Erika Allen
THE Gippsland League’s top five teams of 2026 are falling into place, with Moe establishing a lead over Drouin in the minor premiership race, while fifth-placed Wonthaggi gained an advantage over Maffra after round 15.
A win for Moe and a draw for Drouin gave the Lions the upper hand in the minor premiership battle, which Moe is defending alongside the premiership as it looks to secure a historic fourth consecutive flag.
The Hawks, until recently, had been the benchmark team this season. But Bairnsdale, the consistent third-ranked side all year, rose to the challenge on Saturday.
The sides drew 38-all after the Redlegs mounted a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback, erasing a seven-goal three-quarter-time deficit.
Defender Sally Deller was praised for restricting Drouin goal shooter Charlize Traumanis, while Bairnsdale captain Alison Dwyer kept Drouin’s Stacie Gardiner quiet in goal attack.
The Hawks led for the opening three quarters, most comfortably after a 12-goal-to-seven first-term effort.
But the Redlegs kept chipping away, applying pressure and forcing turnovers as they nearly matched the Hawks through the second and third terms.
Then came the final quarter, when the Redlegs sent a message to the competition; they might have to settle for third place, but come finals the slate is cleared.
A 12-goal-to-five final term saw Chloe Felsbourg and Anna Mooney capitalise on the Redlegs’ intense defensive pressure.
Felsbourg joined Deller and Dwyer on Bairnsdale’s list of top contributors.
Meanwhile, Drouin goal defender Ebony Mumford starred alongside goalkeeper Lucy McKellar and Gardiner.
While Bairnsdale retained its hold on third place, the draw had implications at the top of the ladder, giving Moe a one-win buffer over Drouin as the Lions notched their 14th victory of the season against Morwell on Saturday.
They will meet a confident Bairnsdale outfit this Saturday, marking the third-last round before finals. Bairnsdale will then face local clubs Maffra and Sale to finish the season.
The round 18 clash between the Redlegs and the Eagles, to be held at Bairnsdale, looms as one of several decisive matches for Maffra, which sits one win outside the top five.
The Eagles were defeated by their immediate ladder rival Wonthaggi by 13 goals at the weekend, giving the Power the edge in the run to finals.
Maffra goal attack Sienna Wynd, goal defence Jayde Parsons and goalkeeper Zali Wheatley were influential ball movers, but the Eagles could not match Wonthaggi’s strength.
Chloe Marshall and Eva Lindsay were pillars in defence, while Mackenzie Oracz controlled the midcourt.
With that win, the Power improved to a 7-7 record while Maffra slipped to 6-9, leaving the Eagles with an uphill battle to reach finals.
They face Traralgon this week, Drouin in round 17 and Bairnsdale to finish the season.
Moe is comparatively safe and, while the minor premiership has remained in doubt throughout the season, another finals berth was never in question.
The Lions accounted for Morwell by 37 goals at Ted Summerton Reserve on Saturday, with Ramayer Keilty, defender Jordan Pyle and centre Charlize Bird standing out.
Morwell was best served by midcourter Chloe Radford, Courtney Garth and wing defence Evie van der Velden.
Fourth-placed Leongatha defeated host Sale, 59-44.
Quarter-by-quarter margins narrowed as the match progressed, with Kate Van der Voort sinking 34 goals, representing yet another highest individual tally of the losing or winning side.
The Parrots’ Amy Scott was next best with 30.
Van der Voort was named among the Magpies’ best, alongside defenders Ashleigh Keefe and Ella Gerrand.
Leongatha wing defence Gemma Meadley was named the Parrots’ best, with Mikaeli Hilliar and goalkeeper Lauren Redpath also among the stand-outs.
Traralgon ended Warragul’s hopes of recording a first win in round 15, with the visiting Maroons using a 19-goal-to-seven opening quarter as the platform for a nine-goal victory.
The Gulls rallied through the second and third terms, as goal attack Amelia Henry boosted the side’s scoring.
The shooter finished with 25 goals and was named best on court.
Traralgon defender Kasey Guttridge was strong through the centre third alongside centre Indiana de Dios and Sianna Wilkinson, with all three recognised among the Maroons’ best.
Warragul goalkeeper Olivia Barr and captain and centre Sienna Green joined Henry as the Gulls’ best players.
With just three rounds left to play, other matches coming on Saturday see Wonthaggi against Sale and Morwell versus Drouin, while Leongatha hosts Warragul.
Run to GL finals
1. Moe (56 points, 170.02 per cent): Bairnsdale (away), Warragul (away), Sale (h)
2. Drouin (54, 137.88): Morwell (a), Maffra (a), Leongatha (h)
3. Bairnsdale (46, 137.25): Moe (h), Sale (a), Maffa (h)
4. Leongatha (40, 109.71): Warragul (h), Wonthaggi (h), Drouin (a)
5. Wonthaggi (30, 97.84): Sale (h), Leongatha (a), Traralgon (h)
6. Maffra (24, 81.00): Traralgon (h), Drouin (h), Bairnsdale (a)
7. Traralgon (22, 94.75): Maffra (a), Morwell (h), Wonthaggi (a)
