Round 10 is here and we enter the second half of season 2022. It is great to be back in a full season currently and for the first time since 2019 all of our teams have played each other once in a season.
As the fixture falls the Top 4 senior football sides will play each other again with Leongatha making the trip to Traralgon. It’s not the first time in 2022 we have had 1 v 2 on the senior football ladder line up. The Parrots narrowly snuck home over the Maroons in Round 1 and it still remains their narrowest win. Traralgon have slipped under the radar only dropping the Leongatha match, Moe by a point and the Warragul match in torrid conditions at Western Park. It should be a cracking match on paper and these sides have had a long rivalry built from success. The young Maroons players have been a driving force this year but they will be tested against the most experienced and even team in the competition. Brett Eddy's availability is in question so Traralgon must take their chances in front of goal with the miserly Parrots boasting the best defensive record in the game. Will it be 10-0 for the Parrots or will the Maroons stamp their premiership credentials? In the netball it is another blockbuster with 5th place Traralgon taking on the 2nd place Leongatha side. The Maroons have come back from 0-4 to be in the five and will be looking to knock off the top 3 contending Parrots. It starts with keeping Hannah Flanders and Jess Edgar quiet. The Leongatha gosling pair have been the most stable and one of the most productive combinations in the League so far. Leongatha will be slight favourites but a win for the Maroons will blow the top 3 race wide open.
Sale welcome Wonthaggi Power for their return match. The Power came home strongly over the Magpies in round 1 to get the points at home. Sale have been one of the form teams over the past month despite their loss away to Traralgon. They sit in 3rd place currently which the Power can snatch with a win. Traditionally the Wonthaggi side has not travelled well to East Gippsland and they maybe missing a few key names for the trip . Sale need to get the win to say in touch and will be hot favourites on their home ground. Brad Dessent is getting back to his best in front of goals which is making a big difference for the Magpies. Tim Knowles may get the big job and the Power defence will need to be at their best to keep Sale to a getable score. Sale are fast starters at home so the Pwer will need to be ready. Huge game with a virtual 8 points up for grab. In the netball Wonthaggi will be looking to keep their fourth place position with a win away from home. In a tight finals race they can’t drop matches to the bottom sides and their Round 9 win over Moe needs to be followed up with four points here.
Morwell have a renewed Red Legs make the trip to the Valley this weekend. Two wins from their last four games have the senior Red Legs optimistic about a strong finish to the year. Both sides look unlikely to feature in finals but four points and bragging rights is enough motivation for both sides. The Tigers have been thought to beat at home all season and that alone should see them home. John Gooch has been getting amongst the goals for Bairnsdale and Brandon McCarrey also has been dangerous up forward. Morwell rely heavily on Brandon McDonald for a winning score and after his early season efforts expect a lot of work to go into him from the Red Legs. In the netball it looks another tough challenge for Bairnsdale. Morwell are the runaway leaders in A Grade and should win comfortably. The main question is will Shannon Freeman keep her record pace going in the League MVP race. The defender has polled 20 votes after 9 rounds.
Warragul host Moe with both sides desperate for a win. Moe have won one of their last four, sneaking home by 10 points over Drouin. They were a hot team early in the season but have had a tough run with injuries. They still should have enough talent to get over a Gulls side which has dropped to 9th place. Early on they looked an improver with a draw against Wonthaggi and victory over Traralgon but have lost every match against the other bottom five sides comfortably. They must respond at home and there is no better chance than against the Lions this weekend. Netball action comes from the Burke Street courts and Moe have plenty to play for. A surprise loss to Wonthaggi in Round 9 has them in 3rd place two wins off the top spot. They need to make every post a winner if they are to challenge for the minor premiership and Warragul will not be an easy opponent. The Gulls got the job done in a danger match last week and still hold slim hopes of finals. Sienna Green has been starring through the mid court while Ella Rees hopefully can be a main stay in goals. Moe will be hot favourites but last round shows anything can happen.
The final match comes from Maffra where the Hawks make the journey East. They have struggled the past few weeks after a solid showing against Moe. They will be hoping to find form against the Eagles in what has traditionally been a tough trip. Maffra remain in finals contention and look the most likely team to mount a challenge from outside the five. This is a must win game for them. Hudson Holmes is in career best form and is a huge creative talent for Maffra. Drouin will need to shut him down and make sure they give Kye Quirk and the other forwards enough ball to kick a winning score. Maffra should get the win and keep their finals hopes alive. In the netball it is a crucial match for Drouin. For the first time this year they have slipped out of the five and with Traralgon and Wonthaggi in winning form they must pick up the games against the bottom few sides. Maffra can match it in patches but the young team has struggled over four quarters against experienced sides which Drouin has. Drouin to win by a narrow margin and keep the finals hopes alive.
