DROUIN jumped to third spot on the ladder after a gritty 22-point win over Sale on Saturday.
The Hawks have been slow starters, but raced to a 26-point lead at half time to build a platform for victory. Drouin were indebted to Troy Kneebone, who used great bodywork and produced some terrific second efforts to cap off a fine game with six goals.
Aaron Coyle, Chris Dunne and David Olsen knitted the backline together and offered plenty of run out of defence, while centreman Pat McGrath put his head over the ball and snaffled plenty of it to add another string to his bow by taking a number of critical marks.
Ruckman Bob McCallum, in his 100th game, produced some fine tap work and had an engrossing dual with Toby Leeds, who returned from the Casey Scorpions and also gave his side plenty of impetus. Bunyip recruit Brad Walker ran hard at the ball and reinforced he was a wonderful addition to the side with another fine game.
However, the Hawks win was soured by the loss of Sam Proctor, who sustained a broken jaw after he ran into Sale veteran Kane Fraser. Fraser, Rodney Love, Chris Laverty and Liam Hogan provided the engine room for the Magpies, while young wingman Terry Wheeler used his pace to good advantage and Jackson Glenane shut down Mal Dowe after the speedy Hawk carved up the Sale defence early.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:WARRAGUL v MAFFRA
IT WAS a sad day for Warragul, who went down by 184 points against Maffra.
The Gulls showed good persistence in the first quarter and only trailed by eight points at the first break, but thereafter Maffra ran riot and put on a clinic.
Exciting Eagle utility Daniel Stubbe shared the ruck duties, took many strong marks and booted eight goals to be the most influential player on the ground. Emerging small Sam Bedggood netted five goals, Kal Killoran, David Adams, Shaun Bates and Gary Jones all toyed with their opponents and produced a stream of attacks.
Having lost over a dozen senior players over summer, the Gulls are on a steep learning curve. Ruckman Bernie Jones played his best game for the season and was lent good support by fellow talls Matt Gray and Tim Webster. Youngsters, Calum Shields across the forward line and Brad Hamilton on the half back flank, played with confidence that belied their inexperience.
Vice-captain Joel Morgan and Brendan Sheehan tried their utmost to repel wave after wave of attack and both could hold their heads up high on what was a very disappointing day for Warragul.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LEONGATHA v TRARALGON
LEONGATHA is back in finals contention after it produced the upset of the season, beating Traralgon by 24 points.
The Parrots dominated all game, but poor conversion kept the match alive until late in the last quarter. Star forward Dwayne Holt was the stand-out for the victors, kicking nine behinds from 12 scoring shots.
Leongatha vice-captain Hayden Browne gave his opponents the slip and his clean skills set up many forward moves. Ruckman Justin Sutherland worked tirelessly, Donvale recruit Colin Sanbrook turned back many attacks at centre half back, rover Marc Truscio was a constant threat across the forward line and Tom Marriot added plenty of grunt around the packs.
For Traralgon, Jake Mowat shone through the midfield and has taken his game to a new level this season. Another one of the Maroons most consistent players, defender Matt Jones, did little wrong again and Nathan Freitag and Jackson Hall generated good drive through the middle.
It was Traralgon’s first loss of the season and they have now been replaced at the top of the ladder by reigning premier Maffra.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:MOE v MORWELL
MOE beat a fast finishing Morwell by 15 points at Yallourn North on Sunday.
Moe were first in for the ball and forged a three-goal lead in the opening 10 minutes, which they built to 55 points by late in the third quarter before Morwell, who looked listless until three quarter time, surged back with a six goal to nil last quarter.
The Lions had many fine midfield contributors, led by James Blaser, Jacob Wood, Phil Town, Peter Ainsworth and Troy Makepeace.
Adam Kennedy was rock solid in defence while Matt Fory, with three goals, was the pick of the Moe forwards. Tiger defenders Julian Blackford and John Read did well but apart from Mannon Johnston and, to a lesser extent, Lachlan Dowling, who kicked three goals, most of the Morwell forwards and midfielders were well down on form.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
THE Gippsland League season breaks this weekend for the WorkSafe Country Championships, which will see Gippsland’s finest take on stars from the Bendigo league under lights at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday night.
The Gippslanders, under the guidance of Maffra playing-coach Haydn Burgiel, will be looking to maintain their recent dominance of the Bendigo boys, having defeated them comfortably in the last three encounters. Most recently, the West Gippsland Latrobe side accounted for Bendigo by 22 points at Sale in 2008.
