By Nicholas Duck
The race for fifth took another twist on Saturday as one team secured an upset win over one of their fiercest rivals.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Drouin vs Leongatha
A fourth quarter collapse ultimately cruelled what was an encouraging performance from Drouin against Leongatha on Saturday.
Playing against the ladder leaders the young Hawks were able to match their more experienced opposition in several key areas even without matching their polish.
A poor fourth quarter in which the Hawks conceded eight unanswered goals brought a lot of that good work undone though, blowing the final score out to a 4.4 (28) to 20.8 (128) loss.
As expected the Parrots simply had too much firepower around the ground, their careful and considered ball use well above what the Hawks are capable of putting out at the moment.
Much of Drouin's good was done through the middle of the Morwell Recreation Reserve, where players like Kye Quirk and Zayne Atkins held sway.
The Hawks won plenty of the footy and spread from the contest well despite not being able to make it count up forward.
Riley Wierzbicki and Caleb Kleeven were solid down back, the former unfortunately having his day ended early by injury in the fourth quarter and the latter playing well beyond his age of just 16 years.
Peyton Saddington and Zach McMillan were other Hawks players to impress.
Despite missing plenty of their senior stars the Parrots had plenty of winners across the ground and always looked a few classes above.
Chief among their top players was another great showing from Aaron Heppell, whose class through the midfield was matched only by his output up forward where he booted three goals.
Timothy Sauvarin and Zavier Lamers did plenty around the ground as did Ty Hall, while Ben Willis and Patrick Ireland both kicked five goals each.
Willis was able to celebrate his 200th senior game in style in a dominant fourth quarter where he outmuscled and outmatched any opponent the Hawks could throw at him.
Drouin hit the scoreboard early when Tomas Unferdorben cleverly bounced the ball to himself and handballed it into Ewan Croucher, who ran into an open goal.
Leongatha struck back not long after courtesy of Ty Hall marking and scoring at point blank range and from there the Parrots set about building their lead.
A six-goal-to-two second term had the green and gold up 41 points at the main break.
That margin increased to 58 at the final change of ends and had the margin stayed that way by full time it's safe to say the Hawks, still missing some of their top players, would have gone home satisfied with their efforts.
Instead the floodgates opened, Willis' move to the forward line setting the scene for a powerful fourth quarter from the Parrots.
Injuries to Max Williames, Riley Wierzbicki and Jack Fraser left the Hawks undermanned and under siege, their previous solid play vanishing as Leongatha brought the hammer down hard.
The final deficit eventually blew out to triple digits, albeit less than the 135-point demolition job that occurred between the teams earlier this year.
Drouin coach Leigh Horsburgh said there was plenty to like despite the defeat.
"Up until three quarter time I was stoked. I thought we matched them in all facets other than the scoreboard...our pressure around the footy was as good as it's been all year," he said.
"For us when we get injuries to key players it really hurts whereas they have the depth to cover. I think they're also the most well-structured team in the league.
"Overall you take away the last quarter where they kick eight and I think it was a pretty positive game."
Moe vs Morwell
The Joe Hutchison Cup is back in Tigerland after Morwell completed a stunning two-point upset over flag fancies Moe away from home.
Still fighting for a place in the final five, the Tigers kicked the first five goals of the day before holding late for a famous victory 9.9 (63) to 8.13 (61) over their nearby rivals.
In the context of their season it's a hell of a win for the club, and shows they could very well cause some damage come finals time should they make it.
The undermanned Lions' kicking in front of goal didn't help their case – and probably undid any chance they had of a comeback win – but this was a sterling showcase of what Morwell is capable of at their best, especially without star spearhead Brandon McDonald.
The Tigers were ferocious early, taking advantage of their chances to pounce on the scoreboard.
Moe, missing a host of stars including both Poholke brothers, found themselves relying on Ben Crocker to kick their score despite being double and sometimes triple teamed.
If Crocker wasn't kicking them, it was hard to see who would.
Regardless the Lions had enough quality to slowly mount a challenge, drawing to within a kick as they locked the ball inside 50 for much of the fourth quarter.
It wasn't enough though, the Lions left to rue a wasted chance as the Tigers celebrated.
Morwell are now in the box seat for the last spot in finals given Wonthaggi's loss as well as the Power's brutal fixture.
Leading the Tigers to victory were Stephen Mills, Brandon Mcauliffe, Harrison McColl, Cody Macdonald, Zachary Anderson and Anthony Rosato.
Moe's better players Scott van Dyk, Brock Smith, Crocker, Max Woodall, Trent Baldi and Nathan Scagliarini.
Wonthaggi vs Traralgon
Wonthaggi's hopes of a finals berth took a crippling blow on Saturday following a tepid 52-point defeat to Traralgon.
Playing for their season the Power could find just one goal in the first half as the Maroons ultimately swept them aside 15.9 (99) to 6.11 (47).
Accuracy didn't help the home side's case, especially early where they trailed at quarter time by 15 points despite registering the same number of scoring shots (1.5 to 4.2).
A dominant second quarter display from the reigning premiers, in which they slammed home 5.4 to 0.2 to build their lead beyond 40 points, was enough have the game done and dusted by half time.
Wonthaggi showed some better signs in the second half but it was too little, too late.
The Power have been battling for fifth with Morwell for some time now. Their loss, coupled with the Tigers' upset win, makes it hard to see how Wonthaggi are going to work their way back inside the five.
For Traralgon it was business as usual – another outstanding performance from Tye Hourigan, another four points in the bank.
A top three spot is all but a lock for them now.
Hourigan was named Traralgon's best on ground and was well supported by Harvey Neocleous, Tristen Waack, Hugh Dunbar, Liam Willaton and Joel Scholtes.
Fighting for Wonthaggi all day were Joshua Bates, Jye Gilmour, Jai Williams, Anthony Anastasio, Joshua Schulz and Shannon Bray.
Bairnsdale vs Sale
A slow start wasn't enough to put Bairnsdale off as they secured their fifth win of the season.
Despite conceding five of the first six goals the Redlegs managed to work their way back into the contest until they prevailed in a seesawing final term 12.11 (83) to 11.8 (74).
It's fair to say Kane Ashwood would have had plenty to say to his troops after the early ambush when his side found themselves well off the pace against a Magpies team missing stars like Shannen Lange and Will Leslie.
When they were 25 points down towards the end of the first half the home fans might have been feeling a tad nervous, until Bairnsdale finally kicked into gear in the second half.
Four goals to one in the third term brought things to an even keel as a real thriller of a last quarter played out, the two teams going goal for goal and blow for blow.
Finally the Redlegs were able to find three of the last four majors for the day, bringing some late season joy to another tough year at Bairnsdale City Oval.
Cooper Harvey was again a standout for the Redlegs, alongside Lachlan Cloak, Brayden McCarrey (five goals), Randall Stewart, Tyran Rees and Ethan East.
In another spirited performance from Sale it was Jack McLaren, Thomas Wrigglesworth, Jarrod Freeman, Cooper Whitehill, Jack Leslie and Benjamin Jones keeping them in the fight.
Maffra vs Warragul
Warragul all but shored up a spot in finals following a scrappy, behind-filled win away from home against Maffra.
Missing two of their main key forwards in Jordan Stewart and Brayden Fowler, the Gulls were far too strong around the ground but couldn't finish their work early, leaving the door ajar.
At one stage their side of the scoreboard read a scarcely believable 2.12.
Despite that the sheer weight of numbers won out, Warragul pulling away courtesy of a five minute purple patch in the third and getting enough kicks through the big sticks to claim their 10th win of the season 7.17 (59) to 5.8 (38).
Now a game inside the top five with two games remaining until finals, it's hard to picture the Gulls not featuring in their first finals series since 2016.
2025 has been a year of Warragul breaking their hoodoos, and Saturday was no exception given it was their first win against Maffra at the Eagles' home base since 1997 - that's 21 trips east for no points.
Young gun Lucas Carter was named best on ground for the victors as he continues to build beautifully in the back half during his first season out of the under 18s.
Liam Serong's return from VFL duties helped to cover the loss of Stewart and Fowler nicely in the second half as he provided a tall target for his teammates, clunking marks and bringing the footy to ground to give the Gulls' forwards a chance.
Serong being swung forward in the third quarter played a major role in the Gulls making their move and launching away to a comfortable lead.
Riley Senini and Luke Garner burst through the midfield on numerous occasions to set up scoring opportunities while Patrick Mulqueen and Alby Phillips stood tall in the backline.
Maffra vice-captain Alex Carr fought the good fight for his team against the vaunted Warragul midfield to be named the Eagles' best.
Jett Killoran showed similar moxie, as did Andrew McKenzie, Will Burgiel, Daniel Bedggood and Noah Christy.
The opening stanza of the sunny day out east all went the visitors' way, the ball seemingly trapped in Warragul's forward half for most of the quarter.
In a stunning display of dodgy goalkicking, however, the Gulls couldn't take full toll of their chances, booting 2.8 by the first break.
Wind played a role for sure, but not so much to justify that kind of scoreline.
Only coach Jed Lamb was able to kick truly, his first from point blank range following a scramble on the goal line and the second a set shot snap in the pocket.
Despite their domination a 19-point lead was all the Gulls had to show for it, and when Eagles champion Daniel Bedggood gathered a loose ball and kicked accurately in the second that advantage was cut to two goals at half time.
Just three goals for the half didn't exactly make for the most attractive game, it must be said.
Noah Christy crept Maffra closer still in the third when he was tripped inside 50.
As their lead slipped below 10 points, however, the Gulls suddenly clicked into gear with a three-goal barrage across the next five minutes.
It started when the centre clearance directly after Christy's goal went Warragul's way, ending with Lamb putting through his third.
The next centre bounce ended in another Warragul inside 50, Serong marking on the lead and finding the big sticks.
The Gulls moved it forward once again, allowing Tom Hobbs to snap another. Hobbs secured a double dose not long after, rising at the front of a pack close to goal and putting Warragul 33 up.
Maffra briefly threatened a comeback in the fourth as the Gulls appeared to put the cue in the rack, thinking the job was done.
A goal to McKenzie put them back in contention, only for Rory Nettle to run one in and put the game to bed.
Having now won seven of the last eight the Gulls are primed for this Saturday's clash with Moe, who are in some spluttering form it must be said. A finals series beckons the men in red and black. Knock off the Lions and they could be charging into it in some fearsome form.
Cover Photo: Skewsme Photography
