FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By DAVID BRAITHWAITE
WOODSIDE has done it again.
For the second year in succession, the Wildcats defeated minor premier Traralgon-Tyers United to claim the North Gippsland senior football premiership.
The Wildcats more than matched the Bombers, who had only lost one match this season, with Saturday’s game at Gaskin Park, Churchill, in the balance until the final minutes.
The Bombers had their chances, but two late goals gave Woodside a 13-point victory, 12.12 (84) to 9.17 (71).
Coming up against a Bombers side which enjoyed the previous weekend off, the Wildcats took the form which demolished Heyfield in the preliminary final into the league’s biggest day.
Wildcats co-captain and ruckman Ryan Foat was outstanding around the ground, and was deservedly awarded the medal for best player.
Robert Michaelides and Matt Dyke were again hard at the ball, and were rewarded for their efforts. In defence, Adam Janssen and Rowan Missen made life difficult for the Bombers’ forwards.
At the other end of the ground, Michael O’Sullivan kicked three vital goals.
Two-time league best-and-fairest Michael Jacobsen stood-out for TTU, kicking two goals. Jacobsen and Sam Curtain helped give the Bombers some ascendancy in the midfield.
TTU ruckman Frazar Brouns performed strongly, as did defenders Liam Michie and Trent Hourigan, and forward David Waddell.
As expected, play was hotly-contested early, and it wasn’t until the sixth minute for the opening goal to be kicked, from the boot of Bomber Hayden Willaton.
After a Wildcat kick out of defence was intercepted by a Bomber, Kade Duncan kicked a goal on the run to give TTU a 12-point advantage 12 minutes in. It looked like the Bombers were inspired to avenge last season’s Grand Final loss to the Wildcats.
Woodside lifted, but missed some early chances in attack. That was until, set-up by a Brody Stainer tackle, Liam Leeson snapped the Wildcats’ first goal, cutting the deficit to four points in time added-on.
The Wildcats could of had the lead at quarter-time, but kicked three more behinds to trail by a point at the first break. The Wildcats eventually overcame their inaccuracy in front goal, but the Bombers would have that problem later in the match, as both teams appeared to struggle kicking towards the northern end of the ground.
Woodside took the lead when Cameron Whiteoak, with the help of a free kick and 50-metre penalty, booted the first goal of the second term.
The Bombers took back the lead when Jake Albanese sent the ball to Jye Neilson for the Bombers’ third major of the day. A 50m penalty gifted Albanese the chance to kick a goal, but missed in front.
Woodside was two points in front after Luke Johnson’s kick from outside the 50m arc just covered the distance, before O’Sullivan goaled to put the Wildcats ahead by eight.
Stainer was in the right spot to gather the loose ball, with his goal extending the margin to 13 points heading into time-on.
Foat took a strong mark before kicking the fifth Woodside goal of the quarter, as the Bombers were left flat-footed in defence. Two minutes later, O’Sullivan kicked his second goal to put the Wildcats 24 points up.
Back-to-back goals from Jacobsen put the Bombers back in the contest. The Bombers had another through Waddell as the teams went into the rooms with Woodside leading by four points and the game in the balance.
A minute into play resuming, Dyke kicked a long goal for the Wildcats.
A goal from TTU’s Riley Denovan reduced the margin to five points.
Michaelides sent the ball to an unguarded Michael Stockdale, who ran into an open goal to restore Woodside’s 10-point lead midway through the third term.
Albanese kicked a goal to lift the Bombers, who trailed by five points with a quarter remaining in what had become an arm wrestle.
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Brouns gathered the ball from a throw-up to kick a goal and put the Bombers ahead by one point.
There was tension in the air.
A one point Woodside was awarded a 50m penalty and would have likely kicked a goal, only for the Bombers to be given a free kick for an off the ball incident.
With scores level, Lee Stockdale kicked the ball to Stainer running into space. Stainer’s second goal of the day saw the Wildcats back in front.
Denovan had the chance to level the scores again, but his shot hit the post. Missed chances would prove to be the story of the final term for the Bombers.
At the other end, Woodside was awarded a free kick for deliberate out of bounds, with O’Sullivan making the most of his chance. Woodside was now up by nine points.
With the Bombers pressing for a much-need goal, they missed another shot on goal.
Foat took another strong mark on the wing. This lead to the ball getting to Joh Fythe, whose goal in the 27th minute essentially sealed the win for the Wildcats.
That goal allowed the Wildcats, and their supporters, to settle, knowing the premiership was in their keeping.
Having waited for the ultimate success after joining the North Gippsland league for the 2008 season, the Wildcats have done it in back-to-back seasons.
For the Bombers, it is a case of wondering what might have been. Having dominated the past three seasons, and making the Grand Final in each, seeing a return of one premiership.
RESERVES GRAND FINAL
TTU 9.9 (63) def Woodside 4.5 (29)
TRARALGON-Tyers United had better fortune than its seniors, winning the reserves Grand Final, defeating Woodside by 34 points.
The Bombers kicked four unanswered goals in the first term to set-up their 9.9 (63) to 4.5 (29) victory.
Riley Payne was voted best-on-ground by the umpires, with Dylan Mclure, Josh Twite, Brady Poel (five goals), Nick Rutter and Josh Segond also prominent for TTU.
The Wildcats’ top performers were Josh Scott, Josh Kennedy, Darcy McAlpine, Nathan Tourtoulas, Jack Scott and Alex Walpole.
THIRDS GRAND FINAL
Heyfield 15.10 (100) def Churchill 12.18 (90)
THE most drama on North Gippsland Grand Final day came in the thirds, with Heyfield upsetting the previously undefeated Churchill in extra time.
Brandon Manson had the chance to put Heyfield in front with a late kick, only for the ball to just go the wrong side of the goal post.
The final siren went, with the scoreboard having Churchill in front by a point, sparking celebrations by the Cougar faithful on the ground.
However, the celebrations were tempered by the umpires indicated the point kicked by Manson had in fact levelled the scores.
After the officials checked, and double-checked their scorecards, it was confirmed the scores were level. A point was incorrectly added on the scoreboard to Churchill’s total during the final quarter.
After the ground was cleared of supporters, the players and umpires were able to resume the match for extra time.
Phoenix Cox, who was named the best player of the Grand Final, kicked his third goal for the day to give the Kangaroos the lead.
Heyfield had the momentum, and it was helped when Cougar James Hutchinson was shown a yellow card for an off the ball incident. The Kangaroos now had a player advantage.
However, it was the Cougars who kicked the next goal through Jye Williams, one of his three for the day, cutting the deficit to three points at the halfway mark of extra time (five minutes each way).
The Kangaroos kicked the first two goals of the second extra period, and the game was all-but theirs. A late Churchill goal cut the margin to 10 points, but Heyfield took out the Grand Final 15.10 (100) to 12.18 (90).
Earlier, the Kangaroos led by six points after kicking three goals to two in the first quarter.
The Cougars appeared to take control during the second term, kicking four goals to one.
The Cougars also kicked seven behinds, which became telling at the end of the match.
Churchill kicked 3.5 (23), while the Kangaroos kicked 4.1 (25) to trail by 17 points at three-quarter-time.
The persistent Kangaroos refused to go away, and kicked four goals to one in the final term to send the match into extra time. The Kangaroos maintained their strong final quarter form during extra periods to claim the premiership.
In addition to Cox, Archie Brooker, Blake Lindrea (four goals), Beau McDiarmid, Luke Dwyer and Mac Birss stood out for Heyfield.
Churchill’s best players were Williams, Jye Reyke, Goy Ruey, Daniel Tobin (four goals), Max Grimes and Cooper Harris.
