FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By LIAM DURKIN
ROUND 8 of the Gippsland League was spread across Saturday and Sunday at the weekend.
The round carried greater gravitas than usual, with clubs uniting for Fight MND fundraisers – made even more poignant by the recent passing of Neale Daniher.
Bairnsdale Football-Netball Club hosted its time-honoured big freeze event, which even attracted the attention of Channel 7 broadcaster Hamish McLachlan.
The Redlegs have set a high bar when it comes to do-it-yourself big freezes, trucking in a concrete tank filled with ice water for participants to slide into.
Results-wise, there was a number of talking points that came out of the round.
Moe showed, for the time being at least, that the hunted is still some distance ahead of the hunter, after defeating Warragul by 51 points.
Traralgon and Morwell meanwhile played out a bruising affair, typical for a local derby.
Down in the south, Wonthaggi sent another reminder it will be a dark horse in season 2026, edging past Leongatha in a three-point thriller.
I’ve been warning people about Wonthaggi for three years.
Traralgon 13.6 (84) def Morwell 9.10 (64)
THEY are generally close games these ones.
While the Gippsland League has introduced added Sunday games this year, Morwell and Traralgon have been playing each other on the Sunday of the King’s Birthday long weekend for yonks.
In keeping with recent history (barring the odd blowout), the most recent instalment was decided by a handful of goals.
The Maroons won on this occasion, 13.6 (84) to 9.10 (64) in front of a huge crowd at Morwell Recreation Reserve.
In keeping with club history, there was plenty of feeling in the contest as well.
A decent scuffle broke out at quarter time, at which stage the Tigers led by 15 points.
Some Traralgon jumpers were ripped amid an all-in push-and-shove, although things didn’t tip over too drastically.
A shirtless Traralgon player appeared to take a swing, but was lucky he only connected with fresh air, and was dragged away by Morwell playing-coach Aidan Quigley.
The Maroons took some ascendency in the second quarter, kicking five goals to one, and led by nine points at the main break.
Morwell’s ill-discipline gifted Traralgon a shot on goal following a reversal.
The Maroons broke a five minute deadlock after a hot first five minutes of the third term.
The visitors then started to break away, and got out to a 20-point lead.
The Tigers hit back with back-to-back majors, and got one back from a reversal which led to a goal right on the three quarter time siren.
Traralgon held a 20-point lead heading into the last, and opted for all-out defence to get out of town with the four points.
Just two goals were kicked by either side in the fourth quarter, with the final margin mirroring what was seen half-an-hour earlier.
Morwell missed a crucial shot after a downfield free kick, but were still a fighting chance 13 points down heading into red time.
From there however, the Maroons packed it in, sending everyone inside defensive 50 to stifle the game.
A clearing goal then gave Traralgon further breathing space, to see it remain two games clear of Morwell in fifth.
Maroons skipper Tye Hourigan was best for the winners, followed by Tom Hamilton (three goals), Connor Ambler, Mitch Mustoe, Liam Willaton and Tate Marsh.
Blake Couling was prominent for Morwell, as was Cody Chapman, Zac Cheffers, Hugh Dunbar, Sam Gissara and Quigley.
Moe 19.12 (126) def Warragul 10.15 (75)
EVEN Ben Maslen was kicking them by the end.
The prime mover and usual link man kicked his sixth senior career goal for Moe, as the Lions defeated Warragul 19.12 (126) to 10.15 (75).
Maslen was one of nine goal kickers for the victors at Gaskin Park on Sunday.
In a match that carried plenty of intrigue in a battle between the unbeaten teams, the end result created two discernible narratives: Warragul still with some work to do, while, much as people don’t want to talk about it – Moe’s premiership odds are just getting shorter.
This team is just that good.
Myles Poholke is usually a halfback/midfielder, and he has already kicked 38 goals this season.
He kicked seven at the weekend in a best-on-ground display. At times, no one could outmark him. His deceptively high vertical leap saw him take the ball at the highest point on a number of occasions.
The Lions started by kicking five goals to two in the first quarter, before a pretty even contest played out either side of halftime.
Spectators got the game they wanted, with just four goals the difference at the main break.
Moe players spoke about taking time out of the game and making Warragul defend, which they were forced to do at stages in the third when the Gulls threatened.
Warragul, very much a momentum team, enjoyed good periods, kicking three consecutive goals in the second quarter, and another two in the third.
Every time the visitors looked like potentially running over the top however, Moe found the calming goal it needed.
A Riley D’Arcy long range set shot from deep in the pocket at the Switchback Road End, which he celebrated off the boot, was enough for Warragul coach Gary Ayres to lean back on the fence, seemingly knowing the game was out of reach.
Moe held a 34-point lead at three quarter time, and ended up running away with the contest.
Ayres told his players to gain territory, while Lions coach Leigh Poholke called for less handball, especially in defence.
Max Woodall capped off his birthday week with a clinical set shot from right on 50 for the winners, igniting celebrations.
Poholke was best, while Blake Mullane found plenty of the ball, as did Nathan Scagliarini, who kicked a neat right foot snap after taking advantage.
Moe’s defence withstood some barrages, with Tom Blackshaw, Scott van Dyk on return, and Declan Keilty in his 99th game all having good moments.
Tom Hobbs was best for the vanquished, and kicked a very good set shot from long range wheeling around on his right in the second quarter.
Riley Senini, Sean Masterson, Sam Whibley, Xavier Olsson and James Harrison also played well in defeat.
Moe’s day was further highlighted by the debut of Brodyn Blandford.
Carrying a famous surname at the club, young Blandford is the son of club greats Gary ‘Bud’ Blandford and 300 game netballer Renee.
In a strangely constructed connection, Bud was coached by Christian Burgess, who tipped the scales at a mere 65 kilograms during his time with Morwell in the 1990s. Brodyn could well be the lightest Gippsland League senior player since.
Wonthaggi 7.14 (56) def Wonthaggi 8.5 (53)
WATCH out for Wonthaggi.
The Power climbed into the top three after holding on in a nail-bitter against Leongatha.
The South Gippsland Showdown delivered a modern-day classic, with Wonthaggi prevailing 7.14 (56) to 8.5 (53).
Two late goals from Leongatha kept supporters on edge, before the final siren cued delirious celebrations for the home side.
In what was surely a season-defining performance, an inaccurate Wonthaggi fought back from a 16-point deficit in choppy conditions last Sunday.
If anyone wants to see what real leadership looks like, skip to the 26-minute mark of the last quarter of the game on YouTube.
You will see Power captain Josh Bates put in a desperate effort to grab opposite number Tom Marriott holding the ball, just as the Parrots skipper looks set to send the ball forward from centre wing.
Bates was recognised as one of his sides best players, along with Jai Williams, Jarryd Blair, Isaac Chugg, Jakeb Thomas and Aiden Lindsay.
When the Power needed its big guns to stand up, they did. Just look at those names: Blair, Chugg and Lindsay.
Jack Blair kicked an insane checkside set shot from deep in the pocket next to the change rooms to take Wonthaggi closer to victory in the last term.
Best players for Leongatha were Aaron Heppell, Jack Sheridan, Sam Forrester, Jack Hume, Tim Sauvarin and Beau Grabham Andrews.
Maffra 18.13 (121) def Drouin 14.15 (99)
MAFFRA won a high-scoring game against Drouin.
Two of the competition’s youngest teams went head-to-head in a good display of what the future may hold.
The Eagles proved better on the day, winning 18.13 (121) to 14.15 (99) on the road.
The game was thrown open for players to express themselves, an invitation they gladly accepted.
Seventeen goals were kicked in the first half, before the visitors held sway in the third.
Maffra kicked six goals to two on the run to the final break, which was near enough to the difference in the end.
Both teams had 10 goal kickers, while the Eagles had some famous surnames feature in its best players.
Getting the nod was Henry Anderson, Max Stobie, Archie Stobie, Will Burgiel, Jett Killoran and Sam Anderson.
Brodie Atkins was available for Drouin due to a VFL bye, and was best for the Hawks. Joining him was Ben Brasier, Blake Bibby, Seb Amoroso, Peyton Saddington and Will Young.
The result would have been pleasing to Maffra officials on a number of fronts, not only for the manner of the win, but by the fact the side only used 25 player points.
Bairnsdale 24.15 (159) def Sale 7.4 (46)
BAIRNSDALE went from losing by 100 points to winning by 100.
In another unfortunate showing for Sale, the Magpies were defeated 24.15 (159) to 7.4 (46) at Bairnsdale City Oval.
Brayden McCarrey made a successful return for the Redlegs, kicking seven goals. Jonah Walker also filled his boots with five.
Others to play well were Jamie Dore, Randall Stewart and Oscar Morrison (three goals).
Sale competed admirably in the first half, but sheer weight of numbers eventually wore them down.
Jack Cantwell kicked three of the team’s seven goals, while Jontie Gray, Ashton Wright, Kai McDonald, Kane Cutler and Tom Wrigglesworth were others of note.
Some better news for the Magpies comes by way of milestones.
Premiership player and former senior captain Jordan Dessent is closing in on 200 games, while senior games record holder Chris Laverty is only three off playing 400 club games.
