Liam Durkin
MORE questions than answers remain after two rounds in the Gippsland League.
While time has not yet allowed the competition to fully unfold, results so far have left queries on a number of teams.
Have Warragul improved a lot? Have Morwell in fact not improved at all? Are things starting to click for Bairnsdale?
What of Wonthaggi? The Power has already lost as many home and away games this year as they did for the whole season in 2023.
When is Maffra’s first win coming? And how can Moe kick six goals in the last quarter after only managing four in the first three?
SALE held off a persistent Warragul.
The Magpies kicked five goals to two in the final term, to win 16.13 (109) to 12.10 (82).
In a match described as “highly entertaining”, spectators crammed the Past Players Hill at Sale Oval to see the home side prevail.
Not much separated combatants in the first three quarters, although Sale was able to give itself some breathing space at halftime after kicking five goals to one in the second term.
The Guls however hit back, taking advantage of the scoring end to nail four goals of their own in the third to make it a seven-point ballgame at the final change.
There was to be no upset however, as Sale players like Shannen Lange, Hudson Holmes and Jack Leslie made sure the Magpies kept their unbeaten start to the season intact.
Former Richmond player Derek Eggmolesse-Smith also featured in the best, as did Jonty McGuiness and Josh Butcher.
A great story to come out of the day was Sale junior graduate Kane Cutler, who enjoyed a dream debut in senior colours – kicking a match-high four goals
In a game decided by 27 points, his efforts were certainly appreciated by all wearing the black and white.
Cutler was one to rate a mention from Sale chairman of selectors, Peter Morrison postgame, who stood in as senior assistant coach in the absence of Shane Fyfe.
“Kane Cutler in for his first game, couldn’t of (done better), to kick four goals, was very lively around forward,” Morrison said.
“Young Danny Byron showed some improved form around the footy, Jonty McGuiness and Jake Hutchins and the young defenders … reward for what the football club is trying to do going forward, see our young players play a really good game.
“Story coming out of Warragul last week was they were quite big and powerful, and that was certainly the case today, they brought a good style of footy, it was a really, really good game of footy.”
Riley Senini, Luke Garner (three goals), Lucas Carter, Isaac Wallace, Patrick Carpenter and Sean Masterson were best for Warragul.
Saturday proved to be a successful day all round at The Nest, with Sale winning all bar one game of football and netball.
Morrison said it was pleasing to see preparation paying off in the early stages of the season.
“You put a lot of work in and get the result you hope for,” he said.
“Good feel around the joint and we’ll look forward to playing Moe right across the board next week.”
The Magpies make their first road trip outside Wellington Shire for the season this weekend, taking on the Lions at Ted Summerton Reserve.
The day is shaping as one that will see two senior sides with very strong top liners go head-to-head, while some interesting subplots might emerge elsewhere, as both lists were heavily targeted by North Gippsland clubs in the offseason – Sale by Sale City, and Moe by Yallourn Yallourn North.
Of course my 150th had to fall on the week Moe plays Sale.
MAFFRA is still searching for its first win of the season.
The Eagles were well beaten by Drouin at the weekend, going down by 66 points.
Maffra was never really in the hunt after quarter time at Drouin Recreation Reserve, with the final scoreboard reading 16.18 (114) to 6.12 (48).
Just seven points was the margin at quarter time, before the Hawks broke away, kicking five goals to one to take a 33-point lead into the sheds.
The margin was virtually the same at three quarter time, with Maffra only able to shave three points off the previous deficit.
Drouin finished very strongly, adding five goals in the final term. Conversely, the Eagles showed characteristics of an inexperienced side struggling to run games out, managing just a single behind.
The more senior players in the Maffra line-up were judged best afield, with James Read, Alex Carr and Kade Renooy getting those honours.
Youngsters Zac O’Keefe, Henry Anderson and Noah Christy were also able to hold their heads high.
Kye Quirk kicked four goals for the winners, while Joe Collins nabbed three.
The pair were listed as the most prominent, along with Mitch Cotter, Ed Morris, Jarrod Marshall and Tim Hancock.
Things do not get easier for Maffra, who take on reigning premier Leongatha this weekend.
The Eagles then make the tough road trip to Bairnsdale, meaning if results go as predicted, Maffra’s first win might not come until Round 5 against Morwell.
IN other games, wins went to Leongatha over Wonthaggi in the Grand Final rematch, Bairnsdale over a Morwell team that faded badly in the second half, and Traralgon in a five-point thriller over Moe.
The Power look very thin at the moment, with only 11 players from its Grand Final team suiting up at the weekend just gone.
