Gulls thirds open season with strong win
Warragul's thirds opened their season with an all-encompassing 48-point win over Sale.
Having not played last week, the Gulls didn't have to shake out too many cobwebs in the 7.15 (57) to 1.3 (9) victory.
Despite conceding the first goal of the game the visitors looked in control after quarter time, keeping Sale goalless for the rest of the contest.
Alby Phillips (two goals) was best-on for the Gulls, followed closely by Lachlan French, Levi Moore and Isaac Kittelty.
Drouin's thirds extended their record to two wins and no losses following a confidence boosting win over reigning premiers Maffra.
Leading by 28 points at half time the Hawks were made to endure a few anxious moments, but ultimately held their nerve in the 11.12 (68) to 7.12 (54) triumph.
Rylie Baker and Kaden Gregg (four goals each) were effective up forward as Zachary McMillan and Jaxon Huston also featured heavily.
It sets up an intriguing Western Derby next week that'll tell us a lot about both sides.
In other thirds results Bairnsdale thumped Morwell 15.8 (98) to 5.5 (35), Traralgon easily accounted for Moe 13.10 (88) to 4.6 (30) and Leongatha had the bye.
Drouin's fourths had to cop a tough day at the office as they were thrashed by Maffra.
The Hawks simply couldn't go with the Eagles in the 3.3 (21) to 12.14 (86) defeat, showing some positive signs in the second quarter but being thoroughly outplayed otherwise.
Tate Smith, Riley Matthews and Dean Brown were Drouin's best.
Warragul went through a similarly difficult defeat, going down handily to Sale.
Inaccuracy plagued the Gulls in the 1.10 (16) to 8.10 (58) loss, robbing them of any chance to worry the Magpies.
They didn't kick their lone goal until Kye Murnane put one through in the final quarter, by which point the game was well and truly finished.
Cooper Leighton, Nash Olsson and Marley Parise were among the better Warragul players.
Elsewhere in the fourths Traralgon defeated Moe 14.8 (92) to 7.9 (51), Wonthaggi thrashed Leongatha 15.10 (100) to 7.1 (43) and Bairnsdale annihilated Morwell 17.16 (118) to 3.0 (18).
Warragul's reserves put in another spirited effort as they were dispatched by Sale.
For the second time in as many weeks the Gulls' effort was there but execution lacking in the 2.6 (18) to 8.7 (55) defeat.
The Gulls were hardly humbled, a far cry from the team that was routinely destroyed in 2023, though didn't have the firepower needed to genuinely challenge the Magpies.
Will Hatfield, Jacob Orlicki and Dean MacFarlane were their best.
Drouin's reserves found the going tough against Maffra, falling 8.5 (53) to 18.12 (120).
There were some positive signs for the Hawks, namely a highly competitive second term.
Maffra were on another level, however, sharing the load up forward to shut the gate on the Hawks.
Young Peyton Saddington accounted well for himself, as did Noah Glen and Fletcher Lockwood.
In other reserves results Bairnsdale defeated Morwell 13.10 (88) to 7.7 (49), Traralgon thrashed Moe 18.6 (114) to 3.3 (21) and Leongatha obliterated Wonthaggi 27.17 (179) to 0.5 (5).