Eagles swoop late to steal thriller
If you're a fan of the Gippsland League but just couldn't wait for finals action, then the weekend may just have satisfied your needs.
The league was treated to two absolute thrillers in what was an early preview of what supporters have to look forward to in a few weeks, as one result saw two top teams unable to be separated and another had major ramifications on just who might take the last finals spot.
Here's what you may have missed this week.
Morwell vs Maffra
You just can't ever underestimate the value of experience. Or at least that's what Maffra will be thinking after coming from the clouds to potentially save their season against Morwell.
Playing essentially to keep their finals hopes alive, the Eagles looked dead and buried for various parts of the game, but were able to swoop late to steal an 11.10 (76) to 9.19 (73) win.
It will be a painful lesson for the young Morwell side, who for the second week in a row have lost a game by under a goal. Unlike last week's near miraculous comeback against Leongatha, however, this was a game that the Tigers realistically should have had signed, sealed and delivered much earlier.
Morwell started the game on fire, with Tristen Waack continuing his fine ruck form to give his midfielders first use, allowing them to get well on top in the clearances. Unfortunately for them though, their forwards were unable to capitalise, kicking 3.8 in the first term to put a dominant period of play somewhat to waste.
Things were better in the second term, kicking 5.5. But, at half time, it meant the Tigers had generated 12 more scoring shots than Maffra but were up by only 22 points.
And while Maffra isn't the side they once were and have blooded a number of youngsters of their own, if you leave the door ajar for them they have enough experience to push through it.
Thomas Jolly and John Butcher were the consistent threats up forward for Maffra, kicking five and four goals respectively for the game to keep their score ticking over. And trailing by 15 points at three quarter time, a comeback win loomed.
As it turned out, that was exactly what happened. When the moment presented itself, the Eagles took it, kicking four final quarter goals to one to get over the line, much to the devastation of the Morwell players.
A win would have gone a long way to securing a finals berth for the talented Tigers. But, with their poor percentage, they'll now be relying on Maffra to lose a number of their remaining matches while needing to keep winning their own.
In this battle of youth versus experience, chalk one up for the old heads.
Wonthaggi vs Traralgon
Prior to this match between second and third on the ladder, it was impossible to split them. As it turns out, splitting them during and after the game also proved impossible as Wonthaggi and Traralgon played out a heart-stopping draw.
In what was a game of wild swings of momentum, neither side could find enough to get the four points, as the final siren sounded with Wonthaggi sitting on 8.14 and Traralgon on 9.8, both locked on 64 points.
Jack Hutchinson was the only Power player to kick more than one goal as he finished with three, while the Maroons had fewer goalkickers but found scores through Brett Eddy and wingman Matthew Northe, who both also kicked three.
As one would expect from a clash between two top sides, the match was a hotly contested one, with neither side willing to give an inch at the contest.
The Power did find some ascendancy in the clearances thanks to the likes of Joshua Bates and Harry Dawson, particularly early in the piece. But, on multiple occasions, they were unable to finish their work, whereupon they were made to pay on the rebound more than once.
Wonthaggi led by just the nine points at half time, though having been able to generate nearly the double the number of scoring shots of their opponent would have left them confident.
Whatever Traralgon coach Jake Best said to his troops at half time worked, as the third term saw the Maroons midfield pick up the slack thanks to Tom Schneider and Luis D'Angelo doing what they do best.
Tye Hourigan's efforts in the backline deserve some mention too, as the Power could manage just one goal in the third term while the Maroons struck with five of their own to take a nine-point lead into the final term.
With the prospect of a home final and double chance on the line, both sides threw themselves willingly into each other in the last quarter.
Though at various times both threatened to steal the contest, in the end the siren sounded with the teams at a deadlock, bringing players from both sides to their knees in disappointment.
The draw is Wonthaggi's second for the season, marking the first time since 1978 that a senior side in the league has experienced two draws in the same year.
Thanks to the result, both teams have now been overtaken on the ladder by Sale, meaning they will both still be in a dogfight for a top three finish and a coveted double chance.
At this stage with Leongatha having first place sewn up, the race between Wonthaggi, Traralgon and Sale for the two remaining spots will guarantee at least one thing: fans have a lot to look forward to.
Sale vs Moe
Watch out, Gippsland League, there's a storm brewing in Sale.
The Magpies made it four wins in a row, all by 44 points or more, over the weekend as they utterly obliterated Moe.
Sale were nothing short of magnificent as they ran rings around the hapless Lions, eventually running out 26.16 (172) to 4.6 (30) winners.
Shannon Lange strengthened his odds of winning the league's best and fairest with another outstanding midfield performance, while forward Thomas Campbell's strong vein of form continued as he kicked five goals. The Leslie brothers, both Jack and Will, were also at their brutal best, exposing Moe's lack of height at every opportunity.
The result was a true indication of just how both teams have progressed since they last met. In their previous match-up earlier this year, the match was a tightly fought affair with Sale managing to prevail by just the two goals to hand Moe their first loss of the year.
Since then, Sale have begun gearing up for a serious finals run and a potential premiership tilt, while Moe have been absolutely cursed by a combination of injuries and illness to tumble out of the top five in what will now end up being another intensely disappointing year for a club with much loftier goals.
Some of the Lions' usual suspects put in solid efforts such as Brock Smith, Scott van Dyk and James Blaser. But with the outs the team has been made to cover, winning was always a longshot, particularly at a ground Moe hasn't tasted victory at in 20 years.
Still, the size of the loss would be intensely disappointing and will leave the club, who started the year 5-0 and looking the goods, wondering what might have been.
For Sale, it's all about what might still be, as they now move into second spot. With their fate in their hands, who knows how far they may be able to go.