By Ken Moore
GARFIELD nearly caused the boilover of the season after it’s pushed second-placed Maffra at home for all bar the last 10 minutes on Saturday.
The Stars led by five points before the Eagles, with goals by Jake Milham, Daniel Stubbe and Ben Rathnow and the last three of the match saw the Eagles wriggle out of a tight spot and win by 11 points.
Having only scored four goals the previous week against Drouin, the Stars surprised its travelling fans and silenced the local supporters by piling on six first-quarter goals to take a 22-point lead into the quarter-time huddle.
Unlike most performances this season, the Stars were able to sustain their momentum and still led by 16 points at the main break.
Despite a six-goal third quarter by the home side, the visitors were still within striking distance only six points in arrears at the last change before the Stars gallant effort stalled in the closing minutes of the game. The superb form of agile ruckman Brett Reid continued.
He played an outstanding game and doubled as a legitimate forward target by steering through three goals.
Midfielders Brent Eastwell, Ben Jostlear and Ben Marsh put in their usual tradesman-like efforts and Phil Burns contested strongly deep in defence.
Nick Rodgers did not put in a bad effort across the forward line and 15-year-old’s Josh Tynan and Dylan Collis did not go unnoticed with some very handy disposals and look likely types.
Paradoxically, Garfield’s stellar effort against Maffra, one of the league’s true powerhouses in recent years, will probably do it more harm than good with its push to join the Ellinbank and District Football League next season.
Maffra was indebted to on-baller Matt Lee, who got plenty of the ball through the middle, and Ben Rathnow, who netted four goals and was a constant threat up forward.
Captain Ben Batalha was prominent in his now-familiar sweeping role off the half-back flank, Glen Semmens offered some Stoic defence and Daniel Stubbe hauled in some telling grabs when the game was in the balance in the last quarter.
Gulls get the point
WARRAGUL’S rollercoaster season is finally over after it suffered a heart-breaking one-point upset loss at Western Park to Sale.
With one round to go, the Gulls now sit a game and a big percentage behind fifth-placed Drouin, so they can start making plans for next year this week when they face up to Morwell.
Kicking with the advantage of the wind in the first quarter the Gulls looked on target for an easy win when they kicked the first six goals, only for the Magpies to reply with six in the second to tie things up.
Warragul entered the last term 22 points in arrears, but dug deep to hit the front twice, only for feisty Sale midfielder Russell McAdam to steal the game with a kick on the run from 60 metres out with less than 90 seconds to go.
It remained the last score of the game.
Ryan Davey tried hard to inspire his side with three last-quarter goals and half-back Joel Morgan was a pillar of strength all match.
In defence, Brendan Sheehan set an example for the players around him and half-back Nick Edney used his experience well.
Ruckman Matt Gray had a dip and Damian Rhind tried hard at centre half-forward.
For the victors, Corey Scholtes, off the half-back flank hit the packs hard and generated plenty of drive, while the ever-consistent veteran Kane Fraser was prominent across the forward line and back-pocket Liam Hogan, in his 50th game, put in a hearty effort.
Coach Adrian Cox snaffled a lot of the ball and rising star Toby Leeds excelled in his ruck role.
After upsetting Moe in round 16, the Magpies, the reigning premiers have played a big role moulding the finals positions.
Maroons maul Parrots
A cracking 10-goal first quarter by the premiership favourites Traralgon paved the way for an 84-point victory over Leongatha.
The Maroons were in merciless form in the first half and led by 87 points at half-time before the Parrots regained their composure and a bit of scoreboard respectability in the second half.
The Maroons much vaunted midfield led by Ryan Potter, Michael Geary, who had an amazing 26 first-half possessions and Gippsland Power squad member Kane Grinstead-Jones simply toyed with their opponents.
Key defender Tim Derby and ruckman Rohan Hore both put in notable efforts in yet another impressive team effort.
For Leongatha, rover Marc Truscio offered the most resistance and set up a number of forward moves, reliable half-back Adam Govers repelled many attacks and 16-year-old Tom Marriot played well when he was moved into the back pocket.
Another youngster, Sean Westaway, after starting on the wing where he lowered his colours to Grinstead-Jones, also did well when he was put into defence and centre half-back Clint Johnston only conceded one goal despite a torrent of Maroon advances all afternoon.
Lions paw in
ON Sunday, Moe displaced Leongatha in third position on the ladder after it fell over the line by two points in unconvincing fashion against its arch rival Morwell.
The Lions victory was built upon strong defence by Adam Kennedy in the last line and Peter Ainswerth across the half-back flank.
Young on-baller Andrew Thorpe showcased his talent and veteran Chris Smogavec played well linking the midfield and forward lines.
Morwell coach Jason McFarlane returned to form with some vital disposals, Gippsland Power squad member Mannon Johnson showed flare and looks to be a quality player in the making.
Central defender Jack Brown played a well-calculated game and in the midfield both Brett Knowles and Liam Visser found their usual appetite for the ball.
This week’s WGLFL selections for round 18 with likely winners in capitals.
DROUIN v Maffra.
Garfield v TRARALGON.
Leongatha v MOE.
MORWELL v Warragul.
Sale – bye.
