By Nicholas Duck
Traralgon vs Warragul
Warragul has claimed their first big scalp of 2026 thanks to a 17-point win away from home over Traralgon.
The Gulls got the jump on last year's runners-up early, booting four of the game's first five goals to build an early buffer before holding off some second half challenges to record a statement 11.12 (78) to 9.7 (61) victory.
It was an excellent defensive showing from the Gulls, who reined in the Maroons' free flowing ball movement to counterattack with their own, changing angles and opening up the home side inside 50.
A nervy third term which saw their advantage shrink from 20 points to just eight at three quarter time threatened to send the visitors spiralling. But they were able to steady early in the last, restoring their buffer and ultimately going on to secure their most impressive win yet and maintain their perfect record.
Crucially, the Gulls ended the game ahead on tackles (46-27), clearances (32-25) and inside 50s (47-28).
Zac Stewart was a major factor in Warragul's ability to transition effectively, driving the Gulls out of defence time and time again in a powerful performance.
Young guns Caleb McIntosh and Riley Senini continued their impressive form while star defender Sean Masterson did well to keep Maroons coach Dylan Loprese relatively quiet.
Co-captain Tom Stern again played a strong hand around the forward line as James Harrison rounded out the best for the winners.
For the Maroons it was a familiar face doing everything he could to keep them in it as master interceptor Tye Hourigan put in another Herculean effort down back.
Traralgon's third quarter comeback came off the back of several strong marks from the Maroons skipper, who remains one of the competition's premier defenders.
Veteran Matthew Northe wound back the clock, kicking four goals (including three in the first half) to lead all comers for the day.
Other Maroons to impress included Liam Willaton, Jye Neilson, Cooper Brown and Alex Lovison.
It was Northe who got proceedings underway early when he caught Warragul ruck Sam Whibley holding the ball, nailing the resulting shot to put Traralgon ahead moments into the game.
The Gulls, however, were ready to respond.
Jed Lamb, Caleb McIntosh and Tom Hobbs (twice) all calmly slotted set shots to put Warragul in a strong position, and from there the sides traded blows.
A rough landing put Maroon Joel Scholtes out of action for the day, with later reports of a broken collarbone funnelling through.
Up 20 at the half, the Gulls fans were even more excited early in the third after young Sam Grummisch curled through a gorgeous goal in the pocket, checksiding it on the run – and on the wrong side, mind you.
After that, however, two straight to Loprese and a further goal to Willaton got Traralgon back into the fight.
The Gulls were more predictable in their ball movement at that stage and the Maroons, especially Hourigan, were happy to pounce.
Warragul, now having a scrap on their hands, found Grummisch inside 50 again to restore some breathing space.
Though Traralgon came again, further majors to Grummisch, Liam Serong and Harrison well and truly finished things off.
It’s a pivotal win for the club, who are trying to take that next step into true premiership contention.
Warragul coach Gary Ayres said to get off to a good start against a team like Traralgon was pleasing.
"To tick that box off I thought was a real positive mental start. Even the second quarter I thought we backed that up with some solid, positive footy," he said.
Despite falling away in the third, Ayres was proud of his side's response.
"All our guys had periods where they contributed to the win."
The Gulls will enjoy a week's rest now before a brutal two-week block against reigning premiers Leongatha and current flag favourites Moe.
"They're just going to be challenges we have to confront all the time. As much as it's a cliche, we have to face it," Ayres said.
Drouin vs Moe
Drouin got a taste of what the best teams can do on Saturday after a 143-point hiding from Moe.
There was nowhere to hide for the Hawks on the Drouin Recreation Reserve, who gave an honest account of themselves but were well and truly outclassed 11.5 (71) to 33.16 (214).
Despite missing former AFL player Ben Crocker, the Lions forwards dined out on the Drouin defence as Myles Poholke (nine goals) and Riley D'Arcy enjoyed the chance to cash in.
Despite their best efforts, Drouin were unable to contain the sheer talent the Lions boast, conceding 10 goals to four in the first quarter and being unable to bridge the gap thereafter.
While they put up a much better effort in the second half the gap between the Gippsland League's best and the rest was as stark as ever.
Moe were especially devastating in their centre bounce work, kicking several goals straight from the middle and keeping the pressure on the young Hawks from the very first minute.
The result isn't necessarily a surprise, given the Hawks are essentially a team of kids and the Lions are gearing up for a serious assault on the premiership.
Despite the magnitude of the result, Hawk Max Williames continued to show some impressive form both in the middle and at half back, where he gave his teammates plenty of drive and dare.
Seb Amoroso fought hard in the midfield alongside Zayne Atkins as forwards Vincent Kuol (four goals) and Noah Lafrantz (three) kept things ticking along.
Ben Brasier enjoyed some time in the middle to round out the Hawks' better players.
Moe had a wealth of choices for their own best but it was Jordan Shields who earned the honours ahead of the major goalkickers.
Alex Dijkstra, Blake Mullane and the returning Nathan Scagliarini were their other standouts on a day where they could have named just about anybody in there.
Making their ruthlessness all the scarier is the fact they were still without Crocket, Trent Baldi or Scott van Dyk.
While Drouin got a few licks in early, including a long-range bomb from Lafrantz, it was clear this was going to be a tough day at the office.
Moe's stoppage work was simply sublime, putting the Hawks to the sword on numerous occasions as they rained in goal after goal.
The onslaught didn't stop after quarter time, the Lions piling on the pain with 10 more goals in the second quarter as D'Arcy and Poholke ran riot.
Drouin coach Jordan Kingi moved himself onto D'Arcy to try and limit the forward's influence but then the ball's coming in that often and that hot, there's not much anyone can do.
Drouin's defensive efforts improved greatly in the second half, with the third quarter especially being a positive effort (the Hawks kicked five goals to Moe's six).
Some more late scores, however, saw the Lions break the 200-point barrier and earn themselves a hefty percentage boost.
Speaking post-game Kingi was realistic about the gap between his side and Moe.
"They're a class above everyone we've played this year, no disrespect to the other teams we've played. If you get them on a good day they can cut apart anyone," he said.
"We still did a lot of good things, we're just a long way off the best of the best of the competition."
Kingi said while his side had emphasised attacking a lot early in the season – the Hawks kicked the biggest score the Lions have conceded thus far – the next few weeks would be about improving defensively.
With winnable games to come against Bairnsdale, Morwell and Maffra, there'll be some good chances to see if they can pull it off.
Maffra vs Wonthaggi
In the only other game this week of the split round Wonthaggi were able to hold off a determined Maffra away from home by 34 points.
Six straight goals to the visitors either side of half time saw them break away to a match winning lead as they successfully held off the Eagles 15.15 (105) to 10.11 (71).
Until that point it looked to be anyone's game as the young Maffra side again took it up to a genuine top five team, trailing by just three points not long before half time.
When Wonthaggi turned up the heat however, the game quickly got away from the home side.
Try as they might there was no recovery for Maffra, who kept things respectable without really looking like they were going to challenge again.
Wonthaggi's former coach and Collingwood premiership player Jarryd Blair wound back the clock, booting five goals in a virtuoso performance.
Cooper McInnes wasn't far behind on four goals, as Kyle Reid, Jakeb Thomas, Joshua Bates, Jai Williams and Shannon Bray were all excellent.
Seth Smith kept up his impressive form for Maffra with four goals of his own, having kicked 20 goals across his past three games.
Thomas Phillips, Max Stobie, Danny Butcher, Archer Watt, Henry Anderson and John Butcher were the Eagles' most impressive players.
Both clubs will now enjoy a week off before Wonthaggi faces Sale and Maffra plays Traralgon.
