WGLFL semifinal review

THE clash of Maffra and Traralgon at Morwell brought an emphatic win for Maffra, which goes into the grand final the hottest favourite ever after running away in the last quarter.
The game started with plenty of vigour and Andrew Gieschen snapped his first goal within the first two minutes. Four minutes later a long bomb from Lee Forsyth resulted in a free kick being awarded to Gieschen, who booted his second. Traralgon lifted its endeavour and managed to struggle forward without conceding too much. At the 15minute mark Cameron Ferguson roved the pack to snap a good goal and bring Traralgon back into the play.
The two teams were entering their forward lines regularly but there was one distinct difference with Maffra running the ball down the ground and setting up to a leading forwards.
Traralgon hung in well in the second term and at halftime the scoreline had Traralgon 5.5 to 6.11.
The third term was lively and ended with Hayden Burgiel handballing to Ben Durrant, who set a perfectly weighted pass in front of Adrian Burgiel for a to see Maffra leading 12.18 to 9.5.
The final quarter started with Traralgon attacking immediately and Ferguson was able to handball out Greg Morley, who kicked straight for a goal. But Maffra switched into top gear when Adrian Burgiel grabbed a contested ball and slotted through a goal, Scott Scicluna took a good mark to convert and Adrian Burgiel kicked the next two goals. For the quarter Maffra kicked 11 goals to Traralgon’s three.
In the first semifinal at Moe Sale started the better with goals by Damon Arrezzolo from a free and Nick Fowler after a mark. Moe’s Leigh Stevens was obstructed when attempting to mark but still managed to gather and kick forward for Jason Shields to mark and goal. Dean Horton scooped up a loose ball and kicked truly then Moe’s Peter Ainsworth followed the ball down the field to hand off another goal for Horton. Sale’s Heath Lange, who was getting plenty of possessions, snapped a good goal from about 40 metres out. Moe kicked the next four goals to go into the first break leading 7.3 to 3.1.
The second term continued with both sides running the ball well but Moe was finishing better and at halftime Moe 10.4 led Sale 8.3.
Moe came out of the long break intent on making a statement and added seven majors to Sale’s two. Stevens and Shields worked extremely well together, kicking five between them.
Coming into the last term Sale faced a sevengoal deficit and didn’t look like putting up much resistance, but fought it out to the end. Moe was able to add a further three goals to one.