CHALLENGERS LET CHANCES SLIP
Fifth place – do any of the handful of Gippsland League sides with a chance to grab it want it?
None seemed to on Saturday.
Injury hit Drouin still sits 5th despite three successive losses, but Bairnsdale (two games behind before Saturday) and Traralgon, Morwell and Warragul (three games behind) didn’t improve chances.
Traralgon, an upset winner the week before against Sale, to rekindle its chance took another step back when beaten at Wonthaggi.
The accuracy of a week earlier when the Maroons kicked 12-1 for its narrow victory against Sale deserted it as they fell 5-14 to 10-11 to Wonthaggi.
Power has now
SENIORS
their joined three others, including Traralgon, three wins from the “five” with only four rounds to go before finals.
The key to the last spot in the “five” will be Drouin and whether it can conjure another win with a severely depleted line-up.
The Hawks were never in the contest against a ruthless Sale at Drouin losing by 97 points and its all-important percentage taking a nosedive.
Morwell, another with an outside chance of grabbing the last finals position, lost at Leongatha after its second tough away game in a two weeks having been at Maffra in the previous round.
And in both matches the Tigers led at three-quarter time before surrendering the lead.
On Saturday Leongatha dominated the last term to win 12-18 to 9-4.
Just as important as the win for the Parrots was the return after long absences of Cade Maskell and Hayden Browne, joint captains of last year’s premiership winning side.
They follow Nic Nagel and Tom Marriott making comebacks in the past few matches to build the side towards another challenge.
Moe always held sway against Bairnsdale at Moe.
The Lions’ talent shone through as the game progressed.
Highly credentialled recent recruit Tristan Gum showed he has settled well in the line-up with a best on ground performance and four goals.
A good start and a storming finish by Maffra overcame Warragul, winning by 49 points after the Gulls had got within striking distance at the last change.
Another big hurdle for Drouin, Leongatha at Leongatha, creates the opportunity for two of four teams to move a game closer to the “five”.
Unless Drouin is able to pull off a major upset Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Morwell and Warragul could rekindle their hopes.
Traralgon will host a Bairnsdale side that hasn’t won away from home all season and Morwell will be at home to Warragul.
A win by Leongatha would also give it a sniff of possibly grabbing a top three finish and double chance in the finals.
Sale and Moe, 2nd and 3rd each with 44 premiership points, clash at Sale where the winner will go a long way to cementing a double chance and give itself the possibility of snatching top place from Maffra that has a bye next weekend.
Wonthaggi joins Maffra in having a bye.
Gasmes at grounds of first named clubs on Saturday:Morwell v. Warragul. Leongatha v. Drouin. Sale v. Moe. Traralgon v. Bairnsdale.
Maffra and Won thaggi Power have byes.