FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

A RETURN to five games was seen across the North Gippsland Football-Netball League at the weekend.

Even just four weeks into the season, it’s already becoming somewhat clear who will feature near the pointy end.

What is a question is how the rest of teams will fight it out and give themselves a shot come late in the year in time for finals.

 

Glengarry 10.13 (73) def TTU 9.9 (63)

COULD we be in for a new losing drought?

Glengarry clinched its first win of the season in a 10-point throwdown of Traralgon Tyers United, 10.13 (73) to 9.9 (63) at Fred King Oval.

Each side entered the day with a couple of tough results under their belt, with TTU the only one with some points, coming from a draw with Gormandale in Round 1.

That slight edge of extra experience in a tight affair proved dividends to begin the game, as the Bombers jumped out to an early three-goal lead over the Magpies.

The home side finally hit the scoreboard, but off the back of two majors from Guy Sinclair, TTU held a 20-point lead.

Those in the corner of the Bombers would be hoping that a lapse wouldn’t appear, especially immediately following its opening efforts.

Glengarry did force TTU’s hand, adding three unanswered goals, two of which came from Michael Ryan to tie the scores up 27-all.

Regan Richards offered the response needed for the Bombers, only for Ben Truin to arrive for his first goal (of many) for the day.

Kaleb Watson then pinched one last-minute for TTU to see the Bombers in front, 40-34 at halftime.

As play resumed after the main break, it was evident that both teams on the park were desperate for a win.

Each side failed to capitalise for long periods during the third quarter, creating angst not only for the onlooking supporters, but for the players and coaches as well.

David Waddell broke the seal for TTU, moving the Bombers out to a two-goal lead.

That moment of ease for the visitors did not last long, as Truin quickly reeled off three consecutive goals of his own boot to all of a sudden see the Magpies up by nine points.

Both teams arrived at the final huddle with Glengarry ahead, but with plenty of time remaining for the game to once again offer a surprising swing.

Flynn Shields started things strongly for the Bombers to begin the last quarter, and after a period feeling as if TTU had finally regained control of the game, Truin answered the call once more for Glengarry.

Out to an eight-point lead, it was all or nothing for every player on the ground, but even as the Bombers kicked successfully to get back within a goal, Hudson Whateley finished the job for the Magpies as his own sailed through.

Elation surrounded the ground as the final siren sounded, confirming Glengarry’s first victory since August 9, 2025.

The combination of Whateley and a bag of six goals from Truin was ultimately the difference, while Austin Blackford, Jai Moloney, Callum Mitchell and Jesse Lee also stood out.

The Bombers left the ground with one of a few opportunities this year slipping from their fingers, but Trent Hourigan, Patrick Moio, Liam Michie, Ben Fleming, Richards and Dylan McClure could hold their head up highest.

 

Churchill 18.11 (119) def Gormandale 5.7 (37)

BUSINESS was complete on time and in flying colours.

Those colours at Gormandale Recreation Reserve were particularly extravagant for the marquee Pride Game between the Tigers and Churchill.

The Cougars, determined to get back on the right track after a loss to Yallourn Yallourn North the previous week, passed a confident Gormandale, 18.11 (119) to 5.7 (37).

Despite the Tigers being the one to come off a win, which marked the first for the club in senior football since 2022, Churchill was in no place to be messing around.

Etching the first five goals of the game in the first quarter, Gormandale, almost in an instant, looked at a 32 to nothing deficit.

Coming out of the huddle for the second term, the Tigers finally got something to go their way, as Chris Potalej got the home side on the scoreboard majorly within the first minute.

Churchill captain Travis Nash answered, sending one through the middle of the big sticks, and two more goals followed.

Gormandale pipped one more from Potalej before halftime, as Churchill held a 52-15 lead.

The third quarter offered Churchill’s most dominant period of the season so far, as the Cougars added six goals to one during the term.

Playing coach Chris Williams began to show some of his underlings a thing or two … or three, punching a trio of majors during the third quarter.

Williams kept it going as play returned in the final term, and then added another one later on with minutes remaining and the match well decided.

Due to his five-goal haul, Williams was deservedly named best-on-ground for the Pride Game, followed by applaudable performances from Jordan Fenech, Rory Peter, Jye Williams, Nash (four goals) and Nathan McRae.

Riley Hughes, Lucas Nicholls, Peter Strong, Jarred Canning, Ethan Roscoe and Chris Wangman were named in the best for Gormandale.

The Tigers will have the opportunity to achieve their first multiple win season next week against Sale City, once again at home.

 

Cowwarr 13.12 (90) def Rosedale 11.5 (71)

SOMEONE finally got close.

Cowwarr completed its fourth win on the season from four tries, defeating Rosedale by 19 points, 13.12 (90) to 11.5 (71) at Cowwarr Recreation Reserve.

Coming off a bye, and equally undefeated on the year thus far, the Blues required a period of time to work themselves into the game, especially against such a formidable opponent.

The Saints added the opening two goals of the game from Shane Morgan and Tristen Waack, but also missed many chances going forward.

Rosedale’s Spencer Fox marked the Blues’ first major late in the first quarter, as the scoreboard read 2.6 (18) to 1.1 (7) in favour of the home side.

Cowwarr returned showcasing more of what they’d displayed previously, with free-flowing movement due to a hard-running midfield producing four of the first five goals of the second term.

Rosedale eventually got on a heater with three consecutive majors to cut the deficit to 13 points, only for Waack to be found inside forward 50 and add another one late for the Saints.

Even as play resumed after halftime, momentum continued to sway the way of Cowwarr.

Five goals for the term – three to the Saints, two in favour of Rosedale.

A 25-point three quarter time lead then went above five goals as Waack added yet another for Cowwarr, and even as the Blues responded, the Saints’ Sam Hallyburton went back at them tenfold with back-to-back goals.

Perhaps knowing that all was done, with a 37-point lead, Rosedale dug into the deficit with the final three goals to bring it to a respectable margin.

The Blues’ performance was by far the closest anyone has come to taking down Cowwarr, with all other previous wins coming by north of 10 goals.

Finding himself on the other end of the ball, Waack stood tall with four goals for the Saints, followed by Hallyburton with three.

Jackson Davison, Ben Coffey, Michael Bloss and Tim Johnston also played well for Cowwarr.

Fox and Will Logan got on the end of goals three times each for Rosedale, while Jake Pawley, Brandon McConnell, Declan Barnett, Rohan Diamond and Luke Stuckey were the best of the Blues.

 

YYN 19.17 (131) def Sale City 4.8 (32)

TWO quarters was all that was required for YYN.

The Jets blew past Sale City at George Bates Reserve by 99 points, 19.17 (131) to 4.8 (32).

Both teams arrived expecting a cracking contest, and that was seen across the first half.

The Bulldogs worked on sheer intensity to begin, especially from the midfield, attempting to affect the efforts of YYN on-ballers Jai Massese and Brandon Mcauliffe.

It was still the home side who got the better of their opponent, as proceedings got underway through Chase Boxshall and Dylan Keyhoe.

Sale City responded in due time, but Jets’ playing coach Dean MacDonald sent one through late to give YYN a seven-point edge at the first break.

Chad Evans and Hudson Tollner opened the second quarter with consecutive goals for the the Bulldogs, which would eventually turn out to be their final major scores the rest of the way.

MacDonald added another for the Jets and was the only other goal for the half, as YYN led 33-29 at the main break.

As play returned, the Jets poured on 15 unanswered goals to complete a necessary percentage booster early in the year.

Four YYN players totalled three-plus goals, and the entire group shared two last names.

Brothers Dylan Keyhoe (four) and Josh Keyhoe (three) did their thing, while uncle-nephew duo Dean MacDonald (four) and Cody MacDonald (three) were just as dangerous.

Others to play well for the Jets included Massese, Mcauliffe, Darcy Shellcot, Daniel Potts and Boxshall.

Nathan Whitford, Sam Treglown, Tollner, Joel Gray, Tom Jerome and Bailey Harrison were named in the best for Sale City.

 

Heyfield 16.14 (110) def Yarram 10.6 (66)

HEYFIELD overcame a slow start against Yarram to win 16.14 (110) to 10.6 (66) at Gordon Street Reserve.

After the visiting Demons led by two points at the end of the first quarter, the Kangaroos added eight consecutive goals through to the middle of the third term to go above 50 points.

Yarram got out of their hole momentarily with five straight goals themselves, putting them within 21 points, but Heyfield again regrouped.

The home side finished with five of the last six goals of the game to keep the Demons at bay.

An all around performance for Heyfield had Harry Tatterson, Tom Marchesi, Jack Challands, Tyson Birss, Jack Christian and Kyle Graham as their best.

Matt Clavarino, skipper Kayleb Pearce (four goals), Daniel Vardy, Tyler Chisholm, Tom Mattern and Luke Hunter played well for Yarram.

 

WOODSIDE had the bye.