LEONGATHA REGROUPS
The premiership dream of Leongatha is still well and truly alive.
The Parrots, after their only loss for the season in the second semi-final, bounced back emphatically on Saturday to win their way into the premiership decider against Maffra.
Leongatha controlled the clash with Traralgon from the start.
It led by 13 points at quarter time, got as much as 40 points ahead in the second quarter and never let up on the way to an 18-15 to 10-9 victory.
The Parrots were too skilful, too tall, more experienced and too hungry.
The fact the match was played on Traralgon’s home ground - in superb condition on a fine day and with hardly any breeze - was irrelevant.
Even if coach Mark Collison and Matt Northe been available, both missed with injuries, the result wouldn’t have been much different.
Collison and Northe wouldn’t have overcome the Maroons’ major deficiency - a lack of height.
Leongatha exploited this all lines to maximum effect.
Traralgon would have thoroughly planned ways to limit the effectiveness of Parrots’ goalkickers Chris Dunne, Aaron Hillberg and Cade Maskell but were thrown a curve ball early when centre-half back Chris Verboon went forward for a period.
That further stretched a Maroons’ defence that lacked overall height.
The opening goal of the game by Leongatha’s Dale Houghton after five minutes was quickly countered by Rohan Hildebrand’s fine goal from wide out.
But two goals to Dunne, goalless in the second semi-final, and another to Pat McGrath had the Parrots in charge - 4-3 to 2-2 - by quarter time.
Traralgon had been put under some tremendous pressure, mainly due to the dominance of Leongatha around the ruck contests and packs.
The Parrots broke open the game and began the march to victory with a brilliant second quarter, a couple of late Traralgon goals cutting the gap to 34 points at half time. The Parrots didn’t let up at any stage. Players down a week earlier in the second semi-final found some of their best form.
Pat McGrath, playing an inside role on the ball, was a force all day for Leongatha and some timely forays forward netted him three goals.
Dunne got on the scoreboard again with four goals for the day and missed a few good chances, Maskell was always dangerous and kicked three goals and centre-half forward Hillberg worked hard in the forward line as well as further up the ground and out wide to provide strong drive. The Parrots didn’t have a passenger. By contrast Traralgon had many whose contributions were well down on normal.
On-baller Tim Northe wasn’t one of them; he gave four quarters of strong contesting and hard running and finished with two goals.
Tate Marsh on a wing was another that never gave up and defenders Adam Jaensch, Adrian Slotje and Jordan Bourke fought hard against the odds.