By Ken Moore
AS their ladder positions suggested, the cellar-dwellers Garfield were no match for the top of the table Moe and were sunk by 99 points on Saturday.
The Stars scored the opening goal, but from then on the Lions dominated proceedings.
Garfield could not pin down Moe star Matt Forys, who scored eight goals and if not for another eight behinds off his own boot the scoreline could have been far worse.
Forys was helped by a regular supply from Symon Lee, 17-year-old rover Andrew Thorpe, coach Troy Makepeace and midfielder Daniel Risol.
Liam Carolan, Matt Dickason, Jesse Bird and Tommy Long read the play well and drove the ball out of defence all game and 15-year-old debutant Andrew Thompson picked up many disposals from his wing position and will be a name heard plenty more times in the future.
As usual, Garfield ruck-rover Ben Marsh had a crack all game, Nick Marsh offered plenty of resistance and rebound from his half-back flank and on-baller Ben Jostlear found plenty of the ball.
Ruckman Brett Reid did well and often dropped back to shield the defence with good effect and Nick Rogers stalked the goals well and popped through four majors.
Newcomers this season, half-back Rick Kamphuis and Rhyse Shortis both added drive through the midfield for a Garfield team that was simply outclassed.
Maroons eye
the flag
IT has become clear that traditional league powerhouse Traralgon is once again emerging as a legitimate premiership contender after thumping Drouin by 110 points.
The Maroons have now recorded five wins on the trot and the emphatic nature of their victories suggests they are again the real deal.
Traralgon dominated from the outset with a six-goal-to-two first quarter and thereafter extended its lead after each change of ends.
The Maroons had winners on every line.
Regular defender Leigh Cummins relished a move to the midfield and did not disappoint by launching attack after attack.
Michael Geary was at his zippy best across the forward line, Gippsland Power squad member and on-baller Kane Grinstead-Jones won many possessions, while Matt Habel did well in an unusual position for him at centre half-back.
Rohan Hore marginally eclipsed Bob McCallum as the best big man on the ground and also provided a strong target at centre half-forward.
Coach Steve Hazelman pumped the ball forward all game, his brother Brad presented well across centre half-forward and Michael Burge did little wrong in the back pocket.
Drouin put in by far its worst performance this season.
Hawk midfielders Daniel Barrand, Pat McGrath, Sam Proctor and Matt Hedley won plenty of disposals, but had little support.
Young back pocket Tom Crameri tried hard and spoiled many attacks and Brent McFarlane, despite conceding five goals to powerhouse Maroon forward Tim Aitken, did well when taking into account much of the game was played in Hawks’ defensive half.
Parrots eclipse the Gulls
AFTER four straight losses Leongatha rediscovered somewhat near its best and held on to fifth spot on the ladder after producing an upset eight-point victory over Warragul.
The Gulls held a 15-point lead at the main break and with far more scoring shots on goal looked poised to win.
However, the Parrots hit back with six third-quarter goals to snatch a five-point lead at the last break and built on their momentum with a fighting last quarter to record a narrow victory.
The game was up for grabs until star Swan Hill recruit Dwayne Holt guided through his eighth goal in the last minute of the game.
Holt starred and during the game took a number of big marks and kicked eight goals, many from difficult angles and troubled the Gulls’ defence every time the ball came within his reach.
Centreman Tommy Dowd covered plenty of ground and won many possessions, solidly built young back-pocket Tom Marriot made many timely interceptions and ruckman Justin Sutherland instigated plenty of drive.
For not the first time this season Warragul played far below its best.
The most salient sign for the Gulls was the good performances of youngsters, half-forward James Keeble and wingman Joe Black.
Midfield Brett Davis chased the ball all game and played another good game and in his first game back for more than a month Rob Murphy made his presence felt in the midfield.
Former Neerim Neerim South coach Damian Rhind, back from injury, played his first game with the Gulls and did enough to show he will be a valuable acquisition.
Pies upset
the Tigers
SALE produced the upset of round with a 13-point victory over Morwell.
The Magpies looked dead and buried when they trailed by 42 points in the third quarter, but dug deep to fight back and reduce the margin to only eight points at three-quarter time before running over the Tigers in the last quarter.
Ruckman Tom Sturgess played a major role, feeding his smalls in the second half and coach Adrian Cox and Chris Laverty were superb in the third quarter.
However it was creative playmaker Justin McLay, with five third-quarter goals, that changed the course of the game and had a major say in Sale’s revival.
Regular midfielder Corey Scholtes offered some resolute defence, Toby Leeds curbed the influence of key Tiger forward Lachlan Dowling and Luke Bates was at his rock-solid best in the last line of defence.
Morwell supporters must be shaking their heads in disbelief this season, as trying to pick the winner in every Tiger outing is near impossible.
Talented forward Thys Stanistreet, who has made a big splash this season after recovering from a knee reconstruction last year, took a number of strong marks and kicked four goals, while 16-year-old Jake Roe-Duggan added plenty of drive from his wing position and around the packs.
Half-back Jim Dowling again repelled many threatening attacks, Brett Knowles put in a solid four-quarter effort and pacy wingman Mannon Johnston did well in the second half when many of his team-mates went missing.
Morwell, runners-up to Sale last season was well fancied to win the premiership this year.
However, it currently resides in sixth position and has a good deal of work to do to get up to third spot and a double-chance position that many thought would be a ‘monty’ at the start of the season.
SELECTIONS –
ROUND 11
Maffra v TRARALGON
Drouin v MOE (Sun)
Garfield v WARRAGUL
Leongatha v SALE
Morwell – bye
