North Gippsland FNL Finals Week 1 review

Defending premiers Yarram have made it through the first week of finals footy in emphatic fashion, disposing of Traralgon-Tyers United in the qualifying final on Saturday, 13.26 (104) to 7.7 (49).

The game was effectively over by quarter-time, the dominant Demons at full flight with a clinical, but wasteful, four goals and 10 behinds while holding the Bombers to no score.

TTU found their feet and the scoreboard in the second, scoring three goals to Yarram’s four and the damage stood at 40 points at half-time.

In an unbelievable display for all the wrong reasons in the third quarter, the Demons converted just four goals from 15 scoring shots, their 11 behinds preventing them from reaching the 100-point mark by the last change but giving them a match-winning 74-point buffer.

With one foot in the grand final the last quarter was a mere formality for Yarram and they settled with the knowledge they had reached the last hurdle, putting the cue in the rack and scoring just one goal to the Bombers’ four.

Jacob Davis and Daniel Vardy shone for the Demons on goal and finished with three majors each.

There was no shortage of contributors for the defending premiers either with another seven players chipping in with singles.

Among the best in the landslide win for Yarram were Griffin Underwood, Chris Bruns and Louis Rodaughan.

Rosedale knocked Heyfield out of the race for the North Gippsland football premiership with a 16-point victory in the elimination final.

The Blues won a physical contest at Stephenson Park, Sale, on Sunday, 15.8 (98) to 12.10 (82), and will play Traralgon-Tyers United in the first semi-final.

The Blues trailed by nine points at half-time, before kicking 10 goals to six in the second half.

The Kangaroos were a man down in the final term, after Adrian Cox was reported then shown a red card following a third quarter scuffle.

Rosedale set the pace early, moving the ball better than the Kangaroos, who were not effective going into their forward 50.

Hayden Bell kicked the first goal in the opening minutes after receiving a free kick.

Goals from Brad Scott and Frazar Brouns gave the Blues a 17-point lead 10 minutes into the match.

Getting more of the ball, Heyfield got back into the contest and, with goals from Kodie Woodland and Charlie Driffield, trailed by only four points at quarter-time.

The break didn’t halt the Kangaroos’ momentum, as Driffield’s run from a stoppage resulted in his second major and the lead of his team.

But the Blues’ hard running from defence earned them back-to-back goals and a nine-point lead.

The margin was reduced to three points after Nick Woodland took a strong mark in a one-on-one contest and kicked a goal.

A free kick awarded off the ball allowed Jesse Jackway to kick a goal and put the Kangaroos back in front.

Nick Woodland kicked his second goal to set-up a nine-point half-time lead for Heyfield.

The Blues kicked seven goals to three in the third term to take a 19-point advantage into the final quarter, in which both sides kicked three goals.

With leading goal kicker Brandon McDonald again absent, Brad Scott led the way for Rosedale, kicking five goals in a best-on-ground performance. Brock Williams kicked four goals. Luke Stuckey, Ben Jones, Sam Tudor and Rohan Diamond were also outstanding.

Heyfield’s best player was Jesse Jackway, who kicked five goals. Charlie Driffield and Nick Woodland were also effective in attack, kicking two and three goals respectively. Dylan Patmore played solidly in defence, Adam Wallace on the ball, and Brad Berry across half-back.