Power ruckman Mark Bradley did his best to reel in the early deficit. 67938 Picture: Donna Oates
By Ken Moore
DROUIN stays on track for a finals double chance after a resounding 38-point victory over local rivals Warragul on Sunday.
The Hawks set their mind on the job from the outset and with two first-quarter goals by Gippsland Power’s Anthony Tipungwuti and further majors by Cam de Gooyer, Steve Ballingall, Daniel Barrand and Ben Soumilas all inside the 15-minute mark, the home side killed off a contest with a 33-point lead at the first break.
Given the heavy conditions underfoot and the lopsided scoreline, the game was as good as over.
Warragul stemmed the bleeding over the ensuing quarters but could make little inroad on the scoreboard.
Not one goal was kicked in the third quarter and in the last quarter both teams snared only one goal each.
The second half was most notable for a big melee when Hawks ball magnet Andy Soumilas was dumped after kicking the ball forward. The resulting skirmish saw both teams resume play with only 16 players after red and yellow cards were handed out evenly.
Talented Gull youngster Josh Helliwell took a soaring mark late in the quarter to put a smile on the faces of visiting supporters but for most of the day there was little for Warragul fans to be enthused about. Lanky Hawks ruckman Bob McCallum return from VFL side Frankston released Damian Carmody to strut his stuff and the assistant coach took the opportunity to pick up disposals all over the field.
Pat McGrath snaffled plenty of the ball, fellow midfielders Andy Soumilas, Daniel Barrand and Steven Ballingall and half-back David Olsen all made a big impact. Tiwi Islander Tipungwuti (three goals) used his body well to outmanoeuvre his opponents and has been touted as a potential AFL draftee at the end of the year.
Warragul’s ruckman Mark Bradley had a real dip in the second half, line defender Tom Carey and half-back Joel Morgan chopped off many attacks and Gippsland Power boys Tom Muir and Tom Fusinato picked up disposals often.
Up forward Jason Hibbs was good in patches and the Drew brothers, Ben and Jarryd, gathered disposals regularly.
TRARALGON v MAFFRA
WRITE off the reigning premiers Maffra at your own peril. That is the message the Eagles delivered emphatically after they produced a stunning nine-goal last quarter to overturn a 26-point deficit early in the last term into a 23-point victory over Traralgon, who entered ladder leaders.
The star of the show for the Eagles was Jack Tatterson, who was unquestionably best on ground. He kicked 12 goals, including a phenomenal seven in the last quarter and his total became the highest by a Maffra player against Traralgon. With the game on the line in the last term Daniel O’Brien, in his 50th game, Gary Jones, Kel Porter and Sam Tudor all took over the midfield and Josh Stubbe and Ben Batalha safeguarded the defence.
Hard-working Traralgon forwards Michael Burge and Nic Quenault menaced the Eagles defence with three goals apiece. A major turning point in the game occurred early in the last term when Jamie Aitken left the field with a hamstring injury and this freed up Tatterson, his opponent, to put on a clinic.
Michael Geary, Danny Campbell and Jackson Hall all played a big part in the Maroons’ ascendancy until three-quarter-time.
LEONGATHA v MORWELL
AT HOME and on a heavy track thanks to more than 5cm of rain during the week, Leongatha kept its finals push going with a convincing 50-point victory over Morwell.
The Tigers started well in the trying conditions and notched two first-quarter goals to go into the first break with a three-point lead but it went pear-shaped for the Tigers from then on.
After quarter-time, Morwell scored only two more goals and the home side peppered the goals with eight from 26 scoring shots – illustrating the dominance.
Parrots youngster Aaron Heppell, 16, set up many forward thrusts with his clean skills while Colin Sanbrook, Paddy Kindellan and Zac Vernon ploughed through the heavy going with good effect.
Evergreen Jack Hughes repelled many attacks off the half-back flank and used the ball constructively.
For Morwell, Joel Soutar found plenty of the ball and in defence Jack Brown, who hasn’t played a bad game this season, was again a pest for the Parrots’ forwards. Another key defender, Julian Blackford, offered solid resistance and Queensland recruit Chris Pettit, Tim Ryan and Mannon Johnson initiated good drive.
MOE v WONTHAGGI
MOE’S yo-yo form continued after it lost to Wonthaggi by 29 points.
Just when Lions supporters thought their team was about to turn the corner it disappointed once again.
The game was all tied up at three-quarter-time before an eight-goal last quarter by the home side put it well on track to play finals football.
Wonthaggi is now six points inside the top six and it is now time to take it seriously.
Power ruckman Earl Shaw won centre clearances at will and gave his smalls silver service. Experienced duo, Ryan Underwood (six goals) and Leigh McDonald (four) wielded their influence inside their attacking 50-metre zone, Tom Gilliland, Lucas White, Phil Solohub and youngster Jack Blair all garnered heaps of midfield possessions.
Moe sharpshooter Ryan Donaldson (eight goals) played a lone hand up forward for the Lions.
Peter Ainsworth and Troy Makepeace could not have done any more to keep their team in the contest and received good assistance across half-back from Jacob Wood and Tommy Long.
The complexion of the game changed in the third quarter when Lions’ assistant coach Ben Collins was sent from the field after he remonstrated over an incident that saw his brother David, who returned from VFL side Casey Scorpions, go down with a blow to the kidneys in a marking contest.
SALE v BAIRNSDALE
SALE slotted back into top position on the ladder on Sunday after it beat Bairnsdale by 32 points.
The Magpies nosed 18 points ahead by quarter-time but a lot of credit must go to the Redlegs because they did not let their more highly fancied opponents out of their sight all game.
Sale midfielders Shane Fyfe, Taylor Collins and Corey Scholtes set up a number of important forward plays, John Gooch in his first game back for well over a month did well in defence and Matt Ferguson had his usual say with five goals.
For Bairnsdale, Michael Preston (four goals) proved a focal target, tall utility James Gibbs was prominent, as was Andrew Nelson and Mark Sellings was his lively self in the forward line.
Bairnsdale has now dropped from fifth to eighth on the table and with upcoming games against Maffra, Leongatha, Wonthaggi and Drouin, the league newcomers will thoroughly deserve a spot in the top five if it can make it.
ROUND 15 (split round) TIPS:
Wonthaggi v TRARALGON
Bairnsdale v MAFFRA (Sunday)
Warragul v MOE
Morwell v DROUIN
SALE v Leongatha
