BIG GAP IN SKILLS

There were big differences between Drouin’s junior teams and their Traralgon opponents on Saturday.

The obvious differences were the comparative physical size of players and the scores kicked.

Traralgon has greater depth than most clubs and more “top age” players in their junior teams but the biggest gap between the teams are their skills.

The Maroons’ skills haven’t been developed since they reached the Under 16 (fourths) level.

They have been built as youngsters progressing through the local junior league.

Most of Traralgon’s fourths players on Saturday, not to mention the bigger thirds, were adept at both sides of their bodies and kicked 45-50 metres with purpose and penetration.

The comparison was stark as the Maroons steamrolled their way to 23-13 to two behinds in the fourths and 25-11 to 1-2 in the thirds.

The Drouin players don’t lack spirit or determination and the thirds, short a few numbers for a variety of reasons, had to call on several fourths to double up.

Best for the Hawks in that game were Robbie Baker, Tyler Dodge-Bunn, Jye Mitchell, Blake Roberts and Sam Rippon with Under 16 player Darcy Durham kicking the goal.

In the fourths, the best were Darcy Durham, Christian and Fletcher Robertson-Edgar, Blake Roberts, Harley Nicklen and Bailey Pryor.