Parrots obliterate Lions
If you want to win the Gippsland League premiership in 2022 and you’re not Leongatha, good luck.
The Parrots at this stage look to be near unbackable favourites for the flag after thoroughly obliterating second placed Moe over the weekend 21.12 (138) to 6.8 (44).
The Lions, who before this match had lost just one game for the year, looked completely out of their depth against Leongatha, who were bigger, stronger and faster with the ball.
Aaron Heppell kicked four goals as an inside midfielder for best afield honours, and was ably supported in the forward half, where the Parrots had an incredible 12 individual goalkickers. Six of them kicked multiple, such was the even spread of their contributions around the ground.
Moe, meanwhile, still lacking a strong tall target up forward, couldn’t find any sort of efficiency up forward, managing just two goals in the first half and four in the second.
In truth, the game was basically over at quarter time after the Parrots ambushed the visitors, putting on six goals in the first term while keeping the Lions goalless.
From there, Leongatha didn’t take the foot off the pedal, increasing their lead in every quarter and turning what should have been a top of the table blockbuster into a one-way massacre.
Having lost two of their strongest performers last week in Bailey Humphrey and Riley Baldi to the Gippsland Power and Casey Demons respectively, the Lions were needing some of their younger stars to step up, but this just never eventuated.
Moe’s usual standouts like Trent Baldi, Brock Smith and captain Jacob Wood tried earnestly but were completely overwhelmed by the class of their opponents.
The distance between Leongatha and the rest of the league now appears concerningly stark, and the question must be raised as to just who, if anyone, will be able to beat them.
Leongatha’s best players as named were Aaron Heppell, Justin Pellicano, Steve Forrester, Ned Hanily, Tom Marriott and Cade Maskell.
Trent Baldi, Matthew Heywood, Brock Smith, Ben Morrow, Jacob Wood and Jacob Balfour were Moe’s better players.
In what was a much closer affair between two of the league’s best, Traralgon overcame a determined Sale to move up to third place on the ladder.
Seven goals to forward superstar Brett Eddy allowed the Maroons to find the ascendancy late to win the contest 14.14 (98) to 12.6 (78).
For Sale, Brad Dessent had his own incredible seven-goal performance for the visitors, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the Magpies over the line.
The match was an extremely tight and tense one early, both teams knowing that a win would have major ramifications on their respective standings.
Tackling pressure was up for both sides in a finals-like atmosphere, as the game lived up to expectations. Neither side was able to break away from the other for most of the first half.
Traralgon, thanks to some brilliant inside work from Tom Schneider and the forward half dominance of Eddy, managed to get out to a 19-point lead midway through the third term, though three quick goals to Sale allowed them to reel the margin back in. A late Maroons goal saw the margin at eight points at three quarter time.
The Magpies tried desperately to work their way into a winning position, and despite the efforts of star backman Jack Leslie who kept the Traralgon forwards at bay for much of the day, the dam wall burst late. The Maroons put on five last quarter goals to three to claim a vital four points.
Traralgon, despite their inconsistencies this year, have shown their best is good enough to beat anyone, and were the team that have come closest to defeating Leongatha when they fell to them by just seven points in round one.
From here on out, it will just be about showing that high level on a weekly basis.
Sale, meanwhile, will look to bounce back next week against Morwell following the end of their five-game win streak.
Traralgon’s strongest players were Brett Eddy, Luke Johnson, Troy Forrest, Tom Schneider, Tye Hourigan and Haydn Hector.
Jack Leslie, Brad Dessent, Shannen Lange, Mitch Bown, Harry Ronchi and Kane Martin all played well for Sale.
Wonthaggi remains in fifth place on the ladder after a clinical victory over Bairnsdale at home.
With the Power needing a win to ensure they keep their spot in the top five, they handled the occasion exactly as required, winning 14.20 (104) to 7.7 (49).
Bairnsdale were held goalless in a first quarter blitz that saw Wonthaggi kick six of their own for the term, essentially putting the game beyond reach after just 30 minutes.
From that point, the home side never looked threatened as playing coach Ryan Sparkes put on a show through the midfield, while Aiden Lindsay was consistently dangerous up forward with four goals.
With Morwell and Maffra both winning their respective matches, the victory was simply a requirement for Wonthaggi to stay in fifth and, as good teams do, they won a game they should have as they look to the next few weeks as a chance to improve on what has been a sputtering start to the season.
Bairnsdale will remain in bottom spot on the ladder, their season having been cursed by injury, illness and a general lack of talent around the ground.
Ryan Sparkes, Aiden Lindsay, Andrew Murray, Tim Knowles, Toma Huther and Jack Hutchinson were Wonthaggi’s best.