DESPITE a strong second half that yielded 10 goals, Garfield was upended by ladder leaders, Maffra, losing by 39 points on Saturday.
The Eagles sewed up the game in the first half when they scored five goals to one in both the first and second quarters to take a commanding 52-point lead into the half-time break.
Hard-at-the-ball utility Nick Horsford played forward, presented well and dobbed five goals, ruckman Owen Booth showed he had another string to his bow by doubling as a forward target and putting through three goals, while former skipper Hayden Burgiel also pitched in with three majors.
Smalls Michael Coleman, Ben Durrant, Craig Robbins and Sam Walker all pumped the ball forward regularly and played a major role in the Eagles’ first-half ascendancy.
Facing a big defeat at the main break, Garfield rallied and refused to throw in the towel and outscored Maffra in the second half.
Centre half-forward Zeke Hower played his best game for the season and posed match-up difficulties for his opponents with his hard running and attack at the ball and Mal McKenna (three goals) used his experience well across the forward line.
Former Cranbourne junior Matthew Hobbs added drive from his wing position and Devon Meadows recruit and half-forward flanker Rhyse Shortis also showed he was a handy acquisition with a spirited performance.
Half-back Rick Kamphuis and full-back Phil Burns both displayed plenty of determination and were more than effective in the back half.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Gulls swoop in goal blitz
WARRAGUL stormed home with a nine goal last quarter to turn a 28 point three quarter time deficit into a morale-boosting 25-point victory over Sale.
It was the Gulls’ first victory at Sale since 1994.
Trailing by 26 points, 21 points and 28 points at each change, few spectators expected Sale to drop its bundle so dramatically in the last term after seemingly being in total control.
Sale regained seven players on Saturday, but it appeared a few of them were not match fit for they appeared to run out of puff in the end.
In the last term, star Gull midfielders Ryan Davey and Des Barr had the ball on a string and incredibly both players won in excess of 30 possessions between them to be the major catalyst behind the resurgence.
Tough Ellinbank recruit Tom Johnson played a large role, in the ruck, deputising for the missing Matt Gray, who injured his toe in the interleague clash.
When he moved forward he made the most of his opportunities by netting five goals.
Assistant coach Leigh Sheehan made clever use of the ball and also kicked five goals, young half-back Brett Davis is having a tremendous season and, along with midfielder Clint Rowe, made many telling contributions.
For Sale, veteran and regular defender Kane Fraser played across the half-forward line and won plenty of the ball, Nathan Fowler led and marked well and bagged four goals and was a thorn in the Gull defence.
Midfield Russell McAdam set up plenty of important plays with his creativity, youngsters Tom Hams and Harry Cross regularly drove the ball forward and Andrew Quirk contested strongly in the last line of defence.
With only the one win, Sale, the reigning premier, is highly unlikely to make the finals, but on the back of this performance is starting to find its feet again and may well play a big role shaping the top five before the season is out.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz: Parrots pulverised
LEONGATHA’S season has rapidly spiralled downward after it suffered its third straight loss on Saturday.
The Parrots got thumped by Traralgon to the tune of a massive 117 points.
With the addition of five regulars, on paper, Leongatha looked stronger than the previous week, but it became patently obvious by quarter time when they trailed by 26 points that they fielded many underdone players out of necessity due to their lack of depth.
After occupying top spot on the ladder and undefeated at the end of round five, the Parrots have now plummeted to fifth.
In contrast, Traralgon displayed the teamwork and unity that was missing from its game over the first month and has now crept up to fourth spot on the ladder.
Powerhouse forward Tim Aitken, who was a late withdrawal from the interleague team the previous week, was far too big and strong and helped himself to 12 goals.
Rohan Hore showed he was coming of age as a ruckman with another fine game, Steve Hazelman, Matt Smith, Michael Burge and Jamie Aitkin all provided power to the Maroon engine room.
Ruck-rover Brad Rayson tried hard for the Parrots, Dwayne Holt got his hands on the ball enough to slot five goals and across half-forward Adam Govers executed some handy plays to be the best of a poor bunch.
Leongatha selectors were so disappointed with their team’s performance that they refused to hand out any awards after the game.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Moe on the move
MOE jumped into second spot on the ladder after a thrilling 12-point victory over Morwell in front of a bumper crowd on Sunday.
Both teams showed hunger for the ball over all four quarters and little separated both sides in field play and on the scoreboard at each change.
Moe opened well and held a four-goal advantage midway into the first quarter, but Morwell refused to lie down and kept coming.
The Lions victory was underpinned by strong resistance and drive out of defence by Peter Ainsworth, Phil Town, Liam Carolan and Tommy Long.
Star recruit, Matt Fory’s, stood up to be counted again with six goals and provided some of the highlights of the match.
These included a 70-metre bomb through the big sticks in the third quarter and a wonderful 50-metre kick around his body and through the big uprights in the last term.
For the Tigers, Joel and Devon Soutar and Brett Knowles all picked up big numbers, Jason Stevens shored up the defence, Thys Stanistreet came under notice again across the forward line and emerging youngster Mannon Johnston added bite and pace when introduced off the interchange bench.
Troy Makepeace’s Lions look the real deal and a double-chance position appears well within their grasp this season.
This week’s tips for round 9 with likely
winners in captials.
MAFFRA v Drouin.
TRARALGON v Garfield.
MOE v Leongatha.
WARRAGUL v Morwell.
Sale – bye.
