Parrots stay perfect with 29th straight
The Gippsland League officially returned this week, with some great matches kicking off the action for season 2023. Here's what you may have missed this week.
Traralgon vs Leongatha
You just knew they'd do it, didn't you?
Backs against the wall, seemingly being outplayed and facing a parochial away crowd, things looked unusually tough for Leongatha. But as the reigning premiers have shown time and time (and time) again, if they've dug themselves into a hole they know exactly how to dig themselves out.
And that's what they did, overcoming a slow start to post an 18.10 (118) to 12.9 (81) win, their 29th straight.
Young recruit Jenson Garnham immediately proved his value, booting five goals in a best on ground performance. Sometimes footy seems so unfair when a side as strong as the Parrots can pick up a kid and have him put in that kind of performance.
Otherwise, it was some familiar faces getting the job done as Aaron Heppell, Ben Willis and Jake Van Der Pligt putting in the hard yards.
And they were in fact needed, given the Parrots conceded five goals to two in the first term to look behind the pace at the first break.
That didn't last, however, as the Parrots clicked into gear, kicking seven goals in the second term along to turn the deficit into a lead.
The third term became a tussle, as the lead traded hands multiple times, but it was Leongatha who came home strong to put the Maroons to the sword.
Harvey Neocleous booted five for the home side, while Tye Hourigan and Jackson McMahon were great, but in the end the electric play they showed early faded under the Parrots' pressure.
Moe vs Morwell
Kristian Jaksch's return to Moe proved a bountiful one on the weekend as he booted five goals to help sink Morwell.
Inaccuracy kept him from enjoying his day even more, but make no mistake the league's leading goalkicker in 2021 will be a headache for every other coach in the league. Between
Jaksch, Declan Keilty and recruit Ben Prowse, it appears Moe's issues with size may just be a thing of the past.
All three of them performed well in the Lions' 12.14 (86) to 7.8 (50) win, along with Scott van Dyk, Harrison Sim and Ben Morrow.
Despite some surges from Morwell, including a period where Brandon McDonald kicked four quick goals, the game in general was controlled by Moe, who took their early lead and used it to keep the Tigers at arm's length.
Sam Walsh looked like he's set to continue his rapid rise, but across the board the Tigers, who roared spectacularly into finals last season, looked a step behind for much of the game.
Most concerning was their struggle to hit a target inside 50, an area that was otherwise a strength last season. They started slowly in 2022 as well though, so it's hardly panic stations yet.
Wonthaggi vs Sale
Wonthaggi exacted some revenge for their preliminary final loss to Sale as they took out a 13.8 (86) to 11.6 (72) win.
In what was a close affair all game, the Power managed to hold onto the lead for most of the game and kept it when it mattered most.
Jack Hutchinson kicked three goals, while Joshua Bates, Kyle Reid and former-Collingwood player and new recruit Isaac Chugg all showed out, working hard at the coalface in a heavily contested game.
The Leslie brothers – Jack and Will – were the standouts for Sale, along with superstar Shannon Lange, but it was once again a case of good but not good enough, a phrase that has been used to describe the Magpies all too often in recent years.
Bairnsdale vs Maffra
They say in footy you should expect the unexpected, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who expected a draw in round one.
That's just what we got, however, as the Redlegs and Eagles couldn't be separated following a Maffra goal after the siren, with Bairnsdale on 13.9 (87) and Maffra 12.15 (87).
It came after a stirring comeback by the Eagles, who entered the final quarter 22 points down only to dominate around the contest, locking the ball inside 50 as the Redlegs tired.
With just six points the difference though, a kickout from Bairnsdale ended up in Maffra hands, with the resulting kick finding Nathan Pollard on the lead moments before the siren.
With the entire town of Bairnsdale jeering on, Pollard showed great composure, slotting the 40m shot to ensure the Eagles would be taking home two points.
For Maffra, Daniel Bedggood ended the day with four goals, while Alex Carr and recruit Brayden Monk were immense.
Bairnsdale, meanwhile, will be left ruing the lost opportunity after a great third term had them in the box seat to win. Lachlan Byrne-Jones, Will Mitchell and Ethan East were among their better players.