One grand finalist is set as another chapter was added to one of Gippsland League's fiercest rivalries.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Leongatha vs Traralgon
Another year, another grand final for the Parrots.
Leongatha will once again play off for premiership glory in 2025 after a barnstorming second half saw them push past Traralgon in Saturday's second semi final.
After heading into the sheds at Morwell trailing by six at the major break, last year's runners-up were able to turn the tables on the reigning premiers, holding them goalless in the second half while putting through an admittedly inaccurate 3.10 to win by 20 points.
The 7.12 (54) to 5.4 (34) victory sees the Parrots into their ninth grand final since 2015.
Not since 2014 has the Gippsland League had a decider not featuring the Parrots, keeping in mind the 2020 and 2021 seasons didn't have grand finals.
The Parrots are going to be very happy they got enough games into former Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell to play finals after the hometown hero starred alongside brother Aaron, using every bit of his ball winning class to effect.
Kim Drew put together one of his best performances of the year on the ball, as Jenson Garnham (four goals), Jay Walker, Timothy Sauvarin and Jack Hume all helped lift the league's top team to victory.
Also worth celebrating was the return of Tom Marriott to the senior side after fears his year was done earlier this year through injury.
Marriott played five weeks of reserves in preparation for his comeback. You have to feel for the poor ressies players who had to line up on him.
Traralgon will be wondering what happened after their usually freewheeling ball movement was almost entirely blunted past half time, unable to put them in any sort of striking distance for a goal.
Tye Hourigan and Dylan Loprese (three goals) did their usual thing but they'll need to reset if they want to win this week, much less knock off the Parrots in a potential grand final rematch.
Connor Ambler, Luis D'Angelo, Matthew Northe and Conor Little were the other Maroons to keep flying the flag all day.
Moe vs Morwell
Moe marched on to the preliminary final with surprisingly little resistance on Sunday as they swept aside Morwell by 44 points.
The Lions, still smarting after dropping a winnable one against Traralgon the week prior, used a breezy day at their home ground to perfection, breaking away when they had it at their backs and keeping things even when they didn't.
Since they opened the day by kicking with the wind, it made for a fairly uneven contest on the scoreboard as the Tigers failed to fire a shot when it mattered.
The only downside from the day for Moe was the loss of star midfielder Trent Baldi, who was taken from the field with a serious facial injury after a clash with Morwell hard man Anthony Rosato.
Rosato copped plenty of boos for the rest of the day on a dirty day for the Tigers.
Morwell failed to meet the moment early on, getting shredded on Moe's transition as their players struggled to find the opposition.
It gave Moe forwards Leigh Poholke and Ben Crocker clean looks one on one – and when you give them that you make things hard for yourself.
There was some hope when the Tigers drew to within 20 early in the third, but it was quickly extinguished, the Lions responding in earnest to run out comfortable winners.
Matthew Heywood was their best, along with Alex Dijkstra, Brock Smith, Nick Prowse, Declan Keilty and Harry Pepper.
It's an off-season of soul searching for Morwell now. Winning a final was great, but their failure to launch on Sunday is the kind of thing that can haunt a team.
Coach Boyd Bailey's tenure has ended on a disappointing note but his successor will have plenty to play with heading into 2026.
Aidan Quigley, Burkeley Macfarlane, Tyler Hillier, Dan Musil, Anthony Rosato and Sam Walsh were the Tigers who can hold their heads high.
Photos: Wazshots
