Drouin midfielder Matt Hedley chased hard on the weekend.GARFIELD won its third game for the season after it finished full of running to knock over finals candidate Morwell by 40 points. The match was in the balance when Morwell forward Michael Cleaver steered through the first goal of the last quarter to get the Tigers within a goal before the Stars rallied with six goals to produce their best victory of the season. Hard nut Ben Marsh was the midfield linchpin and, with support from ruckman Tom Marsh, utility Ryan Munro and Jake Hower, the Stars had the better of the contest in and around the centre.
Zeke Hower displayed his ample talent, scoring three firstquarter goals, captaincoach Ben Soumilas put his body on the line all match and was a tower of strength at centre halfback and Danny O’Brien, in his first game back for many weeks, picked up handy possessions off the interchange bench. Morwell had a weapon in tall Don Webb, who dobbed five goals, and halfbacks Lachlan Dowling and Julian Blackford were prominent all game. Michael Mooney won plenty of possessions but often let himself down with poor disposal. Morwell’s hopes of a double chance have now disappeared and the Tigers now find themselves struggling to fend off Traralgon, which has emerged from a midseason slump and is eyeing fifth position.
Last season’s premier Traralgon kept its final hopes alive with a 41point victory over Moe. The Maroons’ victory was not as easy as the scores suggested as only 10 points separated the teams at the final change. Brenton Joyce returned from a stint with VFL side Springvale to play a big role in the ruck and resolute defence by Sam McCulloch and Leigh Cummins made it difficult for the Lions to pry open the Maroons’ defence all afternoon. Wingman Matt Fitzgerald, with the young trio of Daniel Pahl, Jesse Bird and Lee Stockdale, (four goals) all played a strong hand in Traralgon’s victory.
In further good news for the Maroons, champion rover Greg Morley got through his first appearance since round one. Moe was well served by its hardatit captain Peter Ainsworth, who made many clearing dashes out of defence, and Tocumwal recruit and former rugby league player Joel Pedemont hit the packs hard and tackled well in the last line of defence. Wingman Gary Blandford, youngster Brad Wedrowicz, who played in the back pocket, and the everreliable Chris Smogavec all did their best to repel the Maroons.
Sale comfortably accounted for Leongatha by 61 points. The writing was on the wall early for the Parrots when the Magpies shot to a 32point lead at quartertime. Nick Fowler was the cornerstone of the Magpie attack with five goals, Ryan DeVisser put in another fine performance across the halfback line and Tim Bristow, Kane Fraser and Shane Fyfe pumped the ball forward all game. Chris Laverty had a runwith role against Jack Hughes and the honours were split evenly between two of the league’s finest ruckrovers. Leongatha tried hard but often went unrewarded and paid dearly for its mistakes. For the Parrots, Tommy Dowd and Caine Salmon found plenty of touches midfield and Paul LePage did well to hold the competition’s leading goalkicker Chris Aurisch to only three majors. Leongatha showed plenty of resistance and improved markedly on its 185point loss in the corresponding roundfour match earlier this season.
Warragul set the mood for its clash against Drouin in the first term with an eightgoalstoone quarter to open up a 44point lead. The Gulls extended their lead over the next two quarters to hold a 101point lead at threequarter time when the game was abandoned due to inclement weather and lightning. Nick Edney proved elusive with three firstquarter goals and, with Bryce Monahan and Xavier Gargan providing a springboard into attack, the Gulls were never threatened. The 18yearold powerfully built Monahan went on to kick six goals. A feature of his game was his hard attack on the ball and he reeled in a series of strong marks on the lead. Ryan Davey, Leigh Sheehan and Des Barr controlled the midfield. Jay Barr and Matt Hedley did well for Drouin through the middle, captaincoach Danny Murphy won plenty of possessions early and Brendan McCallum made the most of his opportunities to be the best of the Hawk forwards. The end of the season cannot come quickly enough for the Hawks, who have now suffered nine consecutive defeats.
