By Nicholas Duck
There were bags abound in this week's Gippsland League action as teams in the top five all enjoyed the opportunity to flex their muscles.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Wonthaggi vs Maffra
One of the more intriguing games of round 15 turned out to be a complete non-event as Wonthaggi put a shockingly poor Maffra to the sword by 101 points.
With the Power entering in some patchy form and the Eagles having shown they can take it right up to the best, plenty had predicted the home side would have their hands full.
That didn't turn out to be the case – quite the opposite, in fact, when the Power kicked 9.9 to just a single behind in the first half en route to a more than comfortable 17.21 (123) to 3.4 (22) thrashing.
Young up and coming sides can have a stinker every now and then and safe to say this was one of those for Maffra with the Eagles rendered totally toothless inside 50 by the league's best defensive unit.
At the very least they were a far cry from their inspirational efforts against Moe just a few weeks ago.
The result has seen Wonthaggi reclaim second position on the ladder and looking forward to next week, where the two teams directly below them will battle it out while they get a near unlosable game against Sale.
For Maffra, that's their slim top five hopes just about shot.
Jai Williams, Jasper Shone, Joshua Bates, Aiden Lindsay, Isaac Chugg and Joshua Schulz all starred for Wonthaggi, while Darcy Scott, Seth Smith, Thomas Scott, Sam Anderson, Alex Carr and Elijh Berry battled for Maffra.
Moe vs Morwell
Welcome back, Ben Crocker.
The Moe forward dynamo announced his return to playing in a big way on Saturday, slamming home 10 goals to lift the Lions to a monster 123-point win over rivals Morwell.
Playing his first game since round four, the 2025 league leading goalkicker was in fierce form throughout his side's 26.14 (170) to 6.11 (47) rout, re-adding yet another dangerous string to the bow of the flag favourites.
Like Crocker, the rest of his teammates also were in an imperious mood, putting on the pressure early thanks to a seven-goal first term to leave the Tigers on the back foot.
Things didn't slow from there as Moe piled on the pain, putting through between five and eight goals every quarter and flooding an under-siege Morwell defence.
Fellow forwards Riley D'Arcy and Harry Pepper also got their licks in, kicking four each.
It's a disappointing showing from the Tigers, who entered the day in great form off the back of wins over Maffra and Leongatha.
When they can't lock down an opposition offence and things turn into a shootout they can get blown away – and none have a more damaging forward line than the Lions.
Crocker's 10 only got him second best on ground honours, with Myles Poholke ahead of him alongside Nathan Scagliarini, Blake Mullane, Trent Baldi and Alex Dijkstra.
Hugh Dunbar, Aidan Quigley, Campbell Blewett, Goy Jiath, Tyler Hillier and Max Linton fought for Morwell.
Sale vs Leongatha
Leongatha's trip to Sale ended in more Magpie misery as the Parrots got back on the winners list courtesy of a 118-point shellacking.
Ten goals to forward Jenson Garnham provided the highlight in the 24.18 (162) to 6.8 (44) rout – an entirely unsurprising result given where these two stand.
Sale can at least hold their heads high having shown significant improvement from their first meeting with Leongatha, where they were annihilated by 190 points.
It's all about small wins for them this season and that's one they can take.
As has often been the case this season Sale were undone by a poor first term in which the visitors nailed eight majors, putting themselves well on top by quarter time.
Veteran Tom Marriott was at his dynamic best, combining with Kim Drew in the midfield to ensure Garnham got his eye in.
Jack Sheridan, Timothy Sauvarin and Patrick Ireland (three goals) were the other Parrots to impress.
Putting in the hard yards for Sale were Adam Wallace, Cooper Whitehill, Kaden Mcculloch, Archer Gerrand, Thomas Glenn and Kane Cutler.
Warragul vs Traralgon
A slow start cost Warragul dearly on Saturday as they were brought undone by Traralgon on their home deck.
The Gulls conceded the first six goals of the day and despite their best efforts were never able to recover, going down 10.7 (67) to 15.8 (98).
The Maroons' slingshot ball movement from half back was especially troubling for the home side as the visitors went end to end on numerous occasions, making Warragul pay for a litany of early errors.
Warragul were able to scratch and claw to keep the game within reach for much of the day, drawing to within 20 points heading into the last.
But all the energy they exerted just to stay in the fight proved too taxing, the Maroons pulling away late for a well-earned victory.
The result puts Warragul back into dangerous territory in their hunt for a top three spot, having dropped back down to third on the ladder and with Leongatha in hot pursuit.
Best on for the Gulls was defender Jordan Stewart, who went toe to toe against Maroons forward Tom Hamilton (three goals) in an engaging battle all day.
Fellow defenders Kai MacLean, Jake Hughes and Sean Masterson battled bravely, even when up against it thanks to Traralgon's slick ball movement.
Half back Xavier Olsson had his share of smooth moves and Tom Hobbs fought hard in the midfield while copping close attention at every stoppage.
For the visitors Joel Scholtes commanded the midfield battle in a best on ground performance alongside Connor Ambler.
William Brent, Kade Thorley, Mitchell Mustoe – who spent large parts of the game on Hobbs - and Thomas McMahon were all excellent for Traralgon and made their possessions count.
Early indications weren't great for the home side when Jordan Cunico curled through the first of the day, followed soon after by Liam Willaton walking in the second.
Kade Thorley and Tom Hamilton (twice) both found themselves on the scoreboard as the Gulls cruelled themselves through giving away free kicks, turnovers in dangerous areas and shallow entries inside 50 that set the Maroons up to gun and go.
An early injury to Finn Sheehan ended his day, compounding the home side's issues.
Down five goals at quarter time things only got worse after Jarn Macumber drew back a beautiful set shot to make it six majors to nil.
Veteran ruck Matt Gray finally got Warragul on the board and Jed Lamb helped them double up minutes after as the Gulls began to roll.
Despite getting going inside 50, the Gulls still couldn't contain the Maroons up the other end, kicking six goals to five to still trail by 26 at half time.
Scoring slowed to a crawl in the third term, although two late Warragul majors brought the deficit back to a gettable 20 points at the final change of ends.
Dylan Loprese ensured that would be as close as they got, finding space inside 50 and taking his chance to push the Maroons' lead back out.
From then on the tension deflated as Traralgon marched on to claim their first genuine scalp of the season.
The Maroons have been thereabouts against some great teams and no doubt a win will hand them plenty of confidence as we approach finals.
Warragul coach Gary Ayres expressed disappointment with the loss, highlighting the first quarter in particular.
"I have a saying that you mightn't win the game in the first quarter but you can certainly lose it and that was applicable (on Saturday)," he said.
"It was one of the days we were plugging holes at times and we just couldn't get any strong momentum.
"We just weren't able to be clinical when we needed to be."
Ayres said his younger players would be better in the long run.
"It's a great learning curve for our young boys and they've got to grasp it so they don't think they can't compete at this level."
Warragul will face a season-defining clash this Saturday when they travel to face Leongatha.
With both sides competing for one spot in the top three it's not a stretch to say the winner will have one hand on the double chance.
Drouin vs Bairnsdale
Sweet victory.
Drouin has claimed their third win of the season, breaking away late in a hard-fought contest against Bairnsdale by 14 points.
In a close game all day that beckoned for both teams to stand up late it was the Hawks who held their nerve, kicking the final three goals of the day en route to a confidence-boosting 11.13 (79) to 9.11 (65) triumph.
While earlier this season Drouin were overrun late against the Redlegs, this time around they were able to turn the tables, claiming what is undoubtedly their best win of the 2026 campaign.
The victory came despite some controversy late in the third quarter when there were disagreements over what the score actually was, with varying accounts of what the scoreboard should have read at the final change of ends.
Regardless, the Hawks kicked enough in the final term to leave their win in no doubt as they look to build momentum towards the end of the season.
Half back Campbell Bedford played a starring role in the victory, getting a hand in at key moments and driving the Hawks forward all day.
Midfielders Brodie Atkins and Seb Amoroso were key at the contest and both found ways to impact the scoreboard, with Atkins kicking two – including a crucial one in the final quarter.
Big man Jack Walsh wasn't afraid to crash and bash down back against some of the Redlegs' bigger bodies, while Caleb Kleeven and Zayne Atkins were excellent late.
For Bairnsdale Cooper Vickery and skipper Tyran Rees did their level best around the ball, battling against the Hawks' young brigade.
Jamie Dore (two goals) provided a threatening presence up forward as Jonah Walker and Ryan Cullinan rounded out their better players.
The Redlegs got off to a flying start, snapping a goal with the first inside 50 of the day through Brayden McCarrey.
Drouin's Rylie Baker benefitted from a 50-metre penalty to respond and although Walker put Bairnsdale ahead at quarter time, the Hawks were right in the game.
They were able to carry that momentum into the second term, beginning it with consecutive goals to Baker and Sam Pratt, and though the Redlegs fired the next through, Amoroso kicked truly to put Drouin on the front foot.
Ben Brasier snagged one of the goals of the day, bending one through from close to 50 metres. But despite looking poised to take control, the Hawks let through two late goals close to half time much to their coaching staff's chagrin.
A relatively even third quarter ended in confusion as the scoreboard had issues, leading to the goal umpires and team managers disagreeing over how many goals Bairnsdale should have on the board.
The umpires won out, officially having the Hawks two ahead to begin the fourth instead of four down.
Either way the Redlegs ensured they'd be in the lead when McCarrey fired through a set shot to lay down the challenge at Drouin's feet.
A stalemate of a quarter ensued, until Atkins broke the deadlock to regain the advantage. The Hawks then went end to end, rushing it forward to Baker, who brought down a great grab to extend their advantage.
Drouin pressed late, locking the ball inside 50 in search of a sealer – which they got.
A kick deep bounced directly upwards, leading Vinnie Kuol to vertically leap for it. Kuol cleverly got boot to ball before he landed, rolling it under his defender to put the result beyond doubt - much to the joy of his teammates.
Drouin coach Jordan Kingi said post-game he was "rapt with the way we finished."
"They're a really competitive team, they've pushed some good teams in the last month. So we were expecting a fight," he said.
"I said to the boys it was probably one we really should have got last time and they agreed. It was kind of just relief that we were able to compete all day and not let a team get on top and dominate us.
"It was definitely pleasing to finish the game as the better team."
Drouin will look for a second consecutive win when they play fellow bottom five side Morwell away from home this Saturday.
Image provided by the Warragul Drouin Gazette
