FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
MAKE or break, do or die.
The final round of home-and-away action in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League had certain teams going down to the wire and pushing their finals chances to the brink.
Particular spotlight came on the matchups of Rosedale and Sale City, and Yallourn Yallourn North and Traralgon Tyers United.
Dependant on results, either one of the Bulldogs or the Jets would be playing finals in 2025.
TTU 9.8 (62) def YYN 7.4 (46)
THE Bombers reign continues.
TTU clinched the minor premiership by defeating YYN, 9.8 (62) to 7.4 (46) at George Bates Reserve.
Not only that, they denied the Jets the opportunity of extending their campaign into finals.
YYN were clear of what needed to unfold for them to continue their season – either win on the day or trust that Sale City would lose to Rosedale – neither happened.
With constantly changing conditions on the day, both sides arrived on the ground prepared for a hard-edged, close quarters contest.
While the rain cleared once the main game had started, heavy winter weather unfolded prior to, leading to a very slippery surface.
It truly was a finals-like match, and despite the Bombers already knowing their fate, they equally entered the game with focus and intensity.
Skills were sloppy either way for a majority of the opening quarter, with both sides desperately trying to make up ground and gain inches.
As the sky cleared, play began to open up ever so slightly, and after a few chances, the Bombers finally got on the board for the first major score of the day with Frazar Brouns taken to the goal line after YYN defender Campbell MacInnes was issued a 50-metre penalty for a late hit.
That would be the only goal booted in the opening quarter, with the scoreboard reading in TTU’s favour, 1.2 (8) to 0.1 (1).
As play resumed and after a few forward entries, TTU skipper Jye Neilson converted on a set shot at the five-minute mark, giving the Bombers a two-goal buffer.
The away side dominated the inside 50 count early, and even when YYN transitioned into their attacking end, the Bombers defenders stood strong and the ball quickly converted back the other way and Sam Curtain roved brilliantly and slotted another for TTU.
Up 20 points midway through the second term, the Bombers extended even further as Riley Denovan added his first.
The Jets eventually added their first goal for the day through Lachlan Rees on an angle.
Even as YYN finally responded, TTU did equally as much, with Hayden Willaton snapping truly to move back to a 26-point lead.
The Jets were presented with a few more opportunities to etch the margin closer as the main break came in, but were remained with the singular goal through the first half.
Although, as play resumed, YYN got off to their best start of the day, with Tom Hutton slotting one for the Jets within the first minute of the second half.
After 10 minutes of no goals, Willaton added his second for the day through a checkside from the left side to keep the margin at 25 points.
Almost instantly however, YYN responded through a snap from Riley Byrne off the hands of Darcy Shellcot.
The Bombers didn’t capitalise on a number of reasonable chances in front of goal during the period, which kept the home side alive.
Even as the Jets felt their time was coming, the game was stopped for extended time with little time remaining in the third term as Hutton suffered a foot injury when arriving to a marking contest.
Both sides eventually saw out the quarter, with the margin sitting at 21 points the way of TTU.
The unfortunate situation with Hutton created some newfound inspiration, and especially considering their season was in danger of being over very quickly, Shellcot slotted a set shot in front to move to 15 points down early in the fourth quarter.
Sam Curtain added his second for the Bombers after some scratch through five minutes, giving them some needed breathing room, and as YYN’s Josh Keyhoe responded shortly after.
Out of the next centre bounce, the Jets got to their closest deficit as playing coach Dean MacDonald converted on the run to move YYN within single digits.
David Waddell got out in front of his defender to push the margin back out to 15 points for TTU, but YYN’s Dylan Bath produced a beautiful left foot snap to get it back.
Even at 10 points, as the seconds ticked down, the game appeared in doubt for the Jets, and after Flynn Shields converted, it was game over.
Quinn Sinclair, Michael Jacobsen, Liam Michie, Trent Hourigan, Guy Sinclair, and Kade Duncan were standouts for the Bombers in their handy win.
The result ended YYN’s season and eliminates them from finals, where they won’t feature for the first time since 2014.
Jai Massese, Rowan Duguid, Tyler Brown, Dylan Bath, Campbell MacInnes, and Hayden Mowat performed admirably for the Jets.
Sale City 10.9 (69) def Rosedale 5.4 (34)
SALE City has done it.
The Bulldogs will play finals for the second year running after defeating Rosedale, 10.9 (69) to 5.4 (34) at Stephenson Park.
In a win or go home situation, Sale City had one thing on their mind – win the game.
The Blues, with a finals berth already in their back pocket, started the best of the two sides, leading initially by six points and then 10 points by halftime.
Inaccurate kicking then reversed for the Bulldogs as play resumed, knowing they couldn’t leave anything out on the field.
Flynn Read and Chad Evans were stars in Sale City’s run, booting two goals apiece to begin the third quarter and push them ahead by 14 points.
Rosedale finally replied, by a late one from Jaxsyn Whitehill kept the Bulldogs margin out to double digits.
Sale City had come alive on their home deck, and ran rampant throughout the last quarter with four straight goals to begin the term and go ahead by 40 points.
Whitehill was best afield for the winners, followed by Kaden McCulloch, Hudson Tollner, Daine McGuiness, Evans (three goals), and Tom Bowman.
Riley Atlee, Brandon McConnell, Tom Northe, Oscar Smith, Ned Heathcote, and Caleb Barnett were solid for Rosedale.
Both sides will be hoping they didn’t reveal too much, as they play off in the elimination final against each other this Sunday at Glengarry Recreation Reserve.
Heyfield 22.17 (149) def Glengarry 3.4 (22)
HEYFIELD finish the regular season in fine form.
The Kangaroos battered Glengarry to the tune of 127 points at Gordon Street Reserve.
Heyfield were likely already looking ahead to their finals matchup with Woodside when arriving to face the Magpies, but you’ve still got to get through the game.
The Kangaroos booted the opening eight goals of the match to move ahead by 50 points in short time.
While Glengarry eventually converted majorly, Heyfield still finished with three straight goals to enter halftime with a 68-point lead.
The Kangaroos went at about the same rate as play resumed into the second half, with 11 goals to the Magpies’ two.
Kyle Graham made it to double figures with a 10-goal haul, while Xander Brooks, Tyson Graham, Thomas Marchesi, Caleb Ronan, and Kail Hole performed greatly.
Charlie Poulton with his three goals for Glengarry was best in defeat, while Jesse Lee, Noah Wasalski, Sid Cogan, Michael Ryan, and Nathan Larkin could keep their head high.
Woodside 29.18 (192) def Gormandale 2.0 (12)
WOODSIDE were another team looking further ahead.
In the week leading into finals, the Wildcats belted Gormandale by 180 points.
The Wildcats could have made it worse if not for a rather inaccurate opening quarter of 6.8 (44) to begin proceedings at Gormandale Recreation Reserve.
They were straighter in front of goal through to the second term with 5.1 (31) to move into halftime with a 69-point lead, showing no signs of slowing down.
Woodside added 18 goals in the second half, almost playing with their opponent, and only missing in a minor way on half of that output.
Michael O’Sullivan with eight goals was the man of the day, while Matt Dyke (four), Ashton Janssen, Josh Morgan, Ryan Foat (two), and Cameron Whiteoak were amongst the best for the Wildcats.
Woodside had six players kick 23 of their goals.
Gormandale did not list their best players in their final game for the season.
Yarram 18.18 (120) def Churchill 6.6 (42)
THE Demons finish the year off on a high note.
Yarram defeated Churchill, 18.18 (120) to 6.6 (42) at Gaskin Park.
While both teams were itching for the year to be over, the Demons were able to celebrate at least a little bit.
The away side started off with five goals to one in the opening term, before adding another six to extend their lead out to 71 points by halftime.
Little scoring was seen as play resumed into the third quarter, but Yarram still moved ever so higher through to the final siren, thus concluding both sides’ seasons.
Boadie Motton, Kayleb Pearce, Griffin Underwood, Dylan Garnham, Tom Mattern, and Nick McKenzie were amongst the best for the Demons.
Josh Swift (four goals) and Kiefer Sutherland (three) packed the scoring punch also for Yarram.
Joe Whykes, Sam Robinson, max Grimes, Blake Whykes, Jack Hasell, and Jordan Answerth performed admirably for Churchill.
COWWARR had the bye.
NGFNL Finals Series – Week 1
Qualifying Final
George Bates Reserve, Yallourn North – Saturday, August 23
Seniors: Woodside v Heyfield
Reserves: TTU v YYN
Thirds: Heyfield v Rosedale
Elimination Final
Glengarry Recreation Reserve – Sunday, August 24
Seniors: Rosedale v Sale City
Reserves: Woodside v Cowwarr
Thirds: Woodside v Sale City
