FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
THEY’VE beaten both of them now.
Both of them referring to the teams Traralgon has defeated – Moe and Leongatha, generally considered the only ones left in the Gippsland League premiership race along with the Maroons.
The Maroons put the Lions away a week after doing the same to the Parrots, 11.15 (81) to 8.12 (60).
The result reaffirmed the reigning premiers credentials, which had come under some scrutiny following an indifferent form line during the first four rounds of the season when Traralgon had a win-loss record of two-two.
Two of those wins had been by single-figure margins, while one of the losses was to Maffra coming off a wooden spoon.
Not for the first time however, a side coached by Troy Hamilton appears to be hitting its straps the further a year goes along.
While premierships aren’t won in June, there can be little doubt the Maroons aren’t on track to hit their peak come the business end of the season.
If the manner in which Traralgon defeated Moe at the weekend is any indication – a long-awaited Lions premiership certainly isn’t the foregone conclusion many pundits have been saying it is in recent weeks.
Moe, who went into the match on top of the ladder, found themselves three goals down at quarter time on Terry Hunter Oval.
Lions coach Leigh Poholke described it “as bad a quarter as we’ve played all year”.
“Your ability and your talent isn’t going to bail you out today,” he told his charges.
Moe wrestled back some momentum in the second, yet for all their efforts, Traralgon matched them on the scoreboard with four goals.
Goals to Lion livewires Justin Morrow and Lachlan Rock provided a spark, as did a telling set shot from long range after the siren from Ben Crocker, making it a 16-point ballgame at the main break.
At the other end however, Traralgon was enjoying life in front of its home supporters gathered around the Pud Northe Bar.
Perhaps fittingly, Matt Northe was one player to score at this end, after umpire Chris Malone awarded a 50 metre penalty for late contact, walking Northe to the goal square.
Jackson McMahon was busy around forward 50 for the home side, and ended the day with four majors.
The Maroons playing-assistant has been a revelation since moving from defence to attack, kicking 14 goals in his last three games.
Moe started brightly in the third, yet some inexplicable moments perhaps summed up how scrambled things were in the heat of battle.
A mark to Crocker within the first minute from no more than 20 metres out on a tight angle was undone when he decided to pass off, despite fellow forward Poholke signalling for him to have a shot.
Crocker made up for this a short time later after winning a ground ball and sending a perfectly weighted pass to Myles Poholke, who played on after taking a mark (surely causing a momentary heart-attack for many Moe supporters) before snapping truly.
Miscommunication wasn’t just confined to Moe however. The Lions scored a follow-up goal when three Traralgon players flew for the same ball in the Lions goal square, leading Leigh Poholke to accept the crumbs at ground level.
His goal cut the margin back to three points just five minutes in.
Game on.
Moe playing-assistant Aaron Paxton left the ground holding his shoulder after a marking contest with Northe, but returned later in the term to have some good moments.
The Lions were given another let off when Harvey Neocleous hit the post, Cooper Brown missed finishing a coast-to-coast play, and Liam Willaton kicked what could have been dubbed ‘point of the year’, following a running effort from the arc.
The ever-nimble Willaton was so quick, he very nearly caught up with his own kick after it trickled through for a behind.
These moments virtually summed up the game. There was hardly any room to move, with the ball acting almost like a pinball machine at times. An opposition hand in the contest was literally often enough to disrupt any chains developing.
This was evident when Moe’s Harry Pepper got in to stop Tate Marsh taking a certain mark on centre wing. The ever-alert Pepper used his basketball background to not only spoil the ball, but palm it in such a way that it bounced perfectly for teammate Nathan Scagliarini to collect.
If you want an idea of just how much pressure was out there – even Tye Houigan dropped an intercept mark (proving he is human).
With the margin five points in favour of the Maroons at three quarter time, the stage was set for a grandstand finish.
Poholke opted for hushed tones in the huddle, with only the players close enough to hear.
What was audible however were his final words, simply: “winner takes all.”
McMahon kicked the first goal of the last after being paid a hold against Moe ruckman Chris Prowse, who believed he took the mark.
The Lions got one back however through Leigh Poholke, with a calculated set shot that drifted right to left at the five minute mark.
Bodies flew over the next few passages, personified by Moe co-captain Brock Smith showing incredible courage to fly in from some distance in front of Traralgon key forward Dylan Loprese.
Loprese, the hero of last week’s win over Leongatha, rose to the occasion again at the weekend, continually doing what he could to lock the ball inside 50.
Needing another hero this week however, the Maroons found one in Neocleous at the 13 minute mark.
The mercurial youngster nailed an insane goal from tight up against the boundary from a throw in, giving Traralgon a 12-point lead.
From a standing start on the wrong side for a right footer, the ball travelled a good 40 metres. Neocleous celebrated accordingly, surely made all the more satisfying given the number of Moe supporters camped near the fence.
Loprese added a handy point two minutes later, and with time becoming a factor, Moe had to risk losing trying to win the game by kicking the three goals needed for victory.
This consequently created scoring opportunities for Traralgon, and the Maroons kicked three consecutive behinds from Moe kick-ins.
The deadlock was broken by McMahon, whose goal in front of Pud’s Bar at the 18 minute mark extended the lead to the eventual full time margin of 21 points.
Traralgon completely shut down the Lions’ scoring in the last, allowing the visitors to only register 1.1 (7).
The final quarter was soured somewhat after Moe big man Tom Blackshaw hit the turf upside down after flying for a mark.
Trainers from both clubs were immediately on the scene in front of the interchange boxes, while thankfully, Blackshaw got to his feet.
His effort to play the game right to the end even when the result was obvious could provide at least one positive for Moe.
Blackshaw was among the best in a losing cause, along with Pepper, Alex Dijkstra, Crocker (three goals), Smith and Tajh Eden.
Willaton was best for Traralgon, and received good support from Tristen Waack, Neocleous, Northe, Hourigan and Loprese.
The Maroons enjoyed a successful day on the field, with its reserves maintaining their unbeaten season, and fourths continuing on their barnstorming run.
Incredibly, Traralgon’s fourths have a percentage nearly in four digits.
Granted Traralgon has the biggest pool of players to draw from, it is equally understood players lucky enough to be selected are reminded of the prestige in pulling on a Maroons jumper.
That accountability from a young age has arguably been a deciding factor in Traralgon’s success, and conversely, created an inferiority complex for other clubs.
Whether or not that is applicable to Moe is up for debate, but as they say ‘you are what your record says you are’: Traralgon 117 wins, Moe 47.
The Lions will look to pick themselves up and prepare for Maffra, who they can ill-afford to take lightly given the Eagles have defeated Traralgon this season.
