By Ken Moore
DROUIN made a big breakthrough and showed it was every bit as good as last year after it clinched a rousing four-point away victory over competition pacesetters Sale on Saturday.
It was the Magpies first loss this season.
The star-laden Hawk on-ball brigade of Pat McGrath, Andy Soumilas, Sam Proctor and Daniel Barrand seized control of the midfield in the first quarter and all played a big role in the visitors forging a 22-point lead at the main break.
As expected, the home side lifted a gear in the second half and fought back to hit the front twice in the last quarter – before a wonderful checkside kick by Hawk forward Sean Proctor from hard up on the boundary line pierced the big sticks from 30 metres to recapture the lead and with five minutes left.
The runners-up of 2010 held on to their narrow lead in an exciting and tense finish. Aaron Coyle, David Olsen, Dave Miller and full back Jay Barr, in his 100th game, all provided niggardly defence and small ruckman Damian Carmody picked up many important touches at both ends of the field.
While agile Sale ruckman Toby Leeds dominated the centre taps, Drouin often won the centre clearances, especially in the first half.
The evergreen trio of Kane Fraser, Shane Fyfe and Rodney Love played a big part in the Magpies second half revival.
Forward Brendan Rathnow (four goals) and Brenton Martin (three) posed a nuisance for the Hawk backs and inter-league defender Jordan Dessent was often a wall of resistance in the second half.
Sale playmaker Matt Ferguson kicked two goals and was regularly double teamed by Hawks who kept a close watch on him.
TRARALGON drummed home it was improving with each outing after it comfortably accounted for Warragul.
The Gulls were plucky for three quarters, but never posed a real threat.
Silky skilled Maroon midfielder Jackson Hall delivered the ball with precision and worked forward with intent to slot through four goals and he received good support from rover Danny Campbell, Kane Grinstead-Jones and former coach Steve Hazelmann, who, despite three knee reconstructions, still showed he has a lot to offer.
Michael Cooper and Sam Dunbar moved well across the forward line and tall forward Dan McKenna was a focal point and chipped in with four majors.
For Warragul, Clinton Rowe has returned from the VFL club the Frankston Dolphins and was never too far away from the midfield action and showed he has what it takes to mix it with the best.Matt Gray and Mark Bradley combined well in the ruck and across the forward line and Brad Hamilton did plenty of the midfield grunt work. Eighteen-year-old wingman Josh Lea showed plenty of promise and Brenton Sheehan, in his 150th game, boxed on well in the last line of defence.
WONTHAGGI made a big statement that it is a legitimate finals contender after it steamrolled Maffra by 70 points. The Eagles trailed by 24 points at half time and then had the stuffing knocked out of them in the third quarter when the Power rammed on nine goals to put the result beyond any doubt. Maffra wore the brunt of some ferocious tackling and all clubs have commented on the Power’s physicality.
Another of Wonthaggi’s assets is its all-over-the-field evenness.
On Saturday, full back Siga Asa Leausa and half backs Troy Harley and Tristan Mayling both repelled and rebounded the ball well, ruckman Earl Shaw picked up regular touches all around the ground and shone in the third quarter when he pushed forward and kicked three goals. Former Drouin and Yarragon on baller Phil Solohub and Gippsland Power squad member Jack Blair both won plenty of possession and used the ball intelligently. For Maffra, while beaten in the midfield, the half back line of Sam Tudor, Ben Batalha and Sam Walker performed admirably and did their utmost to stymie the regular Power attacks, but simply could not stop every sortie forward.
Matt Johnston was moved into the middle and gave the Eagles a bit of drive in the last quarter and senior fringe dweller, Damian Kelly earned his spot in the side with solid game in defence. Maffra currently has at least six of its best team missing but in the past it has been able to still find a way to win when undermanned, but perhaps the reigning premiers are now coming back to the field for the first time in a decade.
LEONGATHA reinforced it is making strong inroads after it came from 13 points behind with the last three goals of the game to pip league newcomers, Bairnsdale by nine points. Top drawer Parrot recruit Beau Vernon and hard-at-the-ball rising star Tom Marriott again made their presence felt midfield; ruckman Chris Rump competed well and strong bodied forward Zac Griffiths (six goals) had a lot to offer. Nic Nagel led well and notched four goals and the ever improving Rhett Kelly again found plenty of the ball. The Redlegs has now dropped down to fifth spot after a promising start to the season. Kane Ashwood was in the thick of the midfield action, ruckman Tom Sturgess was busy around all over the field, Mark Sellings was prominent midfield and centre half forward James Gibbs put through four goals and did well from limited opportunities.
IN A low scoring and wind-marred game on Sunday, Moe finished full of running to turn a 14-point three quarter time deficit into a 15- point victory. Ryan Donaldson kicked four goals, Tom Johnson three and defenders Ben Kerrigan, Kain Aidrie and Peter Ainsworth proved hard to penetrate. Ben Collins got plenty of the ball midfield and Ash Payne did well when he moved into the ruck. Morwell had a real crack for three quarters and were well served by classy midfielder Adam Bailey, Rob Michaelides and plucky small Joel Soutar.
The Tigers finished with only one fit player on the bench in the last quarter, which may partly explain their fade out. Such is the evenness of the competition, the Lions, now with three victories, still find themselves in eighth position but only two points behind the fifth placed Bairnsdale.
Round 8 Tips:
MAFFRA v Warragul
WONTHAGGI v Bairnsdale
Moe v SALE
DROUIN v Leongatha
TRARALGON v Morwell (Monday)
