DROUIN DEFEATS WARRAGUL Last-gasp Hawks down Gulls
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Sometimes nothing else matters as long as you're in front when the siren sounds.
Drouin captain Jarrod Marshall kicked two last-gasp goals to give the Hawks a famous Western Derby win on Sunday, despite having only led for the final few minutes of the game.
In what was a highly contested – and for much of the day, visually unappealing – match, Drouin wore down their bitter rivals long enough to claim a 7.9 (51) to 5.9 (39) victory.
The Hawks actually failed to kick a goal for the first half, such was the suffocating nature of their opponents and the way the game was being played.
But when push came to shove it was the maroon and gold who won the key moments and booted four final quarter goals to move to two and one for the season.
Marshall's final two goals came within minutes of another. The first was a beautiful rolling kick from the forward pocket that curled through to put Drouin up by a goal. The second followed soon after when the Hawks won the next centre clearance, Marshall throwing it on the boot from 50 metres and bouncing it through again.
It's the first time the Hawks have won a Western Derby since round three, 2022 and now means they have already equalled their total wins in both 2022 and 2023.
Aden Quirk was highly effective in the backline, blocking Gulls forays forwards while providing an important link from half back in the absence of the injured Jordan Kingi.
Will Papley – who was notably physically targeted when he last faced Warragul – had his revenge in a powerful display through the middle.
Papley's day was ended minutes before the final siren when he put his body on the line in a brutal marking contest, the resulting loose ball coming out the back and allowing Marshall to kick the goal to put Drouin in front, but that was the kind of effort that the former-Bunyip hard nut put in all day.
Marshall himself was highly instrumental around the ground, while contested ball machine Mitch Cotter played a vital role at the game's many stoppages, particularly late.
Drouin's comeback was particularly impressive given a shoulder injury to star player Eddie Morris in the second quarter. Morris attempted to return to the field but ultimately left the ground in the third term and failed to play out the game.
Warragul, meanwhile, will be looking at this as a missed opportunity.
The Gulls' early pressure around the ball was stifling, preventing Drouin from employing their usual run and gun style.
More than anything they managed to convert their chances better to earn their half time lead.
But after Drouin began to match their edge around the ball, the Gulls wilted.
Their inability to connect inside 50 hurt them in the second half and, unlike the first half, Drouin capitalised.
Brad Hefford worked tirelessly in his role through the middle as youngsters Riley Senini and Lucas Carter put in strong efforts, but as the game went too many Warragul players went missing when it was there to be won.
That wasn't the case in the first half, where they effectively shut down the Hawks' style of play.
Thomas Crole kicked the lone goal of the first term following a strong mark right in front of goal, both sides getting limited chances at scoring.
Midfield bulls Tom Hobbs (two goals) and Isaac Wallace extended that lead in the second, where for a while it looked to be a case of Warragul by how much.
The third term saw a much more focused Drouin team, the Hawks able to match the Gulls around the ball and begin to generate some of their trademark transition through the wings.
Benjamin Brasier finally got them on the board early in the term after winning a holding the ball decision and kicking truly, before Marshall snapped his first when Hawk Tim Hancock caught a Warragul defender unawares.
The Gulls fought back thanks to Wallace winning a free kick deep inside 50 and kicking his second, but that was to be their only major of the second half.
Will Papley inched his side to within three points at the final change of ends with a long-range bomb from 50 metres, the Hawks faithful roaring as his kick soared through.
At three quarter time Warragul coach Jed Lamb urged his side to earn some respect, saying they were playing too much like individuals in the third quarter.
The opening 10 minutes of the final term were played with a heightened intensity as both sides realised how important the first goal was.
In the end it was Caleb Quirk who found it for Drouin, the Hawks recruit finding space out the back and winning a footrace to get his team within a goal.
A couple of Warragul misses had the home fans groaning, both teams desperate to get one up on their rivals. That desperation was exemplified when Gulls defender Sean Masterson sprinted back to spoil what would have been a certain goal.
A low ball forward from Drouin found a mark inside 50 – something hard to find for both teams all day - to Papley who kicked truly to even up the score.
With both teams locked on 5.9 apiece just minutes before the final siren a draw seemed a possible outcome and even a destined one when a flying Gulls shot hit the behind post on the full to deny them the lead.
That was until Marshall's exploits in the final few minutes sealed a well-earned Drouin victory.
The Hawks' celebrations on the final siren were somewhat muted by a last-second collision between Mitch Cotter and Joseph Collins, both players putting their bodies on the line to win the ball and both taking plenty of time to leave the ground after the game.
Drouin coach Brent Clinnick said he was "rapt" with his side's second half comeback.
"I'm rapt for the guys, rapt for the club and the community. It was a big challenge coming here last year and losing the way we did, it was stinging for a long time. I'm really happy we came here and flipped that result in the way that we did," he said.
Clinnick was especially pleased with the maturity his side displayed after a lacklustre first half.
"We weren't playing well but we were still in it. We feel we're a team that's never out of it and if our players can have that mindset we know we can score quickly and score heavily.
"They played some really good footy in the first half and nullified the way we want to move the ball but we were able to break the shackles a little bit."
Warragul coach Jed Lamb lamented his side's fadeaway in the second half.
"It's very disappointing. We felt like over the last couple of weeks we'd gained some confidence but it was a bit of a reality check to be honest," he said.
"They were better on the day to be honest and deserved to win. They were hungrier and our boys just didn't really play as a team. There were a few selfish acts that cost us in the end."
Drouin will be left to count the toll of their injuries but will face another winnable game this week against Morwell, while it's another challenge for Warragul as they look to bounce back against Traralgon.