Upsets liven up battle for finals
Upset results in both Gippsland League games on Saturday that completed the split round 16 have really opened up the finals’ race.
There are tight battles for leading goalkicker honours in each of the four grades.
SENIORS 58: Chris Dunne (Leongatha).
54: Mitch Bennett (Maffra).
36: Brad Dessent (Sale).
34: McCarrey
33: Brayden Fowler (Warragul).
RESERVES 31: Nathan Trotto (Leongatha).
28: Jamie Somers (Warragul).
27: Mitch Allman (Maffra), Lachlan Wright (Leongatha).
THIRDS 41: Jack McLaren (Sale).
40: Jacob Van Iwaarden (Traralgon).
30: Jonty McInnes (Sale).
FOURTHS 39: Byron Vickery (Bairnsdale).
34: Noah Anderson (Wonthaggi).
33: Kade Ruyters (Traralgon). Brayden (Bairnsdale).
Warragul pulled off a huge win against top of the ladder Maffra, the only “bad news” for the Gulls being Traralgon’s easy win against 4th placed Moe.
Had Traralgon lost the Gulls would now be in the “five”.
It’s quite possible that fourth and fifth places could be decided on percentage.
As it stands Moe, Traralgon and Warragul are all on 36 premiership points, the Gulls’ percentage its disadvantage against the other two.
But if they can continue with the type of football they produced to get over Maffra a place in the finals is well within reach for Warragul.
Warragul withstood a last quarter challenge from the Eagles that got them within eight points to steady and run out 12-10 to 8-7 winners.
Moe missed its chance to cement its place in the finals.
It could also, given Warragul’s upset win, have placed a serious dent in Traralgon’s hopes.
However, the Maroons were always in control of the game played at Traralgon.
They increased their leads each quarter – 11 points at quarter time, 32 at the halfway mark and 36 points at threequarter time – to score by 50 points at the finish, 14-10 to 68.
Dylan Loprese kicked four goals for Traralgon while the principal contributor for Moe was veteran Peter Ainsworth with three.
Maffra, due to its strong percentage, is in best position the retain top place on the ladder from Leongatha and Sale with all three sides on 13 wins for the season.
But as the past fortnight has shown anything can happen.
Games ahead for the top six teams fighting for either places in the “five” or the week’s break during the first week of the finals by finishing on top are:Maffra (52 points): versus Traralgon (h), Moe (a).
Leongatha (52): v. Bairnsdale (a), Sale (h).
Sale Warragul Leongatha (a).
Moe (36): Wonthaggi Maffra (h).
Traralgon Maffra (a), (h).
Warragul (36): v. Sale (a), Bairnsdale (h). (52): v. (h),
v. (a),
(36): v. Morwell