FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
EVERY team in the Gippsland League has now seen all opponents first-hand.
The first half of the season wrapped up at the weekend, and with it, possibly finals aspirations for a number of teams.
Just a week after teams five to nine were on the same number of premiership points, results from Round 9 extended the gap slightly but significantly as far as football mathematics go.
Five teams fighting for fifth and the last available spot in finals may now be down to just two.
Fifth-placed Morwell are equal with Warragul in sixth, with Bairnsdale, Maffra and Sale taking the next three spots.
While it is not officially curtains for the Redlegs, Eagles or Magpies, it will be a very tough ask to recover from a three-win, six-loss record at the halfway mark.
Any of those three won’t have to look far for inspiration however. Wonthaggi was in the exact same position this time last year, and finished fourth at the end of the home-and-away season.
Morwell 16.13 (109) def Bairnsdale 10.8 (68)
MORWELL won an all-too-familiar June elimination final.
The Tigers led at every change against Bairnsdale and were never seriously challenged, getting up 16.13 (109) to 10.8 (68) at home.
After returning uninspiring low scores in previous weeks, Morwell officials would have been pleased to see the team crack the ton.
Helping the total was ruckman and best-on-ground Isaac Abas, who slotted three goals (and reportedly could have kicked twice as many), and Brandon McDonald, who also sent three through the big sticks.
The Tigers jumped out of the gate with seven goals to two in the opening term, and went on their way from there.
The Redlegs got some respectability back after the main break, keeping Morwell goalless in the third quarter, in what became a classic game of two halves.
Will Mitchell was best for the visitors, with his work around stoppages noted.
Youngster Matt Hamilton also played well, enjoying a purple patch by kicking three goals in a row during the third to go with four second half majors.
Tyran Rees, Tate Clay, Lachlan Bryne-Jones and Jamie Dore put in spirited displays.
Morwell leaders, skipper Aidan Quigley and coach Boyd Bailey led by example, while Harri McColl was again among the best, alongside Blake Couling and veteran Zac Anderson.
The Tigers got through the game without any injuries, and will hope to add Tyler Hillier, Burkeley Macfarlane, Tom Caile and Brandon Bailey over coming weeks.
Another positive out of the weekend was the return of Brandon McAuliffe from a month-long absence.
Watch for the name Nathan Noblett to potentially make a return later in the year as well.
After initially fearing he would miss the season following an overseas mishap, the Tigers hope to have the VFL local before too long. His class and athleticism could prove critical playing as a strong target up forward.
For Bairnsdale, they may have one eye and one team turned to next year.
The Redlegs are on top of the ladder in the thirds competition, and club officials will surely be doing everything they can to ensure any graduating kids continue with the senior club, especially as neighbouring East Gippsland clubs inevitably circle come September/October.
Moe 15.13 (103) def Wonthaggi 4.12 (36)
MOE maintained its position at the top of the ladder.
A very strong first quarter paved the way for the Lions to defeat a depleted Wonthaggi by 67 points, 15.13 (103) to 4.12 (36)
It was the Power’s lowest-ever score against the Lions, ‘beating’ the 6.9 (45) in 1998.
Moe bust the game open kicking seven straight in the opening term at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve.
From there, a somewhat dull contest unfolded, as the result became a mere formality, with the margin hovering around 50 points throughout.
Truthfully, Wonthaggi held their own in general play, but, apart from Cooper McInnes, just had no targets forward of the ball.
Moe by contrast had Ben Crocker, Leigh Poholke, Nick Prowse and Harry Pepper.
Crocker’s seven goals saw him race past 50 at the halfway mark of the season, while playing-coach Poholke (four goals) used most of the final term to observe the entire groun from deep inside 50.
His predecessor, Declan Keilty spent the entire last quarter on the interchange as a precaution.
Keilty did not train during the week, but was needed to fill a post at centre half back and declared himself fit to play.
Moe also rolled the dice with fellow key defender Aaron Paxton, who got through the game wearing a glove to protect a few fragile fingers.
The Lions were somewhat banged-up following the win against Warragul the previous week, but combined good timing with a stroke of misfortune on the part of their opponents to end up playing in what Poholke said was “as bruise-free a game you are going to play” during his three quarter time address at the weekend.
The bruise-free nature was arguably down to the players Wonthaggi had at their disposal.
The Power reportedly have 15 players out of their senior list, and just one look at them getting together for a huddle at the weekend, you couldn’t help but think “gee they look small”.
Wonthaggi’s win over Traralgon in Round 7 came at a cost, with key defender Fergus O’Connor and fellow defender Jakeb Thomas both going down.
Key Wonthaggi midfielder Jack Blair was another noticeable out at the weekend.
While Moe won the game comfortably, Poholke was not pleased by how loose star Power midfielder Ryan Sparkes was permitted to roam at stoppages.
“We had one name on the board,” Poholke bemoaned during his three quarter time address.
Sparkes ended up best-on-ground for Wonthaggi, and in this writer’s assessment, has gone past Isaac Chugg as their best player.
Chugg was also in the best, and brought out one party trick during the final term, volleying the ball to himself before slicing an inside kick with pinpoint accuracy.
All this talk of two players shouldn’t detract from Moe. The Lions are just simply a very good team, not overly reliant on a Sparkes or Chugg to carry them.
Nathan Scagliarini did however stand out for the victors, as did Harri Sim who played his best game for the season.
Alex Dijkstra was also lively, as was Trent Baldi and Nick Prowse.
Moe welcomed former senior captain Jacob Wood in for his first senior game of the season, while Warren Hester and Lachlan Rock were rewarded after terrific form in the reserves with senior opportunity.
Noah Anderson, Reeve Moresco, Jai Williams and Brodie Mabillia were solid for Wonthaggi.
Traralgon 19.21 (135) def Sale 7.3 (43)
NICKI Minaj released Pound the Alarm in 2012.
Sale won the premiership that year, and presumably danced to music of similar style in the days that followed.
The Magpies don’t look like winning the flag this season, and may well be pounding many alarms after losing by 90 points to Traralgon at the weekend.
The inaccurate Maroons won 19.21 (135) to 7.3 (43) at Terry Hunter Oval, playing for the Peter Hug Cup, named in honour of the late Magpie who tragically lost his life on the football field.
A relatively high-scoring opening term from both teams set some sort of tone; it’s just that it all ended up going only one way thereafter.
While Traralgon’s lead was only 28 points at the main break, the sheer weight of scoring shots (20 to seven) meant Sale’s defence was under constant pressure.
The Maroons took three quarters to straighten up, but finished strong with 6.4 (40) to 1.1 (7) in the last.
Jackson McMahon had the ball on a string, kicking half-a-dozen, while retired and unretired key forward Dan McKenna chipped in with three.
Harvey Neocleous was also busy for the winners, as was Jordan Cunico, Tristen Waack, Tye Hourigan and Matt Northe.
Jordan Dessent showed he still has plenty to offer, kicking three goals for Sale. Cooper Whitehill, Thomas Glenn, Will Leslie, Cooper Rand and Sam Treglown all battled hard.
As ridiculous as it sounds for a team suffering a 90 point defeat, a positive for the Magpies was the fact they were only at 25 out of a possible 41 player points.
With plenty of points to spare, this could help Sale go after some big names in the offseason.
While there is a romantic notion of a local team full of mates all winning a flag together, the reality in the Gippsland League is you generally need to use more than 30 points to be among the top sides.
Reigning premier Traralgon used 34 in last year’s Grand Final, while 2023 combatants Wonthaggi and Leongatha were at 35 and 32 respectively.
Current top-side Moe used 37 at the weekend.
Sale made the Grand Final in 2022 using just 27 points, although this could be viewed as an outlier given it was the first full season back from COVID and most city-based players opted to stay home.
Warragul 23.18 (156) def 6.5 (41)
PRIME dust.
A cameo from social media personality Thomas ‘Prime Train’ Baulch headlined the Western Derby between Warragul and Drouin on Sunday.
The Gulls didn’t need Prime Train so much on the field, as they won 23.18 (156) to 6.5 (41).
Prime Train kicked two goals for good measure, although midfielder Tom Hobbs was the most productive, snagging five in a best-on-ground display.
Riley Senini, Sean Masterson, James Harrison, Kai Maclean and Vinnie Caia also found plenty of the ball.
Warragul had four players kick three goals against a hapless Hawks outfit, who are now halfway home in a season yet to produce a win as their headquarters undergoes redevelopment.
Denver Lund, Kye Quirk, Max Williames, William Brewer, Kaiden Walmsley and another Quirk, Caleb again put in honest efforts for Drouin.
Prime Train has become a familiar name in local footy, offering his services and gaining a cult following.
He played for Churchill in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League earlier this season, and more regularly for West Gippsland club Phillip Island last year.
His ‘business’ effectively runs opposite to the old model of clubs hiring ex-AFL players for one-off games.
Given the social media influence on kids, and the fact Prime Train is only 21 years-of-age, clubs potentially stand to gain much more than they would by dragging out a washed up AFL player.
Leongatha 21.10 (136) def Maffra 6.6 (42)
WHY is no one talking about Leongatha?
The Parrots are equal-first at the halfway mark of the season with a percentage nearing 200.
Leongatha did a number on Maffra, beating the Eagles by 94 points on their home deck, 21.10 (136) to 6.6 (42).
The visitors registered 10 scoring shots to just three behinds in the first quarter, and as they have done so often over the last decade (not so much against Maffra pre-2020), extended on their lead throughout the match.
A total of 12 players got on the scoreboard for Leongatha, who were best served by Luke Bowman, Kim Drew, Aaron Heppell, Jacob Warne, Ben Harding and Nick Argento.
Jett Killoran, Sam Anderson, Jonathan Boyd, Danny Butcher, and the two Thomas’, Scott and Phillips tried their guts out for Maffra.
The Eagles at least had a milestone in the early game, with Brent McKenzie gaining the unique distinction of playing 100 consecutive reserves games.
Such an achievement is noteworthy considering the dedication and travel just to play for the love of the game and the club.
For Leongatha meanwhile, the season so far has been akin to Australian cricket supporters following their team in a World Cup.
Generally speaking, Australian cricket supporters usually don’t take much notice until finals roll around, then it’s just like “oh yeah, Australia is in another final, I’ll start watching now”.
