FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

By LIAM DURKIN

 

MATCHES played in the Latrobe Valley had the biggest consequence for the rest of the Gippsland League at the weekend.

With Traralgon the only one of the Valley’s trio to emerge victorious, the ladder was given a decent shake as Round 11 wrapped up.

WHERE to now for Morwell?

The Tigers slipped out of the top five after losing to Warragul, 13.13 (91) to 7.15 (57).

The Gulls were rewarded in more ways than one, with their victory propelling them to outright fifth.

Warragul, for so long causing nuisance value to the competition, might now be on track to feature in finals for the first time in close to a decade.

For the Tigers meanwhile, there must surely now be a circuit breaker.

Just why does the same thing keep happening?

Why has Morwell been stuck mid-table every season for the last four years?

If losing to the Gulls wasn’t problematic enough, the 34-point margin was perhaps the most concerning element.

Warragul led at every change on the Tigers’ home deck, breaking the game open in the second quarter with six goals to two.

Morwell only managed another solidary goal in the third, while the Gulls broke further away.

Warragul defender, Sean Masterson ensured scoring was kept to a minimum. Masterson, who has been bullish about the Gulls’ list profile, may now be feeling vindicated as it looks as though Warragul are playing near their potential.

New recruit Jordan Stewart kicked four goals for the second successive week, showing the type of football he displayed after coming across from Pakenham.

Midfield bull Tom Hobbs was also productive, as was man-mountain Sam Whibley, VFL-player and prominent horse trainer Will Hayes, and thirds kid Rory Nettle.

Maclan McInnes played his best game in senior colours for Morwell, although his performance was about the only positive to come out of the game for the home side.

Such was the outcome, the Tigers only named four other players in the best: Stephen Mills, Zac Anderson, Dan Musil and Josh Galea.

Morwell still has time on its side to make up lost ground, however, a loss to an opposition around its mark on the ladder might have deeper implications.

Players are only human, and the greatest challenge could now be fighting a sense of disillusionment as finals are left somewhat to chance.

All teams go through it at some stage, and once you know you are no longer in a position to contend, it is certainly not a good place to be.

FOR something different – Leongatha is on top of the ladder.

What was predicted to finally be ‘the year’ the Parrots finally dropped off, the South Gippsland powerhouse are so far proving just how well-oiled a machine they really are.

Leongatha went to No. 1 after inflicting Sale with an 81-point drubbing, 19.13 (127) to 7.4 (46).

What a difference three years makes: Sale played Leongatha in the 2022 Grand Final.

What an even scarier proposition this is: the Parrots are still without Tom Marriott, Cade Maskell, Sean Westaway, Jenson Garnham and Tallin Brill, while key position Justin Pelicano also missed after being red carded against Traralgon the week before.

So, a third of the starting 18 didn’t play and Leongatha still won by more than 13 goals.

Cue Dr Foster: “May God have mercy on us all”.

The Parrots were merciless after quarter time at Sale Oval, blasting the home side off the park by kicking eight goals to one in the second term.

Leongatha led by 53 points at the main break, and got it out to nearly three figures with one to spare.

Sale at least matched the Parrots for goals in the final quarter, kicking three.

Key forward Patrick Ireland was best for the winners, and had plenty of supply inside 50.

Parrots veteran Luke Bowman used his experience to good effect, while Nick Argento, Jay Walker, Zavier Lamers and young gun Aydan Williams also racked up touches.

Cooper Whitehill, Tom Wrigglesworth, Harry Ronchi, Bohdi Walker, Ronan James and Cooper Rand tried hard for the Magpies.

Sale’s plight might have been best summed up by the inclusion of James in the line-up.

A mate of Wrigglesworth’s, who is currently aligned with the pair’s old school, Caulfield Grammarians in the VAFA, James threw on a black and white jumper at the weekend purely because there was just about no one else available.

Sale is anchored into second-last position on the ladder with just three wins – something that would have been unimaginable when preseason predictions were made.

Reading the Magpies club notes in the weekly Gippsland League Record at the weekend certainly painted a clear picture.

While ordinarily, club notes merely acknowledge players and sponsors, Sale’s scribe offered some refreshing honesty in the latest dispatch.

“Our results at Maffra were disappointing, and as a club, we know we’ve got more to give,” an extract read.

“Credit to Maffra, they played a strong brand of football and netball but we also need to be honest about where we’re at.

“Across the board, we fell short of the standard we set for ourselves. We’ve got a talented group, a strong support network, and a club that’s determined to improve.

“The focus now is on effort, preparation, and taking pride in the way we represent the black and white.”

Preparation from some might be called into question, after word returned via the bush telegraph that Sale players were allegedly out in Melbourne last Friday night.

If that is the case, it is clear some have already checked out on the season.

That Carlton players were also said to be at the same venue might not come as a surprise when looking at the respective ladder positions.

MAFFRA was made to rue another poor few minutes.

The Eagles were only two goals down at quarter time in Wonthaggi, before walking into the sheds facing a 31-point deficit.

That the final margin was 26 points, 10.8 (68) to 5.12 (42) perhaps summed up where the game was decided.

Maffra remained in with a show at three quarter time, down by only 16 points, yet three goals to one in favour of the home side made sure of the result.

The win was much-needed for the Power, and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Despite fielding what is believed to be one of the youngest teams in the club’s history in recent weeks, Wonthaggi is still safe and secure in fourth position on the ladder with seven wins.

Ethan Dickison, Josh Bates, Kyle Reid, Ryan Sparkes, Andrew McNeel and Jasper Stone collected votes for the winners.

Maffra senior games record holder Daniel Bedggood was best for the visitors, followed by Andrew McKenzie, Alex Carr, Jonathan Boyd, Danny Butcher and Jett Killoran.

BAIRNSDALE broke a five-game losing streak.

The Redlegs won a shootout against Drouin, in a game that saw nearly 40 goals kicked on the wide open expanses of the Bairnsdale City Oval.

Goal umpires were kept busy, and waved the flags 57 times in a final scoreboard reading 21.15 (141) to 15.6 (96).

The scene was set early, after Bairnsdale kicked 7.5 (47) and Drouin 4.0 (24) in the opening term.

The Redlegs decided offence was the best form of defence from there, and maintained a lead right to the end.

Twenty players kicked a goal on the day across both teams.

Tyran Rees, Cooper Harvey, Will Mitchell, Josh Wykes, Tom Blenheim and Lachlan Byrne Jones won plaudits for Bairnsdale.

Kyron Smith was best for the Hawks, kicking three, and was helped by Jacob Obernhumer, Kaden Gregg, Ben Tranfield, Seb Amoroso and Kye Quirk.