Drouin desperate

By Ken Moore
DROUIN will set out to win its first premiership since 1992 when it meets Traralgon on Saturday in the 2011 Gippsland Football League grand final at Morwell.
The Hawks will also be hell-bent to atone for last season’s grand final loss to Maffra. Traralgon’s last premiership was in 2005, when it upset Maffra. The match is a replay of the second-semi final, which saw the Maroons victorious by 17 points.
In their clash two weeks ago, the result was decided largely in the opening term when Traralgon got off to a flyer and took a 31-point advantage into the quarter-time break.
Nevertheless, the Hawks fought back to within a kick late in the game, which just whets the appetite for another close and tense encounter.
Another factor to play a big part in Saturday’s game is the composition of the two teams. Both clubs are likely to field far different teams to those that took the field in the second semi-final.
Drouin is likely to include a potential matchwinner in strong-bodied high-marking forward Adam Cook (bruised AC joint) and another hard-at-the-ball type in Cam de Gooyer (hamstring), while its Gippsland Power boys, exciting Tiwi Islander Anthony Tipungwitu and Daniel Jackson, did not play against the Maroons last time around.
Traralgon will most likely add Michael Cooper to its side, while its Gippsland Power stars Hayden and Damien Hector, Matt Northe and Tim Membrey, if the latter has recovered from injury, will come into the selection mix.
Drouin’s strength is its midfield, led by Andy Soumilas, Pat McGrath, Sam Proctor and Daniel Barrand, while Chris Dunne, Dean Woodhead and Damien Carmody are genuine game breakers and versatile enough to fill roles all over the field, making the Hawks a hard team to plan against.
The ruck match-up between Hawks beanpole Bob McCallum, who played senior VFL football at Frankston, and Justin Fulton, recruited from Lakes Entrance over the summer, will be pivotal.
“In our three finals, we played three good quarters against Sale and Traralgon and put together two and a bit good quarters against Maffra,” Drouin coach Ben Soumilas said.
“If we can produce four good quarters on Saturday, it will give us a good shot at winning the premiership.”
Traralgon’s major attribute is its all-over-the-field evenness.
Unlike many other teams that have produced wild form gyrations this season, the difference between its best and worst is usually minimal and this explains why it was the minor premiers.
Drouin will spend hours trying to figure out how to contain former Geelong AFL rookie Dan McKenna and 2009 Trood Award-Rodda medallist Michael Geary.
McKenna has scored 58 goals this season and his quick leads and strong hands have troubled all opponents, while Geary showed his elusiveness when he kicked six goals in a best-on-ground performance against Drouin two weeks ago.
The Hawks will also need to stop the influence of rover Danny Campbell, wingman Jackson Hall and try to stop Jamie Aitken from setting up attacks from defence.
“We’ve had a good preparation and 30 blokes have put their hand up for selection,” said Josh Jennings, Traralgon’s first-year coach.
“We will be at full strength and, with the week off, we will be fully fit. It looks like either side can win and the team that produces its best on the day should win … and hopefully it will be us.”
With the likely inclusion of Cook and Cam de Gooyer – and having gained a few pointers from its second semi-final loss when its midfielders were down – Drouin has room for improvement.
I’ve got a hunch the hurt of last year’s grand final defeat will still be fresh in the Hawks’ minds and that this motivation will drive them to win the 2011 GFL premiership.