By Nicholas Duck
There's just three rounds to go as the race for fifth position continues to heat up while a 2025 battler very nearly pulled off one of the upsets of the season.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Sale vs Moe
How's that for a game of footy?
Fans of high scoring encounters had plenty to enjoy at Sale Oval on Saturday as Moe pulled off an escape Houdini would've been proud of, seeing off Sale by eight points.
The Lions were in all sorts early after conceding eight first quarter goals against the league's second bottom side.
After managing to even the score by half time they still had to work for it and even looked set to go home emptyhanded five points down late in the day.
As good sides do though Moe found the response they needed, eventually prevailing 18.12 (120) to 17.10 (112) thanks in part to another bag from Ben Crocker (seven goals).
Sale might be kicking themselves for letting a genuine upset slip through their fingers, though were brave after a series of injuries left them without a bench late, including to stars Shannen Lange and Will Leslie.
Defence appeared to be optional through the first half of the game as the teams took turns hammering the other.
The Magpies' early burst took plenty by surprise and had some Lions fans wondering if their diabolical record at Sale Oval was set to continue.
Even after conceding the lead, however, the Magpies refused to die wondering, taking the lead late in an extraordinary turn of events given how many men down they were.
For Moe it's a case of taking the four points and running. Top three and a double chance are now assured and it's time to tune up in preparation for a premiership tilt.
Games like this would have them thankful to have recruited Crocker in the off-season alongside Nathan Scagliarini and Alex Dijkstra, the trio playing a major role in their comeback and eventual win.
Nick Prowse, Brock Smith and Trent Baldi were the other Lions to impress.
In a tough loss for Sale it was Thomas Wrigglesworth, Jack McLaren, Cooper Whitehill, Harry Ronchi, Jordan Dessent and Thomas Campbell doing their damnedest to drag them over the line.
Bairnsdale vs Wonthaggi
Wonthaggi walked away from the longest trip in country footy with another vital four points, keeping them in the top five – for now.
The Power kept Bairnsdale to just four behinds past half time, piling on six goals in that time to run away comfortable winners 11.19 (85) to 5.8 (38).
There are non-negotiable games for every side as we approach finals and this was one of those for the Power, who got the job done despite some inaccuracy inside 50.
Given their run home, where they play each member of the top three, the Power will need to be at their best if they hope to feature past round 18.
They've looked a much better team thanks to the return of some injured stars but right now the bet would be it'll be a bridge too far.
Ryan Sparkes thrived for the visitors, along with Jai Williams, Jaxon Williams, Joshua Bates, Isaac Chugg and Kaj Patterson.
Bairnsdale have now slumped to four straight losses in an indifferent patch of form but will have a chance for some late-season joy when they travel to Sale this week.
Will Mitchell, Lachlan Cloak, Ricky Tatnell, Jamie Dore, Cooper Harvey and Tate Clay were their best.
Morwell vs Maffra
Morwell coach Boyd Bailey led from the front on Saturday in the Tigers' 73-point smashing of Maffra.
Seven goals from Bailey supercharged his side as they kicked 18 majors to six past quarter time to torch the Eagles 21.14 (140) to 10.7 (67).
It's a handy percentage booster for the sixth-placed Tigers, who remain a game behind Wonthaggi as we head into the final weeks of the season.
The result was a much more comfortable one than their three-point win at Maffra earlier this season, where the margin was a slim one despite statistical domination from the visitors.
This time around Morwell took control as the game wore on, turning a four-point deficit at quarter time into a 24-point lead at the half and never relenting from there.
With Wonthaggi about to enter a brutal run home Morwell will want to make every post a winner, and none would be better than a face-off with local rivals Moe this week.
Tom Caile, Aidan Quigley, Stephen Mills, Zachary Anderson and Burkeley Macfarlane were Morwell's other standouts.
Will Burgiel, Alex Carr, Noah Christy, Jett Killoran, Thomas Scott and James Read were Maffra's.
Leongatha vs Warragul
Warragul may not have won the day but won plenty of respect on Saturday after falling to Leongatha away from home by just six points.
In a tightly contested affair where goals came at a premium, the visitors were more than brave against the ladder leaders, taking it right up to the league's premier side right to the final siren.
Coming in on a six-win high the Gulls gave up a lead early but slowly worked their way into the contest until taking the lead towards the end of the last quarter.
As they threatened to steal another famous win, however, former Gull Patrick Ireland drove a stake through their hearts, booting a magnificent set shot from 50m late and consigning his former team to a 7.5 (47) to 7.11 (53) defeat.
In the end it was Warragul's first five minutes where they conceded three quickfire goals that came back to haunt them.
Previous trips to South Gippsland's Parrot Park fortress have dished out nothing but pain for the Gulls, where any margin under 10 goals has been seen as a moral victory.
This year's edition of Warragul is a different beast, however, as they threw everything they had in a congested and contested game that had spectators shouting until the final siren.
The combination of midfield bull Tom Hobbs and ruck Sam Whibley was wonderful to watch from Warragul, the latter handing it to the former on a silver platter time after time.
Whibley's tap work has been a sight to see this season. The Gulls reserves players watching on joked he was giving out Christmas presents to his teammates all day and you'd have to think he's a red-hot chance of winning team of the year honours in a few weeks.
Isaac Wallace was no slouch in the middle and around the forward line either while young backman Lucas Carter continues to make serious progress, crashing packs and leaping high when given the chance.
Riley Senini stood out with a bandaged head following a cut to the forehead and young Xavier Olsson showed plenty of class in his first senior game this season, particularly late when he slotted a great goal from the paint of 50 in the last.
Leongatha also enjoyed plenty of players standing up in the finals-like atmosphere despite missing a host of senior stars.
Chief among them was one of their remaining veterans Aaron Heppell, who took it right up to the Gulls' engine room all day.
Ireland's performance was hardly just a late cameo, the Warragul under 18s premiership player always threatening in the air and playing a major role in putting the Parrots ahead early.
Hayden Lindsay stood tall down back, helping to quell the influence of in-form key forward Jordan Stewart.
Jack Hume's work rate up and down the wing won him several key possessions, big man Benjamin Willis claimed some important marks and Benjamin Harding was tireless in his efforts around the ball.
A noticeable breeze favoured the Parrots' scoring end in the first term and boy did they look like they knew how to use it in the first few minutes.
Early proceedings looked very familiar for the travelling Warragul fans as the visitors were absolutely nowhere.
Leongatha's run and carry tore them up, changing lanes and finding overlap handballs to expose the Warragul defenders.
Ireland got the home side rolling just a minute in as Ned Hanily then bounced through a beauty. Warragul were scratching their heads after Justin Pellicano marked a ball close to home practically unmanned, running in a third goal in just over five minutes.
It was only after that the Gulls began to adjust, limiting the Parrots' speed and finally getting a chance to breathe.
Hobbs won a high free kick inside 50 to strike Warragul's first major blow before quarter time, keeping them in the fight when at one stage it looked like they'd be five goals or more down.
Caleb McIntosh and Jordan Stewart got the Gulls closer in the second term with the breeze at their backs, only for a downfield free kick to hand Pellicano his second on the stroke of half time.
Needing to stay in touch in the third quarter, Warragul were made to rue a sloppy turnover out of defence as Zavier Lamers marked and goaled. Jordan Stewart responded in turn, catching a Parrot defender cold and making him pay full toll.
There was a real moment towards the end of the quarter when the Gulls overlapped beautifully to Brayden Fowler in the goal square. Fowler, feeling the pressure from the incoming defenders, kicked while off balance, missing the shot that would have put the deficit to single figures.
Like great teams do the Parrots punished the mistake as a long range shot from Hume soared through moments before the final break.
The general attitude was a positive one in the Warragul huddle, the memories of last week's incredible comeback against Traralgon still fresh and knowing they had the breeze to count on.
Sensing a chance to repeat the dose, the Gulls did all the pressing early, coach Jed Lamb standing tall twice with high pressure set shots, the second handing his team the lead at the 20-minute mark.
With the game on the line Leongatha worked it to Ireland 50 metres out, his kick sending the Parrots fans into raptures to put them up by a goal.
Despite some late efforts the Gulls couldn't get the ball out of defence in the game's final moments, the siren sounding to their disappointment.
Speaking post-game Lamb was proud of his group's efforts.
"As I said to the boys after the game we walked in here to a round of applause from supporters, we know it hurts losing but I couldn't be prouder of the group and how far we've come," he said.
"I've been here four years and coming here you know it's going to be really tough but I walked in today confident we'd get the job done. We don't walk away with the four points but we walk away confident we can match it with the best."
Warragul's final three weeks include Maffra (away), Moe (home) and Drouin (away). On paper they should win two of them and play finals for the first time since 2016 but Lamb isn't taking anything for granted.
"It sounds cliché but it's week by week, we've got to keep winning. We don't take good losses these days, we're past that as a group. Just got to keep showing up and hopefully keep winning."
Traralgon vs Drouin
Drouin have slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season against Traralgon on Saturday, kicking just one goal in a monster 182-point defeat.
Maroons forward Jackson McMahon had a day to remember as he booted 10 goals, making it twice in as many weeks the Hawks have had someone kick double digits on them following Ben Crocker's 10 last round.
A lack of available players coupled with some injuries in game left the Hawks struggling to match the sheer quality of the reigning premiers around the ground, leading to the 1.4 (10) to 30.12 (192) result.
Drouin were held scoreless in both the second and fourth quarters and were only able to find their lone major well into the third as they copped the brunt of a Traralgon team eager to respond after a disappointing loss to Warragul last week.
The Maroons were merciless, carving the visitors open again and again and punishing any wayward disposal to full effect.
It was a fitting celebration for two of their premiership stars in Connor Ambler and Matthew Northe, both celebrating their 100th senior games in the maroon and white.
Caleb Quirk, Kaiden Walmsley, Jack Walsh, Will Brewer and Cody Fleming were just some of the Hawks players unavailable before the start of the game as Blake Bibby, Charlie Bethune and Aden Quirk all had their days ended prematurely.
Some teams can afford to miss some senior starters – see Leongatha – but not Drouin.
Not helping their case was two yellow cards in the third quarter to Max Williames and Ben Brasier as tempers flared between the two teams and plenty of goals went Traralgon's way off the resulting free kicks and 50 metre penalties.
Teenager Caleb Kleeven was Drouin's best on a day where they struggled to find many winners, the wiry 17-year-old showing some good signs up forward and off half back.
Zach McMillan and Max Williames were other youngsters to impress even with the latter missing a good part of the third term.
Kye Quirk, Ben Brasier and Zayne Atkins also were among the Hawks' better players.
Traralgon on the other hand had an embarrassment of riches to choose from for their best, led of course by McMahon.
Jordan Cunico and Luis D'Angelo were immense through the middle while the milestone men Ambler and Northe both excelled. Jacob Cunico rounded out the reigning premiers' best.
Despite the scoreline in the first term Drouin were relatively competitive early, generating gettable chances even without making them count.
Traralgon had no such issues, putting on five straight before the first break.
Now needing to chase if they wanted to make a game of it, the Hawks wilted past the first break, giving up nine more goals before the major break.
The spotfires that had popped up throughout the first half exploded early in the third quarter as the Hawks looked to show some fight even if it wasn't on the scoreboard.
Williames and Brasier were given their marching orders among the clashes, leaving the Hawks two down on the field.
Bizarrely the third quarter ended up being one of Drouin's better efforts, including their only goal from Seb Amoroso.
The lack of numbers left them highly susceptible to the Maroons' running power on the outside, however, increasing the margin into triple digits by three quarter time.
Nine straight goals in the last punctuated a big win for the reigning premiers, who now prepare for an intriguing road trip to face Wonthaggi, who have to keep winning if they are to play finals.
Drouin coach Leigh Horsburgh lamented the growing injury toll in his team.
"With the club where we're at you can't afford to lose too many of your best 15 and we've just lost too many," he said.
"I thought at quarter time even though the scoreboard didn't reflect it we were truly in the game. That second quarter was putrid, it was more like how we played earlier in the season or in the Sale game."
Horsburgh said while he liked that his players were willing to fly the flag in that third quarter, they need to work on being smarter about it in future.
Drouin will face ladder leaders Leongatha at the Morwell Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
Cover Photo: Wazshots
