FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
Traralgon 7.9 (51) def Morwell 7.6 (48)
THE team at TRFM do an outstanding job calling, but surely even they wish Brian Taylor came on air for the second half between Traralgon and Morwell on Anzac Day.
“It’s absolutely pissing down!”
While there was no last-gasp winning goal at Terry Hunter Oval last Friday, there was plenty of late drama, in what was another enthralling Hunter/Stanistreet Cup between the two Gippsland League rivals.
In a game that was part football, part swimming, and even part Oprah Winfrey (“you get a free kick, and you get a free kick … you all get free kicks”), the home side survived a late Tiger current kicking with the tide, holding on 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48) under lights.
The Round 3 match started with appropriate solemnity, as The Last Post played out before the great Terry Hunter himself tossed the coin.
Heavy rain that plagued the second half was far from anyone’s mind during the first, which saw an entertaining contest unfold while conditions were firm.
Traralgon enjoyed a red hot start, after vice captain Connor Ambler snapped a running goal inside the first two minutes.
Signs were looking ominous for the Maroons early, especially given star player Tye Hourigan had a hand in a number of score assists as the game was just unfolding.
The question of who was going to play on Hourigan had been a hot topic during the week, after the skipper kicked three final quarter goals against Moe to single-handedly win Traralgon’s previous game.
Hourigan started forward last Friday night, and was picked up by Harri McColl.
That Hourigan was named best-on for Traralgon and McColl second-best for Morwell would give reason to label the contest a draw – which wasn’t far off the actual end result, much like the last time these two sides met.
Morwell enjoyed periods of dominance in the opening term, and went into the break leading 4.2 (26) to 3.3 (21).
The Tigers were (ironically) aerially superior, especially from the likes of Tom Gray and Isaac Abas up forward, who pulled out a one hander in front of Traralgon’s ‘Pud’s Bar’.
Bullocking Morwell midfielder, Anthony Rosato goaled after a 50 metre penalty took him to the edge of the square, although the Maroons were able to respond through a gifted goal of their own, after a catastrophic turnover saw an inboard kick from the back pocket land straight into the arms of Chris ‘Squid’ Williams.
Williams didn’t need a second invitation, and looked as though he could hardly believe his luck before waltzing in.
The Tigers didn’t let that turnover demoralise them, and a desperate chase down tackle from Mackenzie Blewett personified their effort, which saw greater reward not long after.
Cohen Campbell reaped the rewards with a miraculous check-side on the run, and celebrated accordingly with what appeared to be a James Harden-inspired move at the 20 minute mark.
Traralgon’s pressure was also up, with Conor Little nabbing Morwell playing-coach Boyd Bailey, while some bit hits were also laid, especially when Rosato and Hugh Dunbar collided.
You could hear the discernible ‘slap’ of bodies from the boundary.
As one Morwell supporter sitting close by quipped “Tank (Rosato) scares me and he’s on our team”.
A goal to Tiger favourite Tyler Hillier out of congestion gave the visitors a lift heading into the first break, but on the resumption, Hourigan (who else) was able to split the middle with a set shot hugged right up against the boundary.
Morwell’s desperation was notable, especially whenever Hourigan was near the ball.
Tom Gaile showed tremendous courage going back with the flight knowing Hourigan was coming, while a Nick Maxwell-like smother in the goal square from Stephen Mills (dangerously ironical) prevented a certain Traralgon goal.
The Maroons however still added three majors, to go into the main break with a nine point lead.
The second half began with a dark cloud literally hanging above, as hope quickly turned to despair as the inevitable unfolded.
As if three lightning strikes wasn’t clear enough – the rain was about to come and come hard.
And it did.
There was a few highlights in the first 10 or so dry minutes, notably when Traralgon’s Sam Hallyburton took four bounces down the construction site wing where the new changerooms will be built.
If the heavy rain offered anything, it was at least the chance to visualise how the new rooms will stand up in the event of a future flood.
The frames currently in place give a good indication of just how elevated the new structure will be (it’s tall!).
The third quarter only went for 25 minutes such was the lack of scoring, which saw no goals and only four behinds combined.
Once rain fell, structure disappeared, and it became a territory game.
Bailey reiterated this at three quarter time when speaking to his players.
“Get it forward, play the percentages, strip it back,” he said.
Traralgon coach, Troy Hamilton was similarly short and sharp.
“Discipline is the key,” he said.
The umpires were queried on rules governing lightning by the Express at three quarter time, and told it was at their discretion.
With players under the sea and under no illusion as to what kind of game was about to be played, Morwell found a goal through Bailey at the six minute mark, after he got into enough space and threw it on the boot from outside 50, presumably in hope more than anything.
From a distance, it looked like a flat punt, meaning there was every chance it would skid on once it hit the deck.
Sure enough it did, and went through a vacant goal square, meaning the Tigers were back within five points.
That glove must have magic powers.
As a left arm quick during cricket season, Bailey went on a Mitchell Starc run similar to what followed the Rory Burns first ball of the Ashes. (If you ever need a boost, just YouTube ‘Starc Burns Triple M commentary’).
With momentum suddenly with Morwell, it appeared Traralgon was trying to save the game rather than win it less than 10 minutes into the last.
The Maroons were down a ruckman after Peter Strong had to receive treatment in the rooms, made all the more problematic by how far away the portable changerooms are from the ground itself.
Usual centre half-forward Dylan Loprese was put into the ruck, and would go on to play a pivotal role in defence as the game neared its end.
Traralgon snuck a goal when Harvey Neocleous hit up Hourigan at the top of the square, after the ball bounced around a few bodies.
Bailey then nailed his second goal for the term, kicking a clutch set shot at the 12 minute mark directly in front following what looked to the naked eye to be a 60m penalty.
The pressure increased, and with it, some careless free kicks for high contact, giving both sides opportunities to score.
Loprese took a saving mark at the 23 minute mark, as amazingly, it stopped raining a couple of minutes later.
The ball was camped inside Morwell’s 50 for what seemed like an eternity, yet their only real chance came when Blake Couling broke free and let fly with a snap at the 27 minute mark.
The siren sounded a short time later, netting a huge sigh of relief for all in the Traralgon camp.
Hourigan, Ambler, Luis D’Angelo, Williams, Tristen Waack and Liam Willaton were best in the win.
Granted he gets spoken about every week, but Hourigan really is some player – even when it was raining sideways he was still getting good purchase on them out in front.
While happy to take the win, the Maroons will know more than anyone how much work is ahead of them.
Traralgon has a win-loss record of 2-1, but could so easily be 0-3 if not for two single-digit victories in the last two games.
Bailey led from the front with three goals, while McColl, Hillier, Brandon Mcauliffe, Rosato and Max Linton all played well.
Real best-on-grounds however surely went to the trainers, runners and water carriers of both teams, some of whom had been at the ground all day, and been up early for Anzac Day commitments.
Another official who had a big day/night was Jack Huxtable. The legendary Morwell timekeeper, (now well into his 90s) headed over to Traralgon after proudly taking part in the Morwell Anzac service.
Bailey admitted he didn’t check the radar at halftime, but was preparing for a wet weather game on the Thursday nonetheless.
Despite the result, he and the Morwell coaching staff would have reason to be pleased with where things sit.
Really, the Tigers were very stiff to lose this game.
Speaking to the Express before the season, Bailey was adamant the Tigers were “on the right track”, after consecutive near finals misses.
Such a phrase can often be a throwaway line, but there is little doubt it is true after watching the first half (the only relevant half given the conditions) last Friday.
Even walking past the Morwell players before they ran out, you could just tell by their body language they were genuinely thinking they could win, as opposed to hoping.
Truthfully, you could argue Traralgon has more issues at present than Morwell.
Moe 20.23 (143) def Maffra 6.8 (44)
THESE games are actually the hardest to write about.
That’s because when a game is so one-sided, there aren’t moments that stand out, it is just a collection of dominant plays by one team spread across four quarters.
Moe certainly dominated Maffra, who only narrowly avoided losing by triple figures, 20.23 (143) to 6.8 (44).
The Lions kicked five goals to none in the first quarter at Ted Summerton Reserve, and continued on their merry way from there.
The more interesting game featuring a Moe football team occurred on Saturday night, when Moe United came back from 2-nil down to defeat Falcons in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.
Moe United Coach, Lee Dastey did his best Jurgen Klopp celebration as the third goal hit the back of the net.
On the oval shaped field though, two worlds collided in the truest sense, with the heavily depleted Eagles facing a Lions outfit who had virtually all their Gippsland Power players available due to a bye.
Moe brought Power players Jordan Shields, Liam Masters and Luke Cheffers into the team. All three were named in the best, with Cheffers kicking three goals on senior debut.
Goals also came from Harry Pepper, who slotted three, including his 100th senior.
Most of them however were kicked by former Collingwood and Adelaide player, Ben Crocker.
Crocker kicked 10, and probably would have broken the record for most goals by a Moe player against Maffra (12), had he not gone to the bench early in the last quarter after bringing up double digits.
His effort was the most goals in a game by a Lions player since Ryan Donaldson kicked the same number in 2011, also against Maffra.
Goal milestones were also recorded in the early game, when someone this writer knows well kicked his 150th.
Crocker was best, while Brock Smith and Myles Poholke also contributed.
By contrast, Maffra was left in a situation where there was only so much they could do.
It was simply boys against men.
The Eagles only had around half-a-dozen players with significant senior experience, and were without both Carr brothers (Alex and Ed) and the Butcher boys, Danny and John, losing close to 500 games combined in just four players.
Maffra was forced to call in Ben Brunt for his first game of the season just to add some seniority, while games record holder Daniel Bedggood was put behind the ball as early as the second quarter just to try and stem the bleeding.
Brunt was named in the best, along with Andrew McKenzie, James Read, Archer Watt and Harry Burgiel.
Given the Eagles are still in a rebuilding phase, it is unavoidable results like this are going to happen from time to time, intersected with moments of positivity (Round 1 win versus Sale).
Maffra coach Anthony Robbins has been there from the start, and knows his role at the moment is to educate.
This was clearly evident when he addressed the team at three quarter time, at a stage in the game when the margin was close to 80 points and ranting and raving would have achieved nothing.
“You have to be physical, you can’t leave it to one or two,” he said.
The Eagles fought the game out as best they could, and for the defenders at least, there could be a silver lining.
Think of the player Zak Dawson became after Alastair Clarkson left him on Anthony Rocca in just his fourth game.
While some in the Moe crowd would have been happy to see the shoe on the other foot given the routine poundings Maffra has handed out over the years, it was clear the majority of those assembled weren’t watching the game with any great intent.
Ordinarily I jot down at least 10 pages of notes. For this game, I struggled to fill one.
About the most interesting thing that happened was an injured duck, who had camped in front of the Can Bar for two nights until it was able to be collected by the relevant authority on Saturday morning.
Had it been cricket season, there would have undoubtedly been many of the superstitious nature who were convinced they were going to knick one before getting off the mark.
The more perceptive of those at Ted Summerton would have noticed the boots Maffra great and former Moe coach, Adrian Burgiel wore as reserves umpire were the same ones he wore in his last game as coach of the Lions 10 years ago.
Current Moe coach Leigh Poholke channelled his own Clarkson at three quarter time, telling his troops to complete a four quarter effort before “we go to a powerhouse next week” against Leongatha.
Clarkson was famously ruthless when Hawthorn were at their peak, comparing some opponents to batting against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe in Test cricket, telling his players to essentially ‘tee off’.
Moe should have Gippsland League best-and-fairest Riley Baldi available for the huge match against Leongatha this Saturday.
Baldi has been in strong form for Casey in the VFL, and can play for his home club this weekend due to a break in the state fixture.
The Lions travel to Leongatha for what is shaping as an ironically-laden journey.
Moe will be in town on the same day as the federal election, and in the same town Independent candidate for Monash, Deb Leonard is based.
Saying this very tongue-in-cheek, some in the Leongatha camp are probably drawing comparisons to Moe’s supposed spending to that of Leonard, whose cash splash has been well documented throughout the campaign.
Sale 9.6 (60) def by Warragul 19.15 (129)
SALE are in a world of hurt – figuratively and literally.
The Magpies stumbled to their third loss from as many starts at the weekend, losing to Warragul by the comprehensive margin of 69 points, 19.15 (129) to 9.6 (60).
The visiting Gulls put up seven goals in the first quarter alone, and were rarely challenged thereafter.
Sale cut the margin back to a manageable 28 points at the main break, but with injuries to Shannen Lange, Jack Leslie and Jordan Dessent, were always going to find it difficult to bridge the gap.
Lange was taken to hospital after being collected high by Warragul hard nut, Tom Hobbs, who will have to face the music after having his number booked.
With their resources diminishing by way of big men, the Magpies had to throw usual key defender Will Leslie forward.
The move left them short down back, where Warragul was able to pile on the goals.
James Harrison kicked five of them, Brayden Fowler four, and Tom Stern just as many.
The trio found good support from Hobbs, Patrick Mulqueen and Andre the Giant, Sam Whibley.
Jake Hutchins, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Will Leslie, Ashton Wright, Lachie Ronchi and Tom Wrigglesworth battled hard for Sale.
Leslie injured his knee and Dessent pinged his calf – an injury that was always on the cards given he has hardly played the last few years.
As one of the most respected players in the league, few would doubt Dessent wasn’t match fit, but it could speak to Sale’s current woes that they had no one else to bring up from the reserves.
As they say, “you are only as strong as your bottom six”.
Granted there is still a long way to go in season 2025, it is difficult to see the Magpies making finals from here.
From the first three games, most would have predicted Sale to win at least two (Maffra and Warragul). With both of those games lost, it suddenly turns inconsequential matches into must-wins.
In the documentary Year of the Dogs (the best footy doco ever made by the way), detailing the Western Bulldogs (then Footscray) 1996 AFL season, there is footage of a desolate Alan Joyce walking across the MCG with his tie undone, looking completely devoid of answers following a heavy Round 2 loss.
Sale coach Jack Johnstone might be experiencing something similar right now.
If the Magpies don’t beat Drouin this Saturday, they might as well book footy trip for the end of August.
Bairnsdale 5.5 (35) def by Leongatha 6.16 (52)
POINTS are never easy to take from Bairnsdale City Oval.
Leongatha survived a huge scare on the road, breaking away in the final term to keep their unbeaten season intact.
A low-scoring grind saw the inaccurate Parrots win 6.16 (52) to 5.5 (35).
While the visitors shot themselves in the foot with poor conversion, the Redlegs were only five points down at the final change of ends.
Leongatha straightened up in the last, kicking 3.2 (20), to make sure the pub crawl home was celebrated for the right reasons.
The familiar names of Cade Maskell, Aaron Heppell and Luke Bowman were best, followed by Tim Sauvarin, Tallin Brill and Ben Harding.
Cooper Harvey, Will Mitchell, Ethan East, Damon O’Connor, Josh Lando and Jesse Bills got the plaudits for Bairnsdale.
Wonthaggi 19.14 (128) def Drouin 6.6 (42)
WONTHAGGI led at each break against Drouin.
The Power were too strong at home, winning 19.14 (128) to 6.6 (42).
The home side shrugged off the visitors after a tight first term, before breaking away.
Best for the winners was Ryan Sparkes, Kyle Reid, Jye Gilmour, Noah Anderson, Jakeb Thomas and Jaxon Williams.
The efforts of Brodie Atkins, Zayne Atkins, Kaiden Walmsley, Kye Quirk, Will Young and Seb Amoroso could not be faltered for Drouin.
Drouin plays its first ‘home’ game at Trafalgar this weekend.
Trafalgar Football-Netball Club and Trafalgar Cricket Club have graciously offered their facilities – a noble act it must be said given money for the current upgrade of the Drouin oval was redirected from a project to build a second oval in Trafalgar.
Ahhh Traf will get that turf wicket one day.
