By Ken Moore
DROUIN fell 17 points short of the ladder leaders Traralgon on Saturday in a high standard contest.
The difference between the two teams was, perhaps, far greater, because the Maroons produced 30 scoring shots to 18, but fluffed too many kicks on goal.
This kept the door open for the Hawks until late in the match. Traralgon was able to shut down many of Drouin’s playmakers and move the ball more fluently.
Maroon sweeper Jamie Aitken started many attacks from behind centre to be one of the most influential players on the field. Rover Danny Campbell set up many forward thrusts and Adrian Slotje, up from the thirds, led and marked well and steered through three goals. Michael Burge played forward and fed off the packs well and Tim Johnston quelled the influence of Chris Dunne.
The Hawks trailed by 21 points at the main break, but with five unanswered goals surged to a 10-point lead in the third quarter before the Maroons responded to the challenge. Sam Proctor and Andy Soumilas extracted the ball from the packs frequently, David Olsen and Hayden Calway mobilised the back line and Daniel Barrand (four goals) was up and about across the forward line. Jay Barr did well to curb Dan McKenna and Steven Ballingall made the classy Maroon centre man Jackson Hall work hard to earn all of his disposals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Morwell v Warragul
MORWELL swept aside Warragul by 44 points.
The Gulls tried hard but far too often were clumsy with their disposal, which often undid all their good work to get the ball.
It was Morwell’s first victory since it beat Leongatha in round five. Statistically, with seven rounds to go, the Tigers can make the finals but more realistically, it will play a bigger part shaping the top six if it can find its early season form. Coach Damien Kerr played Tim Ryan off the half back flank where he launched a number of forward forays and worked well with Adam Bailey, Rob Michaelides and Joel Soutar, who all stimulated the midfield. Mannon Johnston (four goals) moved confidently around the forward line and Jack Brown drove hard at the ball and was almost impassable at centre half back while newcomer Adrian Fazioli used his pace well and made an impressive debut. Warragul drew inspiration from Mark Bradley, who was brilliant in the ruck in the absence of Matt Gray.
Half back Joel Morgan teamed well in unison with midfielders Jarrod Drew and Ash Blackwood. Forwards Josh Helliwell and Josh Lea escaped their opponents to pose a nuisance and Dean Hendrickse in his 100th game in a Gulls jumper showed good ball sense and next week against Sale he will front up for his 350th senior game.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Leongatha v Maffra
LEONGATHA’S season is at a critical juncture after it lost by 21 points at their hoodoo ground, Maffra.
The Parrots have not won at Maffra since 1999. Fuelled by six of the last seven goals of the game Maffra turned a 17-point shortfall late in the third quarter into crucial victory. Ruckman Owen Booth put in an exemplary performance, Daniel Stubbe played a solid game at both ends of the field and his brother Josh was creative off the half back line. The Bedggoods, Sam and Daniel, kicked seven goals between them and Kelvin Porter gathered over 40 possessions. Leongatha has now slumped to seventh on the ladder, but still well in touch with the top five, such is the even nature of the competition. Colin Sanbrook lined up on the wing and gave the Parrots good drive and he got great midfield assistance from Tom Marriot, Beau Vernon and Dylan Westaway. Nick Nagel reinforced he is a rising star, taking a number of strong marks and bagging seven goals and Chris Verboon spoiled many Eagle attacks at centre half back.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bairnsdale v Moe
DESPITE a mid-season slump, Bairnsdale has again emerged as a viable finals prospect after a seven point victory over Moe. Captain James Gibbs put in a sterling effort in the ruck where he accumulated over 30 disposals and half backs Reece Robinson and Joel Waters read play well, plucked in some good marks and showed plenty of poise. Michael Preston reeled in a dozen marks and underscored a fine game with six goals and debutant Devon Cooper worked hard from his wing position and looks a handy prospect. Tom Johnson (three goals) attacked the ball across the forward line with real purpose and threatened to steal the game for the Lions with a terrific last quarter. Troy Makepeace was superb at the stoppages and ruckman Chris Hancock was more than serviceable around the ground. Kain Aidrie was cool in defence and his former Beaconsfield teammate Ben Collins drove hard at the ball and helped keep his team in the contest in the first half.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Sale v Wonthaggi
SALE grafted out a 28-point victory over Wonthaggi in a rough and tumble affair.
The game featured plenty of body on body contests and nine 50-metre penalties were dished out by the men in white. Fleet-footed Magpie forward Kane Aidrie was without parallel all match. His run, carry, vision and skill set him apart from the others on the field. Undersized ruckman Brett Hudson competed well against Power counterpart Earl Shaw and Jordan Dessent held Matt Kremmer to only two goals. Boom recruit Matt Ferguson (seven goals) displayed strong hands, Chris Laverty, Shane Fyfe and Taylor Collins sharked the ball at most of the centre bounces and defender Andrew Quirk played a superb game. Ben Young and Leigh McDonald (three goals each) showed plenty of footy smarts, centreman Tom Gilliland won plenty of hard ball gets and Siga Asa Leausa rendered plenty of assistance down back.
Round 12 tips:
LEONGATHA v Wonthaggi (night)
SALE v Warragul
DROUIN v Maffra
Moe v TRARALGON
BAIRNSDALE v Morwell
