The Gippsland League kicked off its season on Easter Saturday with a standalone match as a Dylan Loprese-led Traralgon got the chocolates over Bairnsdale away from home.
With star forward Brett Eddy departing over the offseason, there were some worries about where the Maroons might find their goals.
Well if week one is anything to go by, Loprese might just be the man, kicking seven goals in a virtuoso performance to give the visitors a 16.11 (107) to 10.12 (72) victory.
The Maroons didn't have it all their way as the Redlegs fought to keep them within arm's reach for most of the day, even sneaking to within two goals at three quarter time to have them believing.
They could have been closer, if not for a set shot miss from Bairnsdale’s Jamie Dore minutes before the three quarter time siren.
But come the beginning of the final term, after peppering the goals with some misses, a rolling snap from Harvey Neocleous (three goals) pushed the lead back out and ensured the Maroons would leave Bairnsdale City Oval with the four points.
Outside of Loprese, the Maroons enjoyed strong performances from Tom Hamilton, Jordan Cunico and Tye Hourigan.
Loprese may not kick seven goals every week, but for the Maroons to score 16 goals as a team after losing their best forward would have had coach Troy Hamilton enjoying his Easter that much more.
For Bairnsdale it's back to the drawing board. The Redlegs have recruited heavily, and might just consider this an opportunity lost to stamp their authority on season 2024 and send an early message to the rest of the competition.
Their best included Tyran Rees, Tom Blenheim and Cooper Harvey.
Nick Duck
Warragul & Drouin Gazette
Seniors
Bairnsdale: 2.4, 4.8, 9.8, 10.12 (72)
Traralgon: 4.3, 8.5, 11.8, 16.11 (107)
GOALS: Bairnsdale: T. Rees 3, L. Byrne-Jones 2, L. Austin 2, J. Bills 1, R. Carstairs 1, C. Harvey 1,
GOALS: Traralgon: D. Loprese 7, H. Neocleous 3, J. Cunico 2, L. Willaton 2, C. Doultree 1, C. Scandrett 1,
BEST: Bairnsdale: T. Rees, T. Blenheim, C. Harvey, B. Vickery, J. Lando, H. Longbottom,
BEST: Traralgon: D. Loprese, T. Hamilton, J. Cunico, T. Hourigan, L. Willaton, H. Neocleous,
SEASON OPENER - Ranking Points
| BAIRNSDALE | Ranking Points | Disposals | TRARALGON | Ranking Points | Disposals | |
| 29. Tyran Rees | 134 | 22 | 26. Dylan Loprese | 162 | 16 | |
| 03. Will Mitchell | 115 | 37 | 30. Tye Hourigan | 144 | 24 | |
| 19. Cooper Harvey | 101 | 25 | 24. Tom Hamilton | 131 | 21 | |
| 22. Ethan East | 90 | 19 | 16. Jordan Cunico | 128 | 26 | |
| 11. Logan Austin | 85 | 16 | 04. Luis D'Angelo | 113 | 29 | |
| 15. Randall Stewart | 81 | 12 | 10. Joel Scholtes | 109 | 20 | |
| 17. Kieran Vickery | 78 | 20 | 09. Harvey Neocleous | 108 | 20 | |
| 05. Tom Blenheim | 77 | 21 | 20. Liam Willaton | 88 | 16 | |
| 23. Link McKenna | 73 | 23 | 05. Chance Doultree | 82 | 20 | |
| 01. Lachlan Byrne-Jones | 66 | 13 | 13. Jackson McMahon | 65 | 20 | |
| 07. Hugh Longbottom | 64 | 15 | 01. Connor Amber | 56 | 19 | |
| 32. Jessie Bills | 61 | 13 | 11. Hugh Dunbar | 55 | 16 | |
| 08. Matt Corbett | 54 | 13 | 28. Tate Marsh | 51 | 14 | |
| 09. Ricky Tatnell | 51 | 12 | 02. Jacob Van Iwaarden | 50 | 5 | |
| 06. Byron Vickery | 48 | 6 | 07. Joshua Hamilton | 41 | 7 | |
| 20. Joshua Lando | 48 | 7 | 17. Connor Little | 40 | 10 | |
| 14. Lachlan Cloak | 43 | 12 | 32. Connor Scandrett | 34 | 8 | |
| 31. Jamie Dore | 40 | 13 | 42. Cooper Brown | 33 | 10 | |
| 10. Tate Clay | 36 | 11 | 15. Lucas Tripodi | 32 | 13 | |
| 18. Reece Carstairs | 35 | 15 | 08. Kade Marsh | 32 | 9 | |
| 04. Max East | 16 | 4 | 23. Sammy Hallyburton | 30 | 7 | |
| 28. Matthew Hamilton | 14 | 8 | 40. Lachlan McDonald | 10 | 3 |
Evans Petroleum Reserves
Bairnsdale Reserves: 0.4, 3.5, 3.10, 5.11 (41)
Traralgon Reserves: 2.2, 4.4, 5.6, 5.10 (40)
GOALS: Bairnsdale Reserves: O. Clarke 2, H. Cook 1, R. Peters 1, L. Dunkley 1,
GOALS: Traralgon Reserves: J. Cunico 2, J. Macumber 1, J. Mcmillan 1, R. Guiney 1,
BEST: Bairnsdale Reserves: O. Clarke, C. Moresi, D. O'Connor, H. Cook, R. Peters, L. Dunkley,
BEST: Traralgon Reserves: R. Guiney, A. Lovison, P. Akram, T. Anderson, C. Ruyters, L. Hahn,
Thirds
Bairnsdale Thirds: 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 5.8 (38)
Traralgon Thirds: 1.2, 5.3, 8.6, 11.6 (72)
GOALS: Bairnsdale Thirds: J. Saulle 1, R. Cullinan 1, O. Emmett 1, M. Neate 1, C. Cook 1,
GOALS: Traralgon Thirds: B. Burrows 3, O. Haberl 2, R. Rutter 2, C. Booth 2, J. Zappulla 1, E. Roscoe 1,
BEST: Bairnsdale Thirds: T. Matthews, R. Cullinan, J. Saulle, O. Emmett, C. Cook, H. McGuinn,
BEST: Traralgon Thirds: E. Roscoe, R. Peavey, B. Burrows, H. Little, R. Rutter, O. Haberl,
Fourths
Bairnsdale Fourths: 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 (0)
Traralgon Fourths: 6.2, 10.7, 15.10, 22.12 (144)
GOALS: Bairnsdale Fourths:
GOALS: Traralgon Fourths: S. Wight 4, J. Murdoch 3, L. Macumber 3, H. Leech 2, B. Stevenson 2, H. Connolly 1, F. Gore 1, O. Wilkins 1, J. Taylor 1, A. Woodall 1, L. Hooper 1, K. Thorley 1, W. Hamilton 1,
BEST: Bairnsdale Fourths: B. Nugent- Brown, L. Desio, X. Cook, H. McGuinn, S. Buckley, C. Hughes,
BEST: Traralgon Fourths: A. Woodall, C. Tatchell, S. Wight, B. Adams, L. Macumber, O. Wilkins,
