Point winner

By Ken Moore
IN A nailbiter, under lights in front of a big crowd at the Ted Summerton Reserve, on Anzac Day a point kicked by Moe gave it its second win of the season at the expense of a hapless Drouin.
The game was tied up with two minutes to go when Moe’s Gary Blandford rushed a shot at goal that went through for a point.
In a rain and wind-marred game that only spawned 15 goals, the Hawks trailed by six points at three-quarter time, but looked set for victory after goals by Callum Kanobie, John Perry and Damian Carmody gave it a six point lead mid way through the last term.
This was before an answering goal by Newborough recruit Daniel Risol tied things up with five minutes to go.
The Blandford behind was the last score of the game to put the Lions a solitary point in front.
However, Drouin kept coming and sent the ball inside its forward 50-metre line a number of times, but the tight Moe defence managed to repel the best the visitors could offer.
Little separated the two sides all game in a tense contest played in teeming rain for all bar the final minutes.
Goals were hard to come by until midway through the first term when Risol kicked truly after he was left unattended.
Then two opportunist majors by veteran Chris Smogavec gave the home side a handy lead before a goal in time-on by Troy Kneebone helped the Hawks keep in touch and 14 points down at the first break.
Kicking with the advantage of a two-to-three-goal crosswind in the second quarter, a second Kneebone goal followed by another to his brother Luke and a third by new Hawk coach Ben Soumilas levelled the scores at the main change.
In the third quarter, Moe opened up a 12-point advantage with goals by Andrew Thorpe and Ashley Payne before a late six-pointer by Garfield recruit Dean McFarlane kept the Hawks within striking range.
The better players for the victors included defender smalls Leigh Hale and Gary Blandford, who both relished the conditions.
Risol and Matt Forys always looked dangerous across the forward line and Smogavec was good early.
Hawks’ David Olsen, Damian Carmody and Malcolm Dowe were all outstanding contributors across the half-back line; Daniel Barrand and Pat McGrath were solid in and around the middle and Sam Proctor tried hard to negate the influence of Lions coach Troy Makepeace.
While Lion ruckman Chris Hancock won plenty of taps, his counterpart Brendan McCallum had the better of the around-the-ground duels.
In spite of the wet and greasy conditions, both teams look superior to last season.
Gulls outshine Stars
WARRAGUL ground out a 36-point victory over a plucky Garfield.
The Stars started brightly and scored the first three behinds of the game and won plenty of the ball early, but couldn’t turn its possessions into goals.
Midterm Warragul settled and opened the throttle to notch four successive goals and set up victory with a 23-point lead at the first change.
For a large part, the game just meandered as both teams struggled to play fluent football in the windblown conditions.
While the weather assisted Garfield to be more competitive than last week the Stars did also play with far more purpose on Sunday.
Coach Brent Eastwell and Ben Marsh snaffled plenty disposals, full-back Phil Burns and centre half-back Shane Reid made things hard for the Gull forwards and half-back Jim Bow put his head over the ball all game.
Star Warragul forward Nathan Lieshout, with four majors, proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Former league medallist Des Barr played a pivotal role winning kicks at will and lent good support to Matt Gray, Steve Murphy and Ryan Davey, who all had productive games.
Ross Glover, Tim Keily and Ryan Matthews, the latter in only his second game, all worked hard and were more than serviceable in the testing conditions.
Eagles maroon Maroons
BANISH any thoughts that Maffra might be on the decline this season. After trailing by five points at half-time, the Eagles produced a seven-goal-to-one second half to run away with a 22-point victory over Traralgon.
Once Maffra hit the front, midway through the third quarter, it never looked like losing.
Gary Jones and Craig Robbins provided the midfield spark for the Eagles and Hayden Burgiel marshalled the defence that was well held together by Sam Bristow and Glen Semmens.
For Traralgon, Tom McQualter relished the in-and-under conditions, Michael Geary was lively across the forward line and, despite kicking three goals, Adrian Burgiel was well subdued by Jamie Aitken.
Maroon insiders also sung the praises of Gippsland Power’s Kane Grinstead-Jones, the league’s under-16 best-and-fairest in 2008, who in his first senior game did not look out of place with the big boys.
Parrots chew Pies
‘GET out of Leongatha’s way’ is the early season message.
After crushing Warragul in round one, the Parrots spanked Sale by 46 points on Sunday.
Leongatha wrested control of the game with five unanswered goals in the second quarter to set up a 43-point half-time lead and cruised to victory in the second half.
Brad Rayson and Hayden Browne won a stack of the ball all over the ground, Paul LePage, Adam Govers, in his 100th game, and youngster Jesse Poulton provided plenty of resolute defence and Justin Sutherland imposed himself on the game on a day not suitable for big men.
For the Magpies, nuggetty centreman Corey Scholtes tried hard to lift his side, Liam Hogan did a good job in the last line of defence and Gippsland Power squad member Darcy Thorpe showed he had a bright future with many quality disposals from his wing position.
Tips – Round 3, Saturday 2 May.
Likely winners in capitals.
MAFFRA v Moe.
DROUIN v Warragul (Sunday).
Garfield v SALE.
LEONGATHA v Morwell.
Traralgon – Bye.