By Ken Moore
DROUIN had to battle hard to ward off a persistent Morwell by 20 points on Saturday.
The Hawks led at every change and always looked in charge, but could not break clear in a game that never rose to any great heights due to drizzly rain coupled with greasy conditions underfoot.
Rebounding defenders Cam DeGooyer and David Olsen read play superbly and sent the ball back from whence it came, Pat McGrath extricated the ball from the midfield packs and had a number of strong allies, led by the irrepressible Andy Soumilas, Sam Proctor and Daniel Barrand.
The best news to emerge from a Hawk perspective was the return of talented utility Adam Cook, who took a handful of good grabs and kicked four goals in his first match for the season. Cook is on Williamstown’s VFL list, but an ankle operation over summer and hamstring troubles have kept him sidelined.
With an eye to the future, the Hawks blooded three newcomers, Darcy Irwin and Jack Rippon, both up from the thirds and Sam Clebney, who has been knocking down the door in the reserves and all three contributed handily.
Morwell and inter-league defender Jack Brown again proved hard to pass while midfielders Adam Bailey, Rob Michaelides and Joel Soutar played a big role in keeping the Tigers competitive.
In this topsy-turvy season, by virtue of its recent consistency, which has seen it win six of its last seven games, Drouin has quietly worked its way into second on the ladder and only percentage now stands between it and Traralgon, who sit atop.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:MOE v WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS
A STUNNING six-goal opening term by spearhead Ryan Donaldson paved the way for Moe to coast to a 48-point victory over Warragul.
Donaldson displayed all his craftiness in the first quarter but was more subdued over the ensuing three quarters and finished with eight goals. The former Beaconsfield and Cora Lynn star has scored 62 goals this season and been well worth the investment.
Super-consistent Lion half back Peter Ainsworth both stopped and launched countless attacks, Peter Yates cramped the output of Gulls utility Matt Gray, who played a large part of the game up forward rather than in his customary ruck position and Tom Johnson (four goals) finished the match well with three majors in the last term.
Lions coach Troy Makepeace, assistant coach Ben Collins along with Ben Kerrigan and Tommy Long produced a constant stream of forward forays. Warragul ruckman Mark Bradley played a superb game and helped the Gulls win many centre clearances but it was well beaten at the stoppages.
Lachlan Petch (four goals) provided a good forward target and Tom Carey offered stout resistance and good run out of defence. Josh Lea and Brad Nott drove the ball forward frequently and debutant Jack Shultz did some nice things across the forward line.
The Lions now sit in sixth spot and only half a game behind Leongatha and Wonthaggi it is ready to pounce should one or both of the two aforementioned falter.
Moe’s finals prospects with likely boil down to the final home-and-away round when they meet rival top-five aspirants Leongatha.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:SALE v LEONGATHA
IN wet and slippery conditions at Sale, Leongatha got its season back on track after it upset the Magpies by 11 points in a thriller.
In a game that was touch and go all day, it took a goal by captain Beau Vernon with less than two minutes to go before visiting fans could breathe a sigh of relief.
Vernon along with his brother Zac, Colin Sanbrook and Tom Marriot were all tremendous and provided the grunt work all game while Chris Rump was the best big man on the park.
Dylan Westaway snuck forward to kick to crucial goals in the last quarter and Aaron Heppell and Stuart Kilsby snagged three goals each.
For Sale, league-leading goal kicker Matt Ferguson hauled in some good marks and kicked truly on six occasions, Peter McFarlane also showed sticky hands in the ruck and all over the field and Kane Martin (four goals) was at his dynamic best and this trio were the pick of the Magpies.
Sale has slipped down to third position but with only three rounds to go they have a mortgage on a double chance along with Traralgon and Drouin.
The battle for fourth and fifth is less clear cut with only four points separating Leongatha, Wonthaggi, Moe, Bairnsdale and Maffra, who are all vying for the final two top-five positions.
ROUND 16 Tips:
TRARALGON vWarragul
MAFFRA v Wonthaggi
DROUIN v Sale
LEONGATHA v Bairnsdale (Night)
MOE v Morwell (Sunday)
