By Nicholas Duck
A former Warragul forward made his mark on Saturday with another big bag while Sunday's big clash saw a major upset from a team trying to keep their season alive.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Leongatha vs Bairnsdale
Patrick Ireland, take a bow.
Leongatha's sharpshooter had another day to remember on Saturday, booting 12 goals to help his side dismantle Bairnsdale.
The Parrots recruit and former Buln Buln/Warragul boy has now booted 21 from his past two games after his nine-goal outing last week and is now truly showing his full range of talents.
It's the most goals by a Parrot against the Redlegs in their history and also rockets him up to second in the league goalkicking on 38 total for the year.
Result wise the Parrots did as expected, kicking the first five of the day en route to a routine 16.12 (108) to 7.7 (49) win.
The Redlegs had no answers for Ireland's onslaught as the Parrots spearhead did as he pleased to keep them out of the contest,
At four and eight Bairnsale's faint finals hopes are fading fast, making this week's match-up with an in-form Warragul almost a non-negotiable.
Get past that and the fixture opens up, keeping the door just slightly ajar.
Outside of Ireland it was Aaron Heppell, Luke Bowman, Sam Forrester, Jack Hume and Brok Davidson powering Leongatha to victory.
Cooper Harvey, Tyran Rees, Will Mitchell, Lachlan Byrne-Jones, Tom Blenheim and Damon O'Connor were among the Redlegs players who impressed.
Maffra vs Moe
Missing some starpower? No problem.
A depleted Moe side made the most of their trip to Maffra on Saturday, walking away with a commanding 51-point win.
Myles Poholke, Chris Prowse, Harrison Sim, Thomas Blackshaw and Ben Daniher were just some of the senior regulars giving the game a miss as the Lions put some of their depth to the test.
Well consider that a pass with flying colours, the Lions proving far too strong for their opposition 16.15 (111) to 8.12 (60).
Things were essentially settled early when the Lions got the jump, putting on five goals before the Eagles had a chance to return serve.
From there they held sway, led largely by another impressive performance from recruit Nathan Scagliarini.
The midfielder combined beautifully with fellow newcomer Alex Dijkstra to give plenty of opportunity to forwards Ben Crocker and Leigh Poholke, who finished with five goals each.
To their credit the Eagles fought the good fight, keeping the margin around that initial five-goal margin for most of the day until the dam wall broke just a bit late.
At the very least it was a much-improved effort from their 99-point shellacking to the Lions earlier this year. Here they had something to hang their hat on.
Moe must now steel themselves for another challenge from top team Leongatha on their home turf next weekend. The potential match-within-a-match of superstar goalkickers Ben Crocker and Patrick Ireland alone may be worth the price of admission.
Liam Masters, Brock Smith and Scott van Dyk rounded out Moe's best, as Judd Burgiel, Jonathan Boyd, Sam Anderson, Alex Carr, Dylan Alexander and James Read gave their all for Maffra.
Morwell vs Traralgon
How's that for a response?
A monster final quarter has seen Morwell surge past Traralgon to keep themselves well and truly in the finals hunt.
After a week of soul searching the Tigers came to play in Sunday's Hunter-Stanistreet Cup, piling the pressure on the reigning premiers and putting them under the pump early with five goals to none in the first term.
Though the Maroons responded as all great teams do and looked like they were ready to overrun their opposition, Morwell finished the day with a statement last quarter, kicking 7.3 to 2.0 to come out winners 16.15 (111) to 13.6 (84).
Having been swept aside rather meekly by Warragul the week prior it's a hell of a comeback for the Tigers, who reminded the competition that their best is still good enough to challenge anyone.
Coach Boyd Bailey showed his charges how it was done, putting on a masterclass through the midfield when he was needed most.
Joshua Galea proved to be a handful around the big sticks, kicking three majors including a snap late in the fourth that sewed up a famous victory.
Sam Walsh, Zachary Anderson, Stephen Mills and Dan Musil were other Tigers who put in sterling performances.
Traralgon were best served by swingman Tye Hourigan, whose stint down back ended rather early after the opening onslaught. In the end he finished the day with five goals, providing an aerial presence that almost dragged his side over the line.
Luis D'Angelo, Jacob Cunico, Jordan Cunico, Tristen Waack and Tyler Anderson also played well despite the loss.
Having worked their way in front by three quarter time it looked as if Traralgon were headed towards another hard-fought win.
But this was Morwell's day, the Tigers players clearly pumped with every goal they kicked. Given how close the race is for finals spots below third, it's no wonder too.
They still sit sixth as things stand, making their trip to Wonthaggi post-bye a must-watch affair.
Drouin vs Wonthaggi
Sweet relief. Drouin have broken through for their first win of the season courtesy of a stunning 11-point triumph over Wonthaggi.
It brings to an end a fairly turgid run of form for the rebuilding Hawks, who fought tooth and nail on Saturday to down the Power 13.9 (87) to 11.10 (76).
There was hardly any room in the home rooms at Moe's Ted Summerton Reserve during what was one of the more hearty renditions of the Drouin song we've seen in some time.
Drouin, sporting 12 teenagers in the team, looked the better of the two sides through much of the day and built a 23-point lead midway through the last quarter thanks in no small part to their immense pressure around the ball.
They were made to sweat, however, when three straight Wonthaggi goals reduced their advantage to just five points nearing the end of the match.
In stepped Seb Amoroso, the Box Hill-listed forward marking and running in his fourth major of the day to seal a famous victory for his club.
It capped off an excellent day for the Drouin bull, who won 28 disposals and five clearances to go with his goals.
Amoroso has always worn his heart on his sleeve. His attack on the footy and his passion when the tide was turning towards the maroon and gold was as evident as ever and he clearly enjoyed the chance to bring some joy to his younger teammates.
Tomas Unferdorben (three goals) and Noah Lafrantz (two goals) helped with providing the firepower up forward, taking their chances in front of the big sticks.
Unferdorben managed one of the crazier goals you'll see in the second term when he stuck his boot out to a ball spoiled off the pack, dobbing it back over himself for a wonderful goal.
Kye and Aden Quirk were up to their usual tricks through the midfield, combining for almost 80 disposals between them and defender Max Williames brought his trademark run and dare off half back to round out Drouin's best.
Big man Brodie Mabila was Wonthaggi's top performer, giving his players silver service with 38 hit outs and getting around the ground to also claim a whopping 38 disposals.
Defender Kyle Reid was a one-man wall at times for the Power until he was taken off late following a nasty head clash with a teammate.
Winger Noah Anderson kept cracking in all day, as did forward Cooper McInnes with four goals.
James Lewis and Hunter Tiziani were Wonthaggi's other better players on a deeply disappointing day for their team and what could be a costly one as we creep closer to finals.
Pressure was the name of the game throughout the day as Drouin continually tempted their opposition into biting off more than they should, pouncing on and punishing the resulting turnover.
It led to repeat chances at goal and although they had lapses – as any team whose average age sits around 20 is going to do – the Hawks gave themselves enough opportunities to make up for it.
Things looked solid early when they got off the mark through Kaiden Walmsley and Unferdorben until a Tiziani snap kicked off a run of four Power goals to end the quarter.
Unferdorben went back-to-back after quarter time, first with his wonderful soccer goal and then with a lovely snap.
Further majors to Ben Brasier and Amoroso pushed the Hawks out to a lead until Kaj Patterson cut it back to seven at half time courtesy of a mark just before the siren.
Amoroso was determined not to be denied, bursting through a stoppage for a brilliant goal that was soon followed up by a curler from Lafrantz.
Though McInnes was able to answer, Zayne Atkins – who had his hands full tagging Power star Ryan Sparkes – got on the end of a chain of possessions to put the Hawks up 20 heading into the final break.
Excitement was palpable in the Drouin camp as the players sensed this could be their chance. And when Amoroso put through a set shot from range and roared to the Drouin bench it was looking more likely.
Some goal for goal action had them looking safe until Wonthaggi went bang, bang, bang in the space of just a few minutes, the last one a crazy good snap from the boundary to Jaxon Williams.
Some desperate moments ensued, until Amoroso settled the game – and the nerves, putting the Hawks finally back on the winners list.
Drouin coach Leigh Horsburgh was delighted with his first win as coach.
"When they got to within five points the negative thoughts come in and for a split second I thought to myself 'what do I tell the group if we go down by a point?' To the boys' credit they fought back," he said.
"I don't think it was a matter of holding up either, I think if the game had continued we would have kicked away. I thought we were in control of the game for the majority of the day.
"At the end of the day I'm really happy, it's well deserved. It's been bloody hard work to get it."
Warragul vs Sale
Warragul fans are dreaming of finals after the Gulls claimed their fourth win on the trot, this time with a 33-point victory over Sale.
Six goals from recruit Jordan Stewart was a major factor in the result, the Gulls key forward propelling his team to victory 14.14 (98) to 9.11 (65).
Though it was more of a challenge than expected thanks to a doggedly determined Magpies side that refused to lie down, Warragul had enough class and enough firepower to break clear when the game was up for grabs.
It also breaks a longstanding hoodoo for Warragul, who had not beaten Sale twice in a season since 1994.
After Morwell's win over Traralgon on Sunday it means the Gulls are now sitting nestled in fourth, still one game clear of sixth position as the prospect of finals becomes more and more real.
Fans at Western Park were left to the old-fashioned pen and paper in the record for their scoring after the ground's electronic scoreboard failed to fire throughout the day.
Maybe those who lament our reliance on technology these days have a point.
Stewart led from the front in the Gulls' forward half, clunking marks like nobody's business and helping the Gulls take 20 marks inside 50 to nine. He's already made a real difference to his newest club, having booted 17 goals from his past four games. Imagine the damage he could have done if not for his lingering suspension from late last year at Pakenham keeping him out until now.
In the end his presence proved to be a real difference in a game where both teams didn't take care of the footy as they'd like.
Sale were boosted by the return of superstar Shannen Lange and played with a renewed purpose, even if their disposal let them down at times.
Unlike last time these two met where the Gulls ran riot early and never looked back, the Magpies made them sing for their supper this time, hanging around until the second half when the home side managed to break away.
Gulls ruck Sam Whibley put in yet another impressive stint through the middle and around the ground, winning 18 disposals and 25 hit outs matched up on one of the league's premier big men in Jack Leslie.
Tom Hobbs (30 disposals) and Riley Senini (16 disposals) were damaging no matter where they went, whether it be through the midfield or resting forward.
Isaac Wallace was hopefully given plenty of love by Stewart post-game given the number of times he managed to pinpoint him with excellent passes and mobile tall Tom Stern continued to flourish.
Unsurprisingly Shannen Lange picked up right where he left off on return to the Sale side, almost singlehandedly carrying his team at times and gathering 32 disposals and six tackles.
Sale's reliance on too few to do too many has been a point of criticism this year, but when your few can do what Lange can do sometimes all you can do is sit back and watch the show.
Jake Hutchins, Harry Tatterson and Cooper Whitehill all performed admirably, as did Thomas Wrigglesworth in a more defensive role and Thomas Glenn.
It took almost 10 minutes for either side to trouble the scorers when Koby Grass found himself out the back for Warragul's first.
Stewart got his first not long after, rolling around from 50 and letting fly.
Bodhi Walker answered from similar distance, before goals to Hobbs and Senini put Warragul on top early.
Wallace counted his blessings early in the second when an absolute grubber along the ground ended up bouncing into his hands in front of goal as he snapped the first of the term.
Hobbs went bang from distance as the teams traded blows, a brilliant burst, gather and snap from Lange the highlight.
Warragul were able to finally shake the Magpies in the famous premiership quarter. More accurately, Jordan Stewart was able to shake them.
Stewart had 10 minutes to remember, claiming back-to-back goals from Wallace passes.
He then felt the brotherly love when a set shot from Zac Stewart fell short, allowing him to grab another and boot it from point blank.
A 50-metre penalty to Tom Stern capped off a big quarter from the Gulls, whose lead grew beyond 30 points.
Sale's frustrations boiled over when Derek Eggmolesse-Smith clashed with Caleb McIntosh and was duly shown a yellow card.
Though Lange momentarily gave his team some momentum early in the last when he thumped through a long-range missile, it mattered little as the Gulls did enough to secure win number seven for the year.
The only downside was a hamstring injury to the unlucky Vinnie Caia, who has been playing some fine footy this season. On the bright side, recruit James Harrison is a likely return very soon.
Warragul assistant coach Sean Masterson said while the Gulls were far from their best, it was a good sign of their growing maturity to still win comfortably.
"We didn't use the ball well at all, just a lot of blokes turning the footy over under no pressure. But it's a nice change of pace that you can play below your best and still win by five goals instead of losing by 15 goals," he said.
Masterson credited the inclusion of Stewart up forward and the return of Liam Serong down back for his side's run of form, saying sides now had to take the Gulls' quality tall timbre into account when kicking long. Warragul now head into the league-wide bye brimming with confidence and, should they knock off Bairnsdale away from home in the week after, they could find themselves in a very good position as we turn for home.
