Tragic week for football

It has been a tragic week for football in Gippsland.

The deaths of two junior players has shocked leagues, clubs, players and followers.

On Saturday a Dalyston junior on his way to the West Gippsland league match at Koo wee rup was killed in a road accident.

News of the tragedy reached the ground about midway through the fourths game but was withheld from players until after that game ended.

The other three scheduled games between Koo wee rup and Dalyston – thirds, reserves and seniors - were abandoned.

Earlier in the week Warragul football club fourths’ player Corey Maric died.

In a post on social media the club said it was with broken hearts that they acknowledged Corey’s sudden passing.

“To all of Corey’s teammates in the under 16s, to his coaches and friends at the club and most importantly his wonderful family, Zvonko, Kate, Aidan and Alisha we are sending all of our love, support and care during this very difficult time.”

The two incidents overshadowed what was an interesting round in the four district leagues.

None were more interesting than in Gippsland League where there were some major shock results.

The losses by Leongatha and Maffra in thrilling finishes headed the list.

Warragul, that hadn’t won this season, hung on to a one-point lead over Leongatha in a desperate final three minutes to end an 11game losing streak against the Parrots and notch its first win at Leongatha since 2008.

Maffra, huge winners over Sale in the previous round, lowered its colours to Morwell that had one win from three games against its name.

At three-quarter time in a low scoring game at Morwell it looked like Maffra had the game in its keeping.

It led by 23 points and, to that stage, the Tigers had managed only two goals.

Morwell completely reversed the trend adding 4-3 while keeping the Eagles scoreless in the last term to snatch a 6-8 to 5-10 victory.

Moe went into its clash at home against Wonthaggi favourite but Power, that had won twice including in the previous round against Traralgon, took the contest right up to the undefeated Lions with the margin at the siren 27 points.

Drouin versus Bairnsdale was generally regarded as a 50-50 match and it went accordingly.

Drouin got home by nine points in a game that could have gone either way.

But after four rounds almost as big a shock as some of the results is the fact that Traralgon, the league’s most successful club, sits alone on the bottom of the ladder without a win.

On Saturday it fell by 50 points to Sale that rebounded strongly from a heavy loss to Maffra in round three.

There were some head turning results in Ellinbank and district, too.

Poowong’s come from behind defeat of previously unbeaten but inaccurate Ellinbank the most notable.

The Eagles led by nine points at half time but added only nine behinds in the second half, six of them in the last quarter.

Poowong also went goalless in the final term but still managed to get the job done, 10-9 to 7-17.

Neerim Neerim South posted its third win from four games proving far too strong for Catani, 11-8 to 4-6.

Yarragon won for the second time when it downed Buln Buln, without star ruckman Matt Gray, by 13 points, the Lyrebirds managing only four behinds in the second half; Longwarry was far too good for Lang Lang and is now the only undefeated side, and in a game of two contrasting halves Nyora won 10-12 to 7-4 against Nilma-Darnum.

Defending West Gippsland premier Phillip Island looks well on track for back-to-back after a blemish free first five games.

Its trip to Warragul for its first ever game against Warragul Industrials proved no problem, winning easily 11-23 to 2-1.

Cora Lynn and Inverloch-Kongwak played the closest game of the round, the Cobras at home winning by 13 points – 10-12 to 9-5.

Garfield surprised with a six-goal win over Nar Nar Goon that, as a result, dropped from the “five”.

Its spot has been taken by Bunyip that was a big winner against Kilcunda-Bass.

Tooradin-Dalmore got its fourth win in its new league easily accounting for KorumburraBena.

Mid Gippsland league’s Hill End almost claimed its second big scalp at home against Yallourn Yallourn North.

But in an agonising finish for the Hillmen the game was snatched from them by two points in the dying minutes. It was the only close game in the round. Mirboo North was a big winner over Thorpdale, Trafalgar easily accounted for Boolarra and Yinnar was far too strong for Newborough.

Morwell East had the bye.