Eagles soar
Leongatha were dealt premiership heartache for the second straight season on Saturday, going down to a determined Maffra outfit who were able to honour club legend the late Jack Vardy with a premiership.
For the second time in the Gippsland League finals series, the Eagles were able to get the job done over the Parrots to score 13-10 (88) to 9-13 (67) and finish a day of heartbreak for Parrots fans, who had earlier witnessed their under 16 and Reserves teams also fall.
It was a slow start that proved costly in last season’s decider when the Maroons burst out of the blocks to a five goal lead, and the Parrots were again made to play catch up as the Eagles scored three goals to one in the first term.
Mitchell Bennett broke clear to kick a long goal from half forward to score first for the Eagles.
Maffra were able to go forward again from a free kick for incorrect disposal, and this time it was Daniel Bedggood who went long to put the Eagles further in front.
Bennett and Bedggood were a constant headache for the Leongatha defence, finishing the day with four majors apiece.
Winston Gieschen won a free kick for a hold as the Eagles threatened to break the game open, just as Traralgon had done last year.
The Parrots went from coast to coast, with Rhett Kelly setting up Zak Vernon to run into the open goal and peg the margin back.
Lachlan Channing was rewarded for a lead out wide and duly converted to again kick clear for the Eagles in the second term.
The Parrots hit back with two goals from Chris Verboon, by far the Parrots best player, as they closed the margin to two points at the long break.
A snap from Bedggood was followed by a running goal from Kade Renooy, Bennett converted after he was held and then snapped from front and centre as the Eagles broke away again in the third term.
The Parrots hit back to close the margin back to eight points at the final change to set up an enticing final quarter.
Maffra defender David Adams had come under notice from the Parrots crowd for their ability to score from his kick ins.
Bennett snapped his fourth early in the final term, but Verboon had the immediate reply.
No matter how hard they tried, the Parrots just couldn’t find consecutive goals to put the challenge to the Eagles.
The Eagles continued to have the edge, but were not able to finish the Parrots until late.
Kade Renooy sent the Eagles fans into raptures late in the game, taking three bounces from the wing to put the final nail in the Parrots coffin.
Trent Knobel was influentail in the ruck for the Eagles, allowing Danny Butcher, Kel Porter and Sam Pleming to set up the opportunites for Bennett and Bedggood up forward.
Sam Walker defended well.
Verboon was by far the Parrots’ best player.
Jason Tomada, Luke Bowman, Aaron Coyle, AaronHilberg and Vernon also battled hard.
Reserves
Traralgon scored an all the way win to claim the Reserves premiership over Leongatha, 10-6 (66) to 6-10 (46).
The Maroons kicked three goals to one in the first quarter and kept the Parrots at bay from that point.
The Parrots finished stronger but wasted opportunities to eat into the deficit with a return of 2-6.
Jake Bishop, Nathan Rowley, Luke Phillips, Hotak Akram and Jarrod Zuehlke helped the Maroons to victory.
Under 18s
Bairnsdale proved far too good for Traralgon to take the under 18 premiership.
The Redlegs pulled away after a tight first half, kicking seven goals to one to run away with it, 10-12 (72) to 3-8 (26).
Hayden Edwards, Ethan East, Josh Buck, Corey Timms, Liam Giove and Liam Carroll led the way for Bairnsdale.
Under 16s
Moe dominated after a slow start to take out the under 16s premiership, defeating Leongatha 11-7 (73) to 5-4 (34).
The Parrots raced out to an 18-point lead at the first change, but it all fell apart from there.
Over-use cost the Parrots time and again, failing to score a goal across the second and third terms as Moe worked their way to the lead.
The Lions finished full of running, scoring five goals to two in the final term to bring joy to the large home crowd.
Rylan Henkel, Harrison Pepper, SeanBurns, Brock Smith, Grady Cocksedge and Josh Galea led the way for the Lions.