Top rung spot may be short-lived

By Ken Moore
TRARALGON is back on top of the Gippsland Football League ladder after a hard fought 35 point victory over Wonthaggi.
However, their stay at the crest of the table may be temporary because it displaced Sale who has a game in hand and did not play on Saturday due to a split round.
The Maroons didn’t get their free flowing running game going but still managed to outscore the Power in every quarter.
Rover Danny Campbell covered plenty of ground, used the ball constructively and is having a stellar season.
He should poll heavily in the league best and fairest, the Trood Award-Rodda Medal. Former league medallist Michael Geary set up a number of forward moves and is slowly working his way back to his best form in what was only his fifth game for the season.
Captain Sam McCulloch curbed one of Wonthaggi’s major forward threats, Matt Kremmer, and Michael Burge showed a good eye for the goals, steering home four and was busy across the forward line.
Gippsland Power’s Jack Doderico – along with Kym Harrold – were conduits for many thrusts out of defence and through the midfield.
Wonthaggi was well served by 18-year-old Inverloch recruit, Kane McCarthy, who offered terrific drive and displayed good skills.
Earl Shaw dominated the ruck contests and was more than handy around the ground, while Phil Solohub did well in a run with role and across the forward line.
Aiden Lindsay returned from the Casey Scorpions and helped mobilise the Power midfield.
He received good support from former coach Paul Brosnan and Lucas White, the latter, who has been one of the recruits of the season, since he arrived from Tocumwal on the Murray River.
Meanwhile, Maffra’s roller coaster season continued on Sunday, when its back to back premiership hopes suffered a huge setback when going down by 33 points to league newcomers, Bairnsdale.
The Redlegs have exceeded the expectations of most punters and have gone back to fifth position on the ladder – and the East Gippsland 2010 premiers are well in the market to play finals football.
Bairnsdale set up victory in the second quarter, when it rattled on eight goals to one and went into the main break with a commanding 45-point lead.
The Eagles struggled to combat the two pronged attack of Michael Preston (six goals) and James Gibbs (five), while Nathan Storer stepped up from the under-18s and kicked four goals in his second senior game.
Wingman Jason Waddell pumped the ball forward and Daniel Perrin offered plenty of resolute defence, as did Kyle Reagan, who held his former teammate and last week’s 12 goal star, Jack Tatterson, to only three majors.
For Maffra, Gary Jones used his pace and elusiveness well to trouble the Redleg defence, Daniel Bedggood was prominent across the forward line and Daniel O’Brien and Kelvin Porter won their usual bag of kicks.
Sam Tudor got plenty of midfield possessions and Owen Booth gave it his all in the ruck.
With only three games left in the home and away season, Maffra is facing the prospect of missing the finals for the first time this century.
Round 15 split round
Warragul v MOE
Morwell v DROUIN
SALE v Leongatha