in a ruck contest gave away another free kick to Heyfield in front of goal, as they nailed their seventh in a row.
With the siren nearing, Heyfield continued to surge inside 50 with every opportunity, and when they did, they went deep to the square.
Seemingly out-marking Sale City at every instance, Heyfield’s Daniel Burton decided to literally jump head and shoulders above the rest, taking a monster mark in the goal square on the back of the Bulldogs defenders.
He slotted it, with the siren sounding shortly after. The game had reached the tipping point already, Heyfield leading 8.4 (52) to nothing.
At quarter time, the message was clear to the Bulldogs. Schuback told his troops to lift their intensity and begin to take risks through the corridor. Shouts of “reset” and “chip away” sparked some fight in the Bulldogs as they entered the second term.
The game had glimpses of Hawthorn and Richmond’s most recent encounter, beginning with a first quarter blitz, followed by a somewhat even contest.
However the second quarter began with Heyfield picking up exactly where they had left off.
Sale City won the first clearance, but it was intercepted by Heyfield defender Thomas Marchesi, who took off as he frequently did throughout the day. The Kangaroos transitioned from defence to attack in a matter of seconds, with Finn Stephenson converting his set shot.
Minutes later, the Bulldogs finally got on the board, but it was only a minor score. Sale City’s Flynn Read was intervened with in a contest, but his set shot sprayed wide.
Nonetheless, their score was moving in the right direction.
As the quarter moved toward the midway point, scoring hit a lull, which was a positive for Sale City, but still they weren’t chipping away at the margin.
Both sides entered their forward 50s on multiple occasions without a score, but Heyfield took full advantage of another defensive error, when Humphreys had his arms chopped 15 metres out, directly in front, kicking their 10th straight goal.
Despite being 66 points down midway through the second term, Sale City made it difficult for Heyfield to get much further away, finally kicking their first goal of the game 21 minutes into the second quarter.
Their momentum continued, with repeat entry after repeat entry, yet minor scores were the only ones ticking. Another forward 50 entry to the Bulldogs saw Kane Martin mark on the siren. He went back and made no mistake to keep the game alive at halftime, the score reading 10.8 (68) to 2.7 (19).
With the chance to ice the game in the third quarter, Heyfield certainly started as if that was the plan.
Tyson Birss got things going with a snap around the body under pressure by Sale City defenders. The Kangaroos had two in five minutes when Humphreys broke another chain of Bulldogs possession with another snap going through the big sticks. Heyfield began to run away with it, leading by 63 points at this stage.
Minutes ticked by with no majors. Sale City assumed much of the possession, slowing the game down with the ball in their hands, when they possibly should’ve been sending Hail Mary’s to cut the margin.
Graham slotted another against the run for Heyfield midway through the quarter, as Sale City continued to miss their opportunities, while the Kangaroos oppositely weren’t.
With the quarter coming to a close, scoring started to free up a bit more. The Bulldogs had their chance to kick their first for the quarter, but Martin’s shot went wayward – out on the full. Heyfield ran coast-to-coast from the turnover, ending with Graham kicking another around the body.
With not a lot of stoppage in the third quarter, the siren was expected a bit earlier, but it didn’t sound. Sale City still had time.
From the centre bounce, the Bulldogs surged forward, forcing a ball-up inside 50. From the stoppage, the ball was palmed down and expertly converted for the Bulldogs’ first of the term.
They added another through Ostin Waugh in the goal square, following a Heyfield turnover as they attempted to exit their defensive 50.
Moments later, as the siren was about to sound, Sale City senior best-and-fairest Cooper Whitehill kicked another from a stoppage, completing a three-goal run in four minutes before the siren sounded.
Heyfield led by 60 points at three quarter time, but it was on the brink of being much worse.
The message at the Heyfield huddle was to finish them off and to win the last quarter, while for Sale City, they were told a similar message to that of quarter time – roll the dice.
The floodlights turned on as clouds began to cover the reserve, rain was on its way.
Burton got the party started for the Kangaroos with the first goal within the opening minute of the last term, dribbling one through an unattended goal square.
Sale City pegged a couple back in the next 10 minutes through Martin, but Graham continued to find himself in handy positions, cancelling out the Bulldogs’ scores.
During the final 15 minutes, the game was well and truly iced. Both sides kicked two goals each as the game opened up a tad more, but the result was set in stone.
Heyfield claimed a massive win over one of the in-form teams in the competition to keep their season alive.
Graham was best on for Heyfield, kicking six goals. Also highlighted was Robert McMillan, Heasley, Humphreys, Isaac Wheeler, and Marchesi.
For the exiting Sale City, Hudson Tollner, Whitehill, Chris Kelf, Martin, Brad McKay, and Mitchell Evans were standouts.
NGFNL FINALS – WEEK 2
2nd Semi Final – TTU v YYN, Stephenson Park, August 31
1st Semi Final – Woodside v Heyfield, Fred King Oval, September 1
