By Nicholas Duck
Moe vs Leongatha
Moe has officially stamped their ticket to the 2026 grand final following an all-time classic four-point win in Saturday's second semi final.
Parrot Fraser Phillips had the opportunity to win the game via a set shot from just beyond the paint of 50, only to watch his shot fall short to the jubilation of the Moe players and the despair of the Leongatha ones.
The Lions' 16.6 (102) to 15.8 (98) victory will go down as a certified Gippsland League classic and now gives them the chance to finally break their longstanding premiership drought in two weeks' time.
Moe superstar Myles Poholke booted seven goals, his move forward in the third quarter proving instrumental for his side when they trailed by as much as 22 points.
Momentum swung throughout the day in a high-quality display of country footy as both teams put aside the wet ground conditions to show why, for most punters, they're the two best left in it.
The margin rarely went beyond double digits outside of a sterling opening to the third term from Leongatha which was quickly quelled by three straight majors to Poholke.
Moe forward Ben Crocker (four goals) also got going after a quiet opening half thanks to some close checking from an excellent defensive performance by Parrot Timothy Sauvarin. Early indications spelled trouble for the Parrots when Moe slammed through the first two goals of the day in no time at all, but after they settled fans were treated to an engrossing contest.
A second quarter injury to Leongatha backman Sean Westaway didn't help their case, and they'll now be sweating on his fitness for this week's do-or-die preliminary final.
Just when it seemed the Lions were destined to hold on, Leongatha found Phillips inside 50. The siren sounded as he began his run-up and despite his best efforts, he couldn't quite drive it long enough, the Moe defenders punching it away before celebrating.
A Moe grand final appearance has been on the cards for a long time and anything short of a premiership will be considered a failure given the talent they boast.
One thing's for sure though – if they play Leongatha again they're going to be nervous.
Outside of Poholke and Crocker it was Alex Dijkstra, Brock Smith, Jordan Shields and Nick Prowse getting the job done for Moe.
Leongatha stars Dyson Heppell and Kim Drew were prolific as ever alongside Sauvarin's backline heroics, while Cade Maskell, Jack Sheridan and Jenson Garnham (four goals) all impressed.
Wonthaggi vs Warragul
Country footy doesn't get any more dramatic than that.
Warragul won their first semi final against Wonthaggi on Sunday in the most controversial of circumstances thanks to a timekeeper error which saw their opposition stripped of a point after the final siren.
A late Jed Lamb behind saw the scores locked at 82 apiece when the siren blew at Leongatha, seemingly sending the do-or-die final into extra time.
Confusion reigned, however, when the goal umpires and timekeeper conferred, with word coming from the PlayHQ scorekeepers in the grandstand that an error had been made and the timekeeper had awarded Wonthaggi a point they didn't score.
Sure enough both clubs watched on as the timekeeper went back to the scoreboard, waiting with anticipation until it ticked over, docking the Power a behind and officially making Warragul the winners 12.10 (82) to 13.3 (81), sending them and their supporters into wild celebrations.
The offending incident occurred three and a half minutes into the fourth quarter when a free kick was paid to Warragul defender Patrick Mulqueen on the Wonthaggi goal line as he touched a ball that sailed over his head. The umpire began to signal a behind and then stopped, never completing the motion or waving a flag, but the point was added anyway.
As equal the jubilation for Warragul was the devastation for Wonthaggi, who were extremely gracious given the circumstances. With the score as close as it was, there's a good chance they would have played the late stages of the game a lot differently if things were correct. You really do have to feel for them.
The fiasco of a finish capped off a sterling comeback for the Gulls, who had trailed by as much as 39 points when they conceded eight of the day's first nine goals before quarter time.
Slowly but surely they were able to work their way back into the game, creeping their way on top at the contest, until they seemed poised to snatch it when Jed Lamb lined up for his fifth with hardly any time left.
His miss was initially disappointing when the siren went but proved to be the match-winner, putting the Gulls one win away from a grand final appearance.
Best on ground for the Gulls was star interceptor Sean Masterson, who was a thorn in the Power's side all day, diving desperately to deny them time and time again. As one Wonthaggi fan was overheard saying in the stands, "that number eight just knows where to be."
Ruck Sam Whibley played a big part in giving the Gulls the ascension past quarter time, despite being caught holding the ball multiple times trying to grab it instead of tapping it.
Midfielders Tom Hobbs and Riley Senini gave no quarter in the contest during their battle with the Power, while the versatile Liam Serong and reliable backman Patrick Mulqueen were also excellent.
The Power were best served by Kyle Reid, as the star defender's swing up forward proved a real winner when he clunked several contested marks and booted an equal game high four goals.
Power skipper Joshua Bates fought tooth and nail when the game was up for grabs alongside winger Hunter Tiziani, as Kaj Patterson and Lachlan Ferguson were both lethal when the ball hit the ground, especially during their side's early barrage of brutality.
Jai Williams rounded out their top performers.
Making things harder for Wonthaggi as the day wore on were injuries – Isaac Chugg was ruled out shortly before the opening bounce, while Brodie Mabilia and Cooper McInnes both failed to play out the full four quarters.
McInnes especially copped a nasty one, clutching his leg after a marking contest and needing help from the ground.
Despite losing Chugg late the Power were switched on early, putting on a clinic we've not seen from them in quite some time.
With plenty of wins at the clearances everything they touched turned to gold inside 50 – a trend they used to pile on goal after goal.
You knew they were in good nick when Williams rolled one towards the teeth of goal and the ball bounced perfectly over Gulls defender Rhys Galvin's head to cruel his efforts. Ferguson was also on fire, at one stage shrugging a tackle and firing through a beauty.
With the Power having slammed home eight goals to one, a late snap from Brad Hefford shortly before quarter time gave them some slight momentum.
Tiziani continued the Wonthaggi walloping with the first of the second but the tide began to turn thereafter, the Gulls kicking the next four as their midfielders began to get their hands dirty.
Lamb and Jordan Stewart also were getting busy inside 50, the pair booting back-to-back goals in the third to bring the deficit under 10 points.
As soon as the game was within reach, however, McInnes and Ferguson put the Power back out by 20 at the final break.
Gulls coach Gary Ayres once again dug into his bag of speeches, willing his side to seize the momentum and ride it all the way home.
They did just that when Hobbs roved a tap to perfection inside 50, snapping truly before fan favourite Jake Hughes did the same via a set shot.
Patterson burst through a stoppage for a ripping goal to keep the Power ahead but a holding free handed Lamb his fourth of the day in reply.
Stewart brought down a beauty one on one, driving home his kick to put Warragul less than a goal behind.
And when Lamb stepped up to the plate again, marking and aiming for goal number five, it appeared the game was on his boot. His miss elicited groans from the crowd, apparently evening the score moments before the final siren, until the chaotic finish revealed it had actually won them the day.
Speaking post-game Ayres said he was "in disbelief" at the game's ending.
"I had to compute because my mind was already thinking extra time," he said.
"The guys, the Warragul supporters, were adamant we'd won. Once it all settles I'll enjoy it a lot more but I'm glad we're on this side. It's a cruel way for Tristan (Francis) and Wonthaggi to go out. I thought they were terrific today."
Putting aside the finish, Ayres said he had "so much admiration and pride" in his players to come back.
"I thought we adapted to where we were getting beaten. We changed a few things around the stop plays and we were also giving away too many frees in their front half.
"I thought we just persisted and persevered to the point where we now go on for at least another week."
Warragul will head to Sale this Saturday to face Leongatha in a preliminary final. Their previous meetings this year resulted in a draw and a loss, but with a grand final spot on the line they won't be leaving anything out there.
