If statistics were kept of turnovers from misdirected kicks and handballs and fumbles Drouin might have set some sort of record at Baimsdale on Saturday.
Those basic errors were the story behind a grim scoreboard that read Bairnsdale 23-17, Drouin 10-8.
The Bairnsdale oval couldn’t be blamed for any of the Hawks’ woes. It was in superb condition.
Drouin started well enough and had much better of the play but didn’t capitalise. It was the Redlegs that got the first goal through Russell Cowan; his start to a superb day whether forward or on the ball that ended with five goals against his name.
The Hawks tired back with Eddie Morris finding space to accept a Liam Anderson pass and goal. Anderson got the next two goals himself after also setting up Morris for another chance that he failed to convert.
By quarter time Baimsdale had worked back to a narrow 3-4 to 3-2 lead. The rot set in for Drouin in the second quarter after three “gifted” goals to the Redlegs.
The Hawks propensity for stop-start chipping the ball across the ground and backwards gave Bairnsdale its first for the quarter. Drouin‘s chain of passes broke down, as they usually do when overdone, with a fumble.
A handpass, a kick, a Redlegs’ goal. That easy! The next two were even easier.
Two shocking across ground short passes landed in the arms of Bairnsdale players for goals.
A terrific goal square pack mark by Ryan Taylor and Clayton Kingi getting on the end of an attacking move to run into an open goal were Drouin’s only highlights for the term in which the Redlegs kicked six goals to open a 29-point lead.
It wasn’t exactly game over when the sides went to the dressing rooms at half time. But it virtually was when Bairnsdale rammed through the first three goals of the third term.
To Drouin’s credit it showed some fight. It got three successive goals from Eddie Morris, senior debutant Jye Mitchell and Liam Axford but two in response by Bairnsdale had the gap out to 50 points at the last change.
Mitchell, a graduate from last year’s thirds, was by no means out of place at senior level He contested well, ran hard to position throughout the game and showed a bit of toughness when his head hit the ground solidly from a tackle but he bounced back quickly.
There were only a few things to cheer about for Drouin in the last term in which Bairnsdale kicked another eight goals including the last six.

 

The Hawks got two by Cambell Jolly and Eddie Morris who took it on himself to kick a goal from wide out after team mates had just missed chances he set up with a couple of brilliant and quick handpasses.
Morris’ game was one of the highlights of the day for Drouin. He showed plenty of class and skill and was the side’s main goalkicker for the match with three.
Anderson had really promising patches and has got some confidence back in his marking, Jolly and Jeb McLeod worked hard in the packs and Jackson Kos in defence won a lot of the ball but spoiled an otherwise good game with some poor disposal.
Bairnsdale has some real talent; Cowan superb on Saturday, with Simon Decry, Nick Sing, Dylan Somerville and Connor Steel not far behind.
New full forward Josh Kiss showed he will also trouble plenty of defences.
Drouin will be much more competitive as the season develops and will probably cause a few upsets. But if it wants its and one of the league’s premier ruckman Bob McCallum as a key forward for much of the games it will need to find ways to attack more quickly and give him chances to win one on one contests and avoid oppositions having the time to drop back and block space where he can lead.
Warragul & Drouin Gazette

LEONGATHA was back to its best on Saturday, thumping Morwell by 95 points in a clinical display.
Conditions could not have been more different to the windy, wet and cold match played under lights at Traralgon the previous week. And the Parrots’ performance was also in stark contrast.
Premiership defender Sean Westaway was back for his first game of the year, replacing Mitch Bentvelzen who was on Gippsland Power duty Leongatha‘s defence was the key to the win, and will be its strength this season.
Josh Schelling is a natural at centre half back. making the move from a ruck/forward at the start of the year He peeled off his opponent often on Saturday to set up moves forward.
With Westaway back, Chris Verboon dominating in the air and Col Sanbrook and Cade Maskell using the ball with precision, it’s a superb set-up. So it proved on Saturday.
The Tigers didn’t kick a goal until the third term. You couldn’t be too critical of Morwell’s effort though. Their few forays forward early on were the result of excellent tackles that were rewarded. But that was as good as it got.
Chris Dunne had a day out with six goals including the first of the day following a free kick. Maskell took a big mark from a Morwell kick in, and drove the ball to the top of the square where, funnily enough, resting ruckman Ben Willis did the roving and kicked a goal.
It was a case of ‘put down your glasses’ when Brok Davidson was on the end of a nice piece of play, and split the middle from 45 on the run.
Harrison McGannon rounded out the first term after marking a mongrel 20 metres out. Dunne and Jack Ginnane who booted two goals were the main targets for the Parrots on Saturday.
The other goals were shared by the smalls and mids pushing forward. An extra key forward or two would complete the Parrots package and Leongatha president Mal Mackie is on the job.
Watch this space.
The Parrots are at home again this week against Maffra and will hope to have Luke Bowman back for the huge clash.
South Gippsland Sentinel Times

MAFFRA showed little mercy to Wonthaggi, preventing the Power’s charge on its way to a 126-point thrashing.

The undefeated Eagles are now a win clear on top of the Gippsland League football ladder following their 24.27 (171) to 5.5 (35) victory.

The result was more a reflection on Maffra’s strong play and the gap between the sides.

The match was effectively over by quarter-time, when the Eagles led by 58 points after kicking nine unanswered goals in the first term.

In ideal conditions for football, Maffra controlled the match with quick ball movement and hard running.

The Eagles found a way through the Power defence by finding players in space and changing their point of attack.

Pressure applied by the Eagles created turnovers, and made the Power pay for its errors.

Midfielders Danny Butcher and Jack Johnstone’s use of the ball, along with Lachlan Channing across half-forward, was superb.

Sean Day was outstanding in defence, while Mitch Bennett kicked five goals, Andrew Petrou four and Daniel Bedggood three.

Petrou’s second goal of the day early in the second quarter extended Maffra’s lead to 67 points, followed by Wonthaggi’s opening two majors, reducing the margin to 56 points.

The Eagles were missing chances for goal, but that was rectified when Johnstone kicked a goal after marking a Wonthaggi kick-in from full-back.

Maffra’s dominance was typified by a Bennett goal, which capped off a faultless piece of teamwork moving the ball from defence into attack.

Further goals from Butcher and Bennett gave Maffra an 83-point lead at half-time.

The third quarter was more even, with both sides kicking three goals as Maffra took an 88-point lead into the final term.

The Eagles finished the demolition in the fourth quarter, kicking seven unanswered goals.

Wonthaggi’s Kris McCarthy and Curtis Gilmour tried hard to battle the Eagles in the midfield, but their efforts were in vain.

David Braithwaite

Gippsland Times

Saturday was an opportunity lost for Warragul when it came up short at home at Western Park against Moe.
Chasing a third win to start off their season the Gulls, despite only one change to the lineup, was a far different side to the previous two rounds.
Michael Lynn came in for Matthew Ross (unavailable). But credit shouldn’t be taken away from Moe that has a good spread of talent, experience and youth and plays a fast, attacking game. At the siren it was a comfortable 15-10 to 5-12 win for the Lions, Warragul managing only a solitary goal in the second half.
Lapses in concentration can be Warragul’s Achilles heel. They were again on Saturday in the form of some very sloppy disposal, poor forward conversion and dropped chest marks. The first quarter lived up to pre-game expectations of a tight hard-fought game, the Gulls going to the break with 3-3 on the board and just three points in arrears of Moe’s 4-0.
Warragul edged in front with the first goal in the second term before the match turned A game-ending knee injury to key defender Matt Rennie midway through the quarter was a setback for the Gulls. Not only did it rob the defence of one of its best players it also took with it the leadership he provides for the group.
Early reports are that Rennie’s injury is not season ending but the club expects he’ll miss two or three weeks. Efficiency plays a major part in winning games and Warragul failed on that score.
For the first three quarters it had more entries into its forward line than Moe but could not make that tell on the scoreboard. Moe’s defence is solid and generally constructive when swinging the ball upfield.
The Gulls’ coaching staff were well aware of the dangers opposition players such as Michael Stanlake and Tyson Biffin present with the way they turn defence into attack but was unable to tie them down.
In the last line Moe’s Charlie Rieniets was also a major stumbling block Warragul’s forward pressure was nowhere near the level of a week earlier at Wonthaggi leading to scoring opportunities drying up.
Tyssen Morrow was the best of the Gulls’ forward group but was off target, a return for the game of 1-5. The Gulls on-ball group was also shaded on the day. Ruckman Jake Horstman competed strongly all day and 18 year old Kim Drew was prominent again.
Drew was given the task in the first half of quelling Moe coach James Blaser and did a good job of it before being given a broader on-ball role.
Nate Paredes hasn’t hit top form as yet although he puts in solidly. He is no doubt getting closer attention from opposing sides and may also be suffering a bit from continuous football over the past two years summer seasons in Darwin and winters with Warragul.
Darwin recruit Mick Coomes, in his second game with the Gulls, had a good first quarter, faded a little but was among the team’s best along with Horstman, Brad Hefford, Nic Stevenson and Morrow.
Moe forward Ashleigh Dugan was a problem for Warragul all day finishing with five goals and Scott Van Dyk made a valuable contribution of four goals. Drew kicked two of the Gulls’ five goals.
Warragul & Drouin Gazette

UNDER the sparkling night lights on an ideal Traralgon surface, Sale steadied during the middle stages of the match to record its second victory of the Gippsland League football season.

The Magpies came home with a gutsy 22-victory for the previously undefeated Maroons, 13.14 (92) to 9.16 (70).

With Traralgon dominating the early play, Sale had to fight to stay in the match during the first quarter.

With slick ball movement and the Maroons’ outside players running hard, Jamie Sweeney was strong in defence as the Magpies steadied through Jarrod Freeman, who kicked two goals, one courtesy of a 50 metre penalty, to help the visitors lead narrowly by two points at quarter-time.

An injury to John Gooch early in the first term was stretching the Sale rotations and as Traralgon continued to press hard, the Magpies’ long ineffective kicks out of defence played into the Maroons’ hands. Two late Sale goals from Jack Lipman and Jack Mapleson, via a free kick for a dangerous tackle, managed to hold the Maroons’ lead, as the Magpies entered the main break nine points down.

The third quarter saw Sale turn the corner, effectively shutting down the Maroons’ run and taking advantage of Lipman’s dominance in the ruck. The Magpies looked dangerous one-on-one in their front half and began to isolate their forwards.

With strong marking, Brad Dessent slotted three goals for the quarter to give the Magpies the advantage, as they kicked six goals to one, opening up a 23-point lead at the final break.

With the dew settling, greasy ground conditions prevailed.

The Magpies gave away some cheap free kicks which gifted the Maroons forward opportunities.

The feeling that the Maroons could edge their way back into the contest grew, but with a tight goal to Adam Wallace, the Magpies stemmed the comeback. From this point, the Magpies controlled the final quarter to finish 22-point victors in a fast, high quality game of football.

The Magpies’ composure and maturity was the main factor in their controlling of the second half.

Individually, Lipman continued his good form dominating in the ruck, while the Dowse twins, Mitch and Nic, were strong in the contest. Kane Martin and Brad McKay were clean with ball in hand. Sweeney was strong in defence with Brad Dessent the most dangerous forward, kicking four goals, and Freeman three.

Sale is one of six teams with two wins from three starts.

Sam Anstee

Gippsland Times

Match reviews taken from Gippsland Times, South Gippsland Sentinel Times and Warragul & Drouin Gazette. The following original posts can be found online:

Maffra v Wonthaggi (Gippsland Times): http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/5358802/eagles-excel-against-power/?cs=1576

Sale v Traralgon (Gippsland Times): http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/5358817/sale-stuns-maroons-under-lights/?cs=1576

Reviews taken from South Gippsland Sentinel Times and Warragul & Drouin Gazette are available to view online via subscription only.

Shared by Gippsland Footy admin. Any factual errors or copyright breaches in this post are unintentional and should be brought to the attention of Gippsland Footy. Any factual errors in any shared links should be brought to the attention of the original poster.