Competition wide open from upsets
Unexpected results in the opening four Gippsland League rounds have set the stage for a terrific round ahead on Saturday.
Last Saturday certainly threw the competition wide open.
It showed just how fleeting form can be.
Maffra that had been highly impressive in its Good Friday humbling of Sale was unable to follow up and suffered a surprise loss to a young Morwell side, missing key defender Ryan Hearn, at Morwell on Saturday.
With two losses for the season Maffra’s clash next weekend with Warragul, giant killers against Leongatha, has a lot riding on it.
Bairnsdale, who could easily have a 3:1 win/loss ratio rather than 1:3, returns to its home ground and won’t be without a chance against undefeated ladder leader Moe.
After early inaccuracy the Lions steadied on Saturday to defeat Wonthaggi 12-15 to 96.
And they did it without top players Spencer White, Charlie Rieniets and James Blaser.
Bairnsdale has had a setback with key backman Simon Deery out for the rest of season.
Sale and Drouin, both sitting on three wins and in second and third places on the ladder, will go head to head at Sale.
Sale rebounded superbly from the Maffra loss to send Traralgon plummeting to a fourth straight defeat and to the bottom of the ladder.
The Magpies won 13-14 to 6-6 with Kane Martin and Tom Hams continuing their outstanding form.
Drouin’s biggest test to date was in round two against Moe and it came up well short.
Sale will be another big one whose form last weekend was probably its best for the season and looks close to full strength.
Leongatha, following successive losses to Wonthaggi and Warragul, face a much tougher looking game on Saturday at Morwell than it seemed it would be a month ago.
The Parrots have missed centreman and last year’s league medallist Tom Marriott, who hasn’t played due to injury, but still have a powerful “on paper” side.
Morwell has been a surprise, its defeat of Maffra on Saturday sending some messages to other clubs. It can’t be taken lightly. And to add further spice to the round Wonthaggi, whose form has been a bit up and down but good enough to win two games including against Leongatha, has the chance to extend Traralgon’s losing run to five.
Both of Power’s wins have been at home but on Saturday they’ll be travelling to Traralgon.
The Maroons aren’t without their share of talent but are a bit short on height.
Matches at grounds of first named clubs, all on Saturday afternoon, are:Bairnsdale v. Moe. Sale v. Drouin. Maffra v. Warragul. Traralgon v. Wonthaggi. Morwell v. Leongatha.
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