Parrots’ streak ends
One of the longest streaks in country football finally came to an end this week as the premiership race was broken wide open.
Leongatha vs Moe
Do not adjust your eyes, this is not a misprint nor a drill. Leongatha have been beaten for the first time since round two 2021.
Yes, the Parrots' incredible 34-game winning streak came to an end over the weekend, courtesy of the second-placed Moe Lions.
Leongatha were their own worst enemies at times in front of goal. They kicked seven behinds before managing a major, while at half time their score was a scarcely believable 1.12.
None of that is to take away from Moe, who for their part were excellent as they romped to a statement 12.5 (77) to 6.14 (50) win.
Their own forward line didn't share the green and gold's struggles, thanks largely to the club debut of Billy Gowers, who booted six goals.
AFL fans may remember Gowers for his three-year stint at the Western Bulldogs from 2018-2020, where he topped the club's goalkicking in 2018.
With Kristian Jaksch out for the long term, Gowers' recruitment proved a shrewd move, providing the Lions with an experienced body to kick long to.
Outside of Gowers though Grady Cocksedge was excellent, as was coach Declan Keilty holding down the fort on the defensive end playing on the likes of Jack Ginnane and Jenson Garnham.
The second term was where Moe was able to do their damage, taking advantage of the Parrots' kicking to kick four goals and push their margin out to 21.
It proved to be a match winning quarter, as while the Parrots were able to fix their collective radar after the main break and at times threaten to reduce the deficit, they were unable to look like a genuine threat.
A late 50m penalty and goal to Ben Daniher on the siren sending the travelling Lions into raptures.
Experienced campaigners Cade Maskell and Cameron Olden were among the Parrots' better players, as was ruck Ben Willis, but in the end their incredible run had to come to an end.
Their 34-game run now sits as the third best streak in Gippsland League history, behind Traralgon's 35 wins in a row (19982000) and Maffra's 45 (2003-05).
They retain top spot on the ladder, and will no doubt be keen to practice their goalkicking this week, but the Lions have proven one thing. If it bleeds, we can kill it.
Sale vs Morwell
Sale managed to claim an absolute thriller against Morwell.
The Magpies led the match at every change of ends, though never looked comfortable with said lead.
With these two teams looking the most likely challengers for the fifth position in the top five, the game was a close encounter all day, as Sale took a 13-point lead into the final change of ends.
From there the match was a defensive slog, before Morwell's Boyd Bailey scored the first goal of the quarter after over 18 minutes of play.
Both sides had their own chances to score another, but in the end the only other goal of the term was from Tiger Tyler Hillier seconds before the final siren, leaving the final margin at four points.
Big man Will Leslie was strong around the ground for Sale, along with Jack McLaren and Daine McGuinness as their team secured a vital win to put them into the top five.
The Magpies have endured a slow start to the year, but after two wins in a row are looking a lot more on track than they once did.
Morwell, meanwhile, will be regretting letting the game slip through their grasp.
The Tigers had their chances, and had they taken just a few more of them could have easily been the team moving to three and four.
They were well serviced by Zach Anderson, Brandon Bailey and Riley Loprese but at the end of the day they now sit in eighth position wondering what might have been.
Bairnsdale vs Traralgon
Traralgon took care of business on the road, sending Bairnsdale out of the top five in the process.
The Maroons were just too strong for the Redlegs, in the second half especially, as they won 11.16 (82) to 6.7 (43).
Seven goals to three after half time proved the difference between the two sides, allowing Traralgon to become one of three sides now at six and one.
Tye Hourigan was powerful, while the debut of former Geelong Cat Jordan Cunico proved a fruitful one as he won the ball through the middle and even snuck forward for two goals.
Bairnsdale were well serviced by coach Logan Austin, who kicked three goals, as well as Ethan East and Will Mitchell, but the Redlegs have now been found wanting by each of the top four teams over the past four weeks.
They've fallen to seventh on the table, as next week's game against Morwell looms as a crunch game for both teams.