By Nick Duck
The Gippsland League's Anzac Day match turned into a wet and wild tussle while an ex-AFL talent enjoyed a day out for his new side.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Moe vs Maffra
A perfect 10 from Ben Crocker saw Moe blow Maffra off the park by 99 points at home.
Crocker booted 10 goals for the day in a superb day at the office for the star recruit, who played 33 AFL games for Collingwood and Adelaide.
It’s the most goals for a Moe player against Maffra since Ryan Donaldson achieved the same number back in 2011.
The Lions did it easy throughout the 20.23 (143) to 6.8 (44) annihilation, some wayward goalkicking the only thing saving the Eagles from an even worse fate.
Maffra, who have been a genuinely competitive and even threatening side throughout the early stages of their rebuild, were found wanting as they missed some of their more experienced heads.
Moe were all over them like a cheap suit early, kicking the first six goals of the day and never relenting as Crocker ran riot.
Lions coach Leigh Poholke pulled his star forward to the bench early in the last, a member of the crowd sarcastically suggesting he hadn’t done enough as Crocker could only grin back, holding up 10 fingers in response.
Apart from Crocker, Brock Smith, Liam Masters, Jordan Shields and Myles Poholke were Moe’s top players on a day where they had few losers.
Maffra’s better performers included Andrew McKenzie, James Read, Archer Watt and Harry Burgiel.
Traralgon vs Morwell
That might not be one for the replays.
Traralgon came out three-point winners in a hard-fought scrap of a game on Anzac Day against Morwell.
Those hoping for a replay of last year's spectacular high-scoring draw between these two sides didn't quite get what they were after, even with the result being so close.
Just three goals were kicked between the two teams past half time, all in the final term as the wind and rain made skilful play a near impossibility under the lights at Terry Hunter Oval.
Every major was worth its weight in gold past the main break, with the Maroons eventually eking out a 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48) victory in some truly torrid conditions.
The weather unfortunately affected what had been up to that point a relatively entertaining affair, the undefeated Tigers taking it right up to last year's premiers in front of a bumper crowd.
Trailing by nine at the half, Morwell were able to threaten in the fourth after a brilliant Boyd Bailey barrel from beyond 50, but just weren't able to find the go-ahead goal they desperately needed.
Traralgon's best was, and it's becoming almost tiring writing this, Tye Hourigan once again. The Maroons swingman was vital late as he kicked his side's one and only goal of the second half to hold off Morwell's surge.
Though Morwell again came late courtesy of another Bailey goal, Traralgon were able to hold firm late to claim what could prove to be an important win in the context of the season.
Outside of Hourigan the Maroons enjoyed solid performances from Connor Ambler, Luis D'Angelo, Christopher Williams, Tristen Waack. Bailey, Harrison McColl, Tyler Hillier, Brandon Mcauliffe, Anthony Rosato and Max Linton were among Morwell's best.
Bairnsdale vs Leongatha
So, goalkicking practice anyone?
Leongatha were made to work through an almighty scare of their own making away from home on Saturday in a tense 17-point win over Bairnsdale.
The Parrots led by just five points heading into the final term, despite having created 10 more scoring shots.
Shooting yourself in the foot despite doing so much right is one of the most frustrating things in footy, and one can only imagine how Parrots coach Trent McMicking was feeling as his side just couldn't find the big sticks.
Despite that the green and gold's quality proved to be enough, their general advantage around the ground translating into three final quarter goals to help them avoid a colossal upset.
The home side, for their part, fought the good fight and kept the Parrots honest, even as they couldn't quite take advantage of their waywardness in front of goal.
Had the Redlegs been able to generate just a few more chances of their own, and who knows?
Leongatha will now prepare for a red-hot Moe side in what looms as a barnstorming round of footy this week.
Best on for Leongatha were Cade Maskell, Aaron Heppell (two goals), Luke Bowman, Timothy Sauvarin, Tallin Brill and Benjamin Harding.
Bairnsdale were served well by Cooper Harvey, Will Mitchell, Ethan East, Damon O'Connor, Joshua Lando and Jesse Bills.
Wonthaggi vs Drouin
The trip down south proved to be a painful one for Drouin on Saturday as they were no match for Wonthaggi.
Playing in some challengingly chilly conditions the Hawks were unable to keep pace with the Power past half time, outscored 13 goals to three to leave them 86 points adrift by the final siren.
Most of the damage was done in a particularly devastating third term barrage from the home side, who piled on eight goals to two and in turn transformed a decently competitive match into a foregone conclusion on the scoreboard.
Returning Gippsland Power young gun Brodie Atkins led the way for the Hawks, showing every bit of why he's been a standout for the Talent League table toppers this year as he racked up 35 disposals and 10 clearances through the middle.
Returning recruit Zayne Atkins continued his solid run of form by keeping Ryan Sparkes accountable through the middle and teenager Kaiden Walmsley finished the day as Drouin's lone multiple goalkicker with two.
Star midfielder Kye Quirk battled hard on a tough day at the office while William Young and Seb Amoroso rounded out the Hawks' best.
With Drouin underdoing a near complete rejuvenation of their list this year it's the games against the league's best that show them how far they have to go over the next couple of seasons.
And with Wonthaggi being among this year's outside contenders, that was on display after the main break, the Power putting their foot on the throat and never relenting.
Despite the attention he received Ryan Sparkes was still a standout, particularly up forward where, free from Zayne Atkins, he booted three goals.
Kyle Reid's drive off half back proved influential, Jye Gilmour was effective while the likes of Noah Anderson, Jakeb Thomas and Jaxon Williams were all strong.
With mistakes creeping into the youthful Drouin side's game as the day wore on the experienced heads of the Power were more than happy to capitalise, especially when the rain dissipated and Wonthaggi were able to put some speed on the ball.
The first quarter told a different tale, however, with the Hawks taking it right up to their highly fancied opponents.
An early injury to Aden Quirk didn't help their case, but the early signs were good for the visitors.
They struck the first blow of the day more than 10 minutes into a hard-fought contest through Zayne Atkins, who received the ball on the outside of a stoppage and threw it on the boot to great effect.
Wonthaggi returned serve thanks to Noah Anderson and Cooper McInness – the latter of whom ended the day with four goals – but a late goal out the back to Walmsley had the Hawks right in the game.
After trading goals early in the second term the Power made their move, finding the last three of the half to take a 26-point lead into the break.
Despite the deficit Drouin were still showing plenty of positive signs to that point. Like the rain, however, those soon dried up.
It didn't take long for Power to assert their dominance with some quick majors and from there the contest fell into a predictable pattern.
Drouin coach Leigh Horsburgh was happy with his side's efforts in the first half.
"We probably should have nearly been up at quarter time. Even in the wet we chipped it around early, got into an attacking position and we looked dangerous going inside 50," he said.
"After half time we just fell away and I don't really have an answer as to why we fell away.
"It was same old same old from us, too many mistakes."
Despite the inexperience of his team, Horsburgh said his players were refusing to use it as an excuse.
"Youth is our positive. We can't use that as an excuse, we can't use that as a negative, that's our positive."
Drouin will head to Trafalgar this weekend for a 'home' game against Sale. The Magpies are similarly winless and are currently the walking wounded. Could there be blood in the water for the young Hawks?
Sale vs Warragul
What a difference a week off can make.
Warragul have bounced back with a vengeance to score a comprehensive 69-point win against Sale.
The Gulls mustn't have indulged in too many Easter chocolates over the break as they were far too slick for the struggling home side from start to finish 19.15 (129) to 9.6 (60).
It's just Warragul's third win at Sale Oval since re-entering the league in 2005 and their first since 2017.
The result puts behind them a horror round two loss to Morwell which saw them fail to get out of the blocks and now has the Gulls at two wins and one loss.
Saturday was almost like watching a completely different team from the one trounced by the Tigers, such was their fierceness from the first bounce.
Warragul's ability to move the ball cleanly also was a real highlight, chaining handballs and kicks beautifully and hitting up their leading forwards in a way they haven't done in a long time.
The only real downside of the day will be a nervous wait for tough as nails inside midfielder Tom Hobbs, who was reported for high contact on Sale superstar Shannen Lange.
Hobbs' outstretched hand collected Lange's face around the eye area early in the second quarter as the latter was taking possession.
Lange was forced from the ground and sent to hospital with a rather ugly looking wound. The free kick was paid and there was little remonstration from Lange's teammates.
In a rather unusual series of events, however, Hobbs wasn't reported at the time of the incident, instead being booked and carded retrospectively during the half time break, forcing him onto the bench for the first 15 minutes of the third quarter.
While many may not have seen that before, under rules introduced in 2023 reports can be made by umpires either at the time of the incident or in the immediate break after the quarter in which incidents occur.
Not that it mattered much. The Gulls, despite playing a man short for half of the third, put the foot down after half time, booting seven goals to two to blow a decent margin out to an unreachable one.
Recruit James Harrison was the architect of the destruction, kicking five goals for the quarter to lead the way for the visitors in a commanding overall performance.
With plenty of space available to run riot in the Warragul forward 50 the tall combo of the master Brayden Fowler and the apprentice Tom Stern was similarly effective as both booted four goals each.
Warragul coach Jed Lamb, who has often been a focal point up forward for the Gulls, instead placed himself at half back in a move that paid dividends with 24 disposals.
Patrick Mulqueen was immense in the backline, Hobbs still racked up 29 touches despite his time on the pine and ruck Sam Whibley did well to nullify Magpie big man Jack Leslie.
Leslie ended the day injured on the bench with a leg concern, joining Lange and forward Jordan Dessent as Magpies who failed to play the day out.
Now sitting at zero wins and three losses there are problems aplenty at Sale.
Even before Lange left the ground the way they were being smashed around the ground had the alarm bells ringing. Their body language wasn't much better at times, with more than a few players guilty of dropping their heads or giving up a chase earlier than you'd like.
Jake Hutchins fought the good fight for them with some great gut runs through the ground and former Richmond Tiger Derek Eggmolesse-Smith set up some nice plays with his excellent kick.
Will Leslie, who was rather wasted at full forward in the first half, rebounded in the second half when moved further afield while Ashton Wright, Lachie Ronchi and Thomas Wrigglesworth were among their better players on a dirty day.
From the game's start it was clear Jed Lamb's men were on a mission, booting the first of the day within a minute through Isaac Wallace.
With two more on the board soon after thanks to Hobbs and Fowler, the home side – who mind you were getting desperate for a win – looked rattled.
They were able to stem the bleeding partly through Lange, who was copping some serious attention at the time.
However some more gorgeous movement from the Gulls saw them go on another run of four goals, the highlight coming from a serious hanger by Tom Stern who duly slotted the resulting shot.
Sale were able to peg one back just before the first break through a rather dumb 50-metre penalty from Harrison, who was pinged by the umpire after pretending not to know who had just won a free kick and wasting time.
Having kicked 7.1 in the first term the Gulls' accuracy in front of the sticks waned in the second, at one stage having 1.6 to their name for the quarter.
Despite wasting their chances the visitors weren't made to pay as they continued to reign supreme around the ground.
Come the second half and it was the James Harrison show, the Gulls recruit firing them through from all angles. He kicked the first three of the term in no time at all, wreaking havoc at ground level.
He wasn't done there either, curling through a crazy good shot from the wrong side and later finishing the quarter in style by snapping his fifth.
Now up 58 as they turned for home Warragul did it comfortably in the last, briefly threatening their all-time best win over Sale (88 points) before settling for what was still a triumphant performance.
Warragul coach Jed Lamb said it was the best four-quarter performance the Gulls had put in during his tenure.
"We started the game really well. We simplified our game plan through the week and came out of the blocks really well," he said.
"The most pleasing thing is in past games when we get the jump on someone we've usually let them back in...this time we were able to go on with it."
Lamb was much less happy with the retrospective reporting of Hobbs, labelling it "an absolute disgrace."
"I've never seen anything like it, I couldn't believe it when they told us at half time he'd have to sit out 15 minutes. The positive is we were down to 17 on the field and we still killed them in the third."
The Gulls will next face Bairnsdale at home with a chance to do what they've struggled to in recent times – back up their wins.
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