Parrots ambushed
Leongatha (2nd) got ambushed and Sale (3rd) got a shock but managed to scratch out a win on the first weekend of a Gippsland league split round.
In the other game played Morwell broke away in the last quarter at home to post its fourth win for the season against Wonthaggi.
The ambush at Leongatha was executed by Drouin that, until Saturday, was at the foot of the ladder with only one win and a draw for the season.
Leongatha was strolling towards the finals only behind top side Maffra on percentage after a run of 11 wins.
But Drouin did the seemingly unthinkable and at the siren had pulled off a stunning 10-9 to 9-13 win.
It was a classic example of the unpredictability of football.
The defeat has more than likely cost Leongatha any chance of snatching top place from Maffra in the run to the finals.
Sale’s seven-goal second quarter that turned a 16-point deficit into an 18-point lead was the reason it won a tight affair against Bairnsdale at Bairnsdale.
The Magpies still led at threequarter time, but by just 12 points, and the last term was a rugged battle.
Neither side was able to make the most of their chances, each kicking 1-5 for the term, with Sale finally prevailing 12-13 to 10-13.
Sale got its only goal for the last quarter at the seven-minute mark while the Redlegs, after a run of five behinds, didn’t get their goal until the dying seconds.
Morwell took until the last quarter to get the better of Wonthaggi in a low scoring game at Morwell.
The Tigers kicked four of their nine goals for the game in the final term to finish with 9-13 to Wonthaggi’s 5-8.