All Star locals show their talent
Nine players from Warragul and Drouin had the unique opportunity to team up on the weekend in the Gippsland League's inaugural All Stars match.
Representing Team Red, the local boys combined forces with players from Leongatha, Moe and Wonthaggi to take on Team Navy in a 25-and-under exhibition match showing off the best the league has to offer.
Sean Masterson, Sam Whibley and Michael Lynn were the Warragul players to pull on the red. Drouin, meanwhile, had a club high six representatives with Kye Quirk, Harry Wans, Thomas Evans, Hugo Birks, Tim Hancock and Clayton Kingi all being selected.
And although they couldn't quite get the better of Navy – featuring players from Morwell, Maffra, Bairnsdale, Traralgon and Sale – there clearly weren't any hard feelings as Team Red went down 7.8 (50) to 12.12 (84).
With Jed Lamb absent, experienced campaigner Shane Paynter took the reins for Red, who began the match in solid enough fashion.
There was a certain intrigue to seeing how some of these players, who fight it out amongst one another every week on the field, would play together.
Seeing Warragul's Sam Whibley tap it down the throat of Moe's Riley Baldi and Leongatha's Tallin Brill, who would fire it forward to Drouin's Hugo Birks, certainly had a sense of curiosity to it.
The first term saw both sides feeling out exactly how they would play, given the lack of chemistry.
Two goals each, including one from a big Birks mark, had the teams even at the first break.
By the time the second term came around, Navy had sorted out some of their issues with connection.
They began to find space, particularly in their drive off half back, as Maffra's Kade Renooy consistently won the ball. Renooy would later be named as the match's best player.
Morwell spearhead Brandon McDonald bounced one through from the boundary before Traralgon's Sam Hallyburton bombed one on the run immediately after a break from the middle.
Two more goals to Morwell pair Tristen Waack and Burkeley Macfarlane had Navy out to a 25-point advantage at half time.
In general Navy looked the more threatening side with ball in hand. They spread well from the contest, often leaving them with an outnumber further up the field.
They booted the first two goals of the second half, pushing their lead out further, requiring a response from Red.
They got it, thanks in large part to some outstanding tap work from Gulls big man Sam Whibley in the ruck.
At times it looked like Whibley was playing with a midfield he knew as well any Warragul iteration, and it was thanks to him giving first use that his side was able to press their case.
A beautiful tap to Kingi allowed him to find Drouin teammate Birks once again for his second goal, before a similar play allowed Moe's Jaryn Makepeace to hit the scoreboard.
A big contested mark and goal to Wonthaggi's Brodie Mabila suddenly had the margin back to 20 at the final change and suddenly within reach.
Spirits remained high on both sides, and though players were throwing themselves into the contest, the lack of premiership points at stake kept things breezy.
A comeback was on offer, but seemingly snuffed out after McDonald capitalised on a Red turnover at half back to kick his second.
It was a Hawks show for a split second when Birks took another mark inside 50, only to handball to a passing Quirk for an easy goal, both players clearly enjoying the moment.
In the end the skill errors Red were making proved to be their downfall, as Navy put on four more goals – including a third to Tristen Waack – to run the game out.
Given this was the league's first attempt at an All Star match, it was an interesting novelty if nothing else – the players clearly enjoyed the opportunity to play among their usual rivals.
The crowd size was perhaps below what the league would have liked, but it will be intriguing to see if it continues and builds in years to come.
In either case, seeing some the league's best play together was a unique opportunity, given the sheer volume of talent on offer.
Earlier in the day an under 18s match was played, where similarly to the seniors it was Team Navy getting the best of Team Red by 32 points.
Representing the local talent in that match were Kyle Baker, Alby Phillips, Riley Senini, Darcy Paul, Todd Gowans and Liam Finnegan for Warragul, while Rylie Baker, Brodie Atkins and Ewan Croucher were chosen from Drouin.