FINALS BATTLE READS LIKE MYSTERY NOVEL
The story of the quest for Gippsland League finals positions is reading more and more like a mystery novel.
The split round (chapter 10) that got underway at the weekend only added to the puzzle that doesn’t look as if it will be solved until the final (round 18) chapter is written on August 27.
Warragul is back in the “five” after posting its 5th win for the season on Saturday, one full of merit against another contender Moe.
The Gulls took the Lions place in the “five” and will remain there a game clear of its nearest challengers irrespective of results in the remaining two games of the round next weekend.
A Warragul win at Moe looked to be more a hope than a possibility at quarter time after the Lions had jumped to a 26-point lead.
But the Gulls responded superbly to kick 15 goals to five for the rest of the game to win comfortably, 16-13 to 1017.
Drouin also did Warragul a favour as well as giving itself an outside chance of reaching the “five” when it ran over the top of Bairnsdale to win by 53 points.
On Sunday Maffra (2nd) got out of jail in the dying minutes to scrape home by one point against bottom of the ladder Sale as the fierce rivals slugged it out in misty rain and then fog at Maffra.
It was a brave effort by Sale that was helped by the Eagles’ inaccuracy, 9-15, to Sale’s 11-2.
The Magpies held one and two point leads at half and three-quarter time and were up by eight points midway through the final term.
The topsy-turvy nature of the competition was underlined on Monday of last week when Morwell, then on the bottom of the ladder, shocked Traralgon, then second, with a one-point victory in the traditional Queen’s Birthday weekend neighbourhood rivalry clash.
The two games next Saturday to complete round 10 are also brimful of interest.
Traralgon takes on the barnstorming Leongatha on the Parrots’ home turf.
After last week’s loss to Morwell another defeat would make the Maroons’ hold on a top three spot a little shaky.
Morwell will have some new found confidence for its home battle with the improving Wonthaggi Power that will be focussed on posting a fifth win and holding its spot in the top group.
The Tigers will also be among the mix for finals if they can cause another upset.
If - a two-letter word that will get plenty of use in the next couple of months - Morwell does win it will bring it along with Drouin within two premiership points of 5th place on the ladder.
Next Saturday’s games at grounds of first named clubs are:Leongatha v. Traralgon. Morwell v. Wonthaggi Power.