FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
IT’S not the Gippsland League – it’s the greatest league.
As players, officials and supporters drove to various venues ready for the opening round of the new season, there was yet again pertinent reminders of just how much country football and netball means to people across the region.
Such was the turnout at some grounds, there wasn’t even enough hard copies of the Record to go around. Even a pre-11am arrival to Bairnsdale City Oval was greeted with “sorry, none left”.
Any disappointment was quickly superseded by feelings of delight, as it was clear the appetite for sport in the bush still held sway, even amid all the doom and gloom generally perpetrated whenever discussions surrounding its viability take place.
Doom and gloom was far from the picture, especially when trawling through the online version of the Record, and in particular, the section dedicated to looking at scores from previous years.
A notable lack of detail existed in the ‘five years ago’ column, and it took a quick flashback to realise there was in fact no sport at all in 2020.
How recent and yet how far back that time seems, and how strange it all was on reflection (did we really do some of those things?).
Thankfully, those days are gone, hopefully buried into a pocket deeper than the old Drouin Recreation Reserve.
The new Gippsland League is here, and with it, 10 teams have now started their journey.
Traralgon 7.6 (48) def by Leongatha 9.11 (65)
OF all the places Dyson Heppell could call home, he just had to be from the one that’s played in the last eight grand finals.
The former Essendon skipper confirmed what was a relatively well-kept secret it must be said over preseason, by lining up for his home club in the opening round of the local season.
Heppell (who is playing VFL with Port Melbourne) helped Leongatha to victory in the twilight Grand Final rematch over Traralgon, with the Parrots winning 9.11 (65) to 7.6 (48).
Joining younger brother Aaron in the green and gold, the pair had teased on a podcast in 2023 that they “might” play for Leongatha down the track if the planets aligned.
Might became sight at the weekend, with the brothers taking to Terry Hunter Oval, although Dyson was perhaps trying to avoid the fanfare surrounding his homecoming, as Leongatha conveniently didn’t select him on PlayHQ on the Friday night.
Leongatha burst out of the gate with 4.3 (27) to 0.2 (2) in the first term, and had the game in relative control from there.
Traralgon got the margin back to 16 points at three quarter time, but the margin hovered around that figure in the last stanza as both sides shared two goals each.
Luis D’Angelo picked up where he left off from last year’s Grand Final, collecting best-on-ground for the Maroons. His familiar ally and the Number 1 ranked player in the league, Tye Hourigan, was also there again, as was Hugh Dunbar, Connor Ambler, Tom McMahon and Mitch Mustoe, who has joined from Traralgon Tyers United.
Traralgon’s lack of key forwards was noted, with Dylan Loprese unavailable due to a wedding and the luckless Tom Hamilton suffering another unfortunate injury setback on the eve of the season.
Dyson Heppell kicked a goal and was named in the best, as was Kim Drew, Tim Sauvarin, Hayden Lindsay and Patrick Ireland.
Like Heppell, Ireland is in the VFL this season and will play when his schedule allows.
The return might not have felt all that different for Heppell for at least one reason: Tom Marriott was still named in the best, just as he probably was in junior games when the pair were growing up.
Bairnsdale 6.6 (42) def by Moe 13.9 (87)
THERE’S a new sheriff in town.
Those wondering what sort of coach Leigh Poholke would be for Moe didn’t have to wait long to find out. One quarter is all it took for him to deliver his first spray.
The tune-up did not fall on deaf ears, as the Lions broke away from Bairnsdale to win 13.9 (87) to 6.6 (42) on the road.
Moe led at each of the quarter breaks, in what was a game that never reached great heights, but had a number of interesting subplots nonetheless.
The Redlegs, not predicted to cause much damage this season, showed they certainly won’t be walkovers.
Trailing by only one point at quarter time, it was clear even some Bairnsdale players were somewhat surprised at what was transpiring.
Redlegs captain Lachlan Byrne-Jones sensed this, calling his team into a huddle before the main address, planting the seed with the dream of “three more quarters”.
Over in the Moe huddle, an explosive Poholke took aim at his side’s lack of accountability, singling out two players with Mirboo North heritage especially. (If you want to hear it, skip to 1.10.30 on the Gippsland League TV replay).
Upon the huddle breaking, there was more than one audible comment praising the welcome change from the modern thinking of ‘everyone gets a medal’.
The Lions smartened up from there, but had to withstand Bairnsdale, who held on until three quarter time.
With the margin only 14 points at the last change, it was rather ironic Moe’s best quarter came when it had its lowest number of resources.
The visitors kicked five goals to none in the final term to win by 45 points, yet walked off the ground with only 18 fit players.
Poholke’s fifth goal ended up being his last kick for the game, as he did an ‘old man injury’ running into open goal before being forced to hop off. Joining him on the bench in the last term was Declan Keilty on precaution, Nick Prowse (calf) and Tajh Eden.
With no rotations, players copping knocks in Harri Sim and Alex Dijkstra were forced to run the game out.
Sim will play against reigning premier Traralgon at home this weekend, in what will be a very long-awaited 100th senior game.
He could be joined by former housemate Riley Baldi, who has the week off with Casey in the VFL.
Dijkstra, who has joined from West Gippy battlers Bunyip, flew in from Bali on the Thursday before the game, and was likely lacking some conditioning.
The left footer was one of a handful of new Moe players who got their first taste of Gippsland League football.
Others playing their first games were former Collingwood player Ben Crocker, Poholke’s Sorrento mate Aaron Paxton, Neerim Neerim South goal machine Matt Roberts, and Moe junior Bobby Higgins, who at 16, became the youngest senior debutant for the Lions since Brock Smith, who made his senior captaincy debut alongside Scott van Dyk at the weekend.
Among the top recruits though was Myles Poholke (Leigh’s younger brother), who was best afield in his first game.
Recruits yes, but connections more specifically. The Poholke boys were born in Moe – Myles in 1998, just before the old Moe Hospital closed. He played with Crocker at Adelaide, while Paxton coached Bunyip, thus bringing about the Dijkstra move.
Myles’ best-on was made somewhat more remarkable by the fact he spent 15 minutes off the ground following a yellow card in the second quarter.
The midfielder might have a case to answer for after some push and shove with Tyran Rees off the ball resulted in Rees ending up on the turf, although he got straight back up.
The non-controlling umpire was in close quarters to where the incident took place at the top of the 50 metre arc at the scoreboard end. Poholke had received significant attention in the first term, and was likely tipped over the edge as it continued.
On the video, there is clear audio of Poholke on the bench claiming Rees milked it for all it was worth.
Regardless, Poholke and Paxton were listed in the best for the winners, along with Chris Prowse, Smith, Tom Blackshaw and Harry Pepper.
Pepper is also approaching a milestone, needing just one goal to register his 100th for the Lions.
Ethan East was best for Bairnsdale. Hugh Longbottom, Cooper Harvey, Oscar Pike, Lachlan Cloak and Josh Lando were also serviceable.
No doubt someone has already sent a strongly worded email to league officials reminding them Moe was at max player points.
Morwell 22.10 (142) def Drouin 7.11 (53)
ONE down, 17 to go.
Drouin’s magical mystery tour began at the weekend, playing the first of 18 games away from home.
A virtually unrecognisable Hawks outfit travelled to Morwell, and were soundly defeated 22.10 (142) to 7.11 (53).
The visitors actually led at quarter time, yet a seven goal to one second term blew the game out, and saw the margin creep closer and closer to triple figures.
Morwell kicked 11.1 (67) alone in the final quarter, technically beating their 10.7 (67) record for highest scoring fourth quarter against Drouin, which had stood since season 2014.
If the Tigers have a season as good as that… well.
Brandon McDonald and coach Boyd Bailey kicked four each, finishing off the good work of returning ruckman Isaac Abas, Cody Macdonald, Tyler Hillier and Brandon Mcauliffe.
The good news started for the Tigers from the outset, with the fourths winning their first game in four years.
Bailey would have been pleased with the margin, given he noted his team was unable to really put sides away last year.
Such ruthlessness is usually seen from the best clubs. Leongatha certainly don’t take it easy when the result is clear, nor did Maffra during their previous dynasty.
It was said Alastair Clarkson drummed similar thinking into his Hawthorn sides when they were on their flag-winning ways, comparing such games to “batting against Bangladesh”.
An 89-point margin could well give Morwell a head start, given results against the Hawks are likely to narrow once grounds become heavier.
Aden Quirk, Zach Mcmillan, Kye Quirk, Caleb Quirk, Seb Amoroso and Ben Tranfield put in honest stints for the visitors.
Looking through the Drouin list certainly presented what is going to be an unenviable task this season, as even this writer, who has played in the league for more than 10 years and plays cricket in Warragul District thought to himself “I hardly know any of these blokes”.
Playing every game away from home must be tough.
Try doing it for five years.
Sale 10.18 (78) def by Maffra 13.11 (89)
THE classroom is the air and sunshine.
Noted educator Ray Carroll, of Assumption College Kilmore notoriety, has always maintained young boys will learn more life lessons on the sports field than they will in front of a chalkboard.
After what happened last Sunday, Maffra coach and fellow educator Anthony Robbins may well vouch for that.
The Eagles, with a team resembling Year 11 and 12 students picked at lunchtime, pulled off what is surely the club’s best win since the 2019 Grand Final, defeating arch rival Sale 13.10 (88) to 10.18 (78) in the Battle of the Birds.
If this match had been played in the schoolyard, captains selecting their team would have chosen at least six Sale players before settling on anyone from Maffra.
The Eagles well and truly showed the capacity of the mind, to storm home in a scarcely believable final term.
With no rotations and key forward John Butcher barely able to walk, the visitors inexplicitly slammed on four goals in five minutes to overhaul an 11-point three quarter time deficit.
Such momentum genuinely came from nowhere, as Maffra could not hit a target to save themselves in the previous term, yet alone make any meaningful impact on the scoreboard.
The Eagles sent two shots at the Past Players Hill end at Sale Oval out on the full from no more than 20 metres out, as the margin stayed at around 15 points in the third.
Such a gap was handy for Sale given the swirly conditions, but led to an overall scrappy affair. The Magpies had plenty of chances in front of goal, and of their 18 behinds, two hit the post in the third term alone.
A stalemate ensued early on, and it took until the 14 minute mark of the first quarter for Maffra to register the first goal of the game.
The Eagles nailed the first three majors, before Sale responded to take a two-point lead at quarter time.
The GOAT (Shannen Lange) was already doing GOAT things, with plenty of touches and two goals – one from 50 into the wind after being the recipient of a reversed decision.
There was more fighting than football in the second term, which saw the quarter tick over longer than 35 minutes.
Downfield free kicks and 50 metre penalties were frequent, as players exchanged barbs, which started even before the opening bounce.
Daniel Bedggood went straight to former Maffra player, Ashton Wright as the game commenced, presumably telling him what he thought of his temerity to jump ship.
The second quarter was highlighted by Judd Burgiel kicking what could already win goal of the year, after the youngster took two bounces and shrugged off a tackle before dobbing it from 40.
Trust a Burgiel to perform such a deed.
If fisticuffs were top of the agenda in the second, unrealistic attempts replaced them in the third.
Sale was guilty on two occasions, but held the ascendency for most of the term, and looked the better side all things considered.
Despite the margin only standing at 11 points, the odds were well and truly against Maffra.
Veteran midfielder Ed Carr left the ground with suspected broken ribs in the third, while fellow stalwart David Adams had his leg heavily iced.
Robbins maintained a positive message in the three quarter time huddle, urging his players to focus on winning the ball first and to “find a want”.
“You can do it,” he implored.
Over in the Sale huddle, playing-coach Jack Johnstone told his troops they were “doing a lot right”, before laying specific instructions to Wright to be conscious of Butcher.
Butcher, known throughout his time in the AFL for his own-brand style of goal kicking, showed nothing had changed since returning home.
In the first three quarters, he’d kicked one out on the full from 15 metres out directly in front, handballed another off from the top of the goal square, and did so again just before three quarter time.
Yet for all that, the former Port Adelaide player delivered two decisive goals in the last. The first came in ironic fashion, literally soccered through on the goal line, while the next came with a lumbering chekside kick on the run.
The Eagles had to fight back from an even greater deficit after the Magpies kicked the first of the last, before their miraculous run of four goals in five minutes started at the seven minute mark.
Maffra had all the momentum following Butcher’s second goal 11 minutes in, and when Jack McQuillen kicked his third, a famous win looked a real possibility.
It seemed an eternity between inside 50s for Sale, and the Magpies finally got close to goal at the 16 minute mark.
Sale was gifted a goal and the lead after Jett Killoran gave away a 50 metre penalty for late contact, yet there was another chapter to be told in his story.
With injured Maffra player Ethan Aurisch shaking uncontrollably in the grandstand as he tried to write down the stats, scores were tied as the clock ticked into red time.
At that stage Sale had registered 10.16 (76) to the Eagles’ 11.10 (76), cueing the age-old cliché from spectators.
Continuing the unexplainable course the game was taking, Dylan Alexander, who has returned to Maffra from Queensland this season, and by all reports, struggles to kick over a jam tin, nailed a set shot from 50.
Needing a moment to redeem himself, Killoran won the ball and delivered a perfect pass to Butcher on the lead.
Cramping in both legs, Butcher left the ground and the shot was taken by McQuillen, who duly completed the task.
An agonising wait followed, as the quarter went well over 30 minutes, before the siren ignited reactions usually seen after finals.
Maffra players were mobbed by young fans, some not much older than them, while a visibly proud Robbins graciously accepted a number of handshakes.
“To win here today was absolutely super, the resilience that the side showed, that was probably the most important thing,” he said postgame.
“The game’s often won by thinking you can, sticking to your process, believing that things will turn your way if you keep running and working hard, to keep having a crack, all the set ups and organisation in the world doesn’t beat getting your hands on the footy.
“We were never well out of it, but at 20 points that’s when sides can go either way. Last year we lost four games by less than 10 points, maybe there is a bit more belief we can win some of those games now.”
The Number 77 isn’t generally too sought after, but that changes at the Eagles as it was the number worn by Adrian Burgiel.
Noah Christy now wears it, and put in a best-on-ground performance up forward, much like the man generally regarded as the league’s greatest ever match winner.
McQuillen was also prominent, as was Lachlan Allman, Thomas Scott, Zack Felsbourg (who battled through with a broken toe) and Judd Burgiel.
Speaking of the final quarter turnaround, Robbins was full of praise for what the team achieved.
“We were hoping they would rise, and they did,” he said.
“We had the potential to score quickly if we got it there, we just had to probably control their key playmakers, which we hadn’t done for most of the game.”
Allman and James Read tagged Lange in the second half, after he already had close to 30 touches.
In defeating Sale, the Eagles might have also inadvertently unlocked the secret to stopping one of the league’s best players.
Allman only tagged Lange in patches, meaning Maffra wasn’t short a player themselves when required.
Lange also spent significant minutes on the ground, and it was clear he was gassed the further the game went on.
Using ‘greatest strength, greatest weakness’ philosophy, keeping Lange busy might actually be the best way to quell his influence. He might still have 30, but be physically exhausted when the game needs to be won.
Lange couldn’t have done much more at the weekend, kicking three goals from more than 40 touches.
Will Leslie, Cooper Whitehill, Wright, Lachie Ronchi and Kane Cutler were also in the best.
Things get no easier for Sale, who travel to Leongatha this weekend. Maffra meanwhile have put the competition on notice.
The Eagles have been slowly but surely plotting their next finals tilt, making no pretentions about their desire to stick with locals and youngsters.
Recruiting won’t be an issue either if Maffra ever do want to get the next Trent Knobel or Mitch Bennett – they have 20 points to play with.
“We’re under no illusions, we’ve still got a lot of work to do, but today was a step in the right direction and hopefully confirms the message we’re trying to sell about youth and bringing our own through,” Robbins said.
“We are comfortable with what we’ve got, we’ve also got to encourage them to spread their wings if their good enough, but we certainly think if we continue down this path, eventually we will reap the rewards.”
From a football sense, Maffra will hope those rewards come in the form of premiership cups.
Greater reward however will come when these young players eventually leave football with lessons for life.
Wonthaggi 11.11 (77) def by Warragul 12.6 (78)
IF only the wind stayed like this for Trent Cotchin in 2014.
In scenes that would have made Baby Bash and T-Pain proud, a cyclone swirled in South Gippsland, making for one of the more astonishing quarter-by-quarter scores in league history between Wonthaggi and Warragul.
The Gulls ended up winning by one point, 12.6 (78) to 11.11 (77), holding on for dear life into the breeze.
Warragul kicked seven goals in the opening term to one behind.
Sure enough, Wonthaggi then kicked seven goals to one behind in the second quarter.
Then it was Warragul’s turn again. Five goals they managed in the third, although the Power snuck one in, giving at least one goal umpire reason to extend both hands.
Wonthaggi peppered the goals in the last, but returned 3.5 (25), and while the Gulls didn’t score, it was enough to see them get out of town with the four points in tow.
Isaac Wallace was best for the winners, followed by Tom Hobbs, James Harrison, Tom Stern, Vinnie Caia and Riley Senini.
Shannon Bray did a power of work in defence for Wonthaggi, while Jye Gilmour, Josh Bates, Ryan Sparkes, Jarryd Blair and Josh Schulz were industrious.
The result was similar to the corresponding round last season, which saw Warragul unexpectedly defeat Wonthaggi in a low-scoring grind.
Who knows, with the race to win the seat of Monash heating up, perhaps this won’t be the only time Warragul beats Wonthaggi.
