Gippsland Times |
MAFFRA marked its 1000 senior game milestone with an important victory at home against Traralgon.
The 15.10 (100) to 12.8 (80) win moved the Eagles past Traralgon into third spot on the Gippsland League football ladder, a win ahead of the Maroons and Wonthaggi.
To celebrate 1000 senior game in the Gippsland League, the Eagles wore heritage jumpers, replicas of the jumper worn when the club joined the league in 1960.
The match was also Sam Tudor's 100th senior game for the Eagles.
Sam Bristow did a great job in defence for the Eagles, helping stop Traralgon attacks, as did Winston Gieschen and Joel Lambourn.
Ben Coleman was again effective in the midfield, setting up chances for Darren Sheen, Adrian Burgiel and Daniel Bedgood, while also having an impact on the scoreboard.
Coleman, Burgiel and Daniel Bedggood kicked three goals each.
In a match impacted by a strong breeze favouring the southern end of the Maffra Recreation Reserve, the home side made better use of the advantage during the second and fourth quarters.
Kicking with the breeze, the Maroons skipped out to 14-point quarter-time lead before the Eagles showed how to used that advantage more effectively during the second term.
Goals from Dan O'Brien, Bedggood and Kel Porter, with a long kick using the wind, put the Eagles in front.
The Eagles were using the centre corridor well and using the ball better as they kept the Maroons scoreless for the quarter.
Sheen kicked his two goals for the match during the second term, while majors to Coleman and Josh Davis helped the home side head into the main break 32 points up.
The Maroons fought back in the third quarter, booting five goals to one, reducing the deficit to six points by the final change.
With the aid of the breeze, the Eagles were favoured to run away with the match, but the Maroons kicked three of the first four major of the term to lead by seven points.
A Brent Connelly goal steadied the Eagles, before Coleman kicked the goal of the day. Coleman stole the ball from a Traralgon player in a marking contest and booted a goal from outside 50.
The momentum was with the Eagles as Burgiel kicked a goal from the boundary after receiving a free goal for deliberate out-of-bounds.
With the ball often in their forward line, the Eagles were able to pressure on the Traralgon back line when it had the ball.
A Bedggood goal after the siren gave the home side a 20-point victory.
The match was good preparation for next Sunday's clash against ladder leader Sale, who played in the first half of the split round last weekend, at Sale Oval.
With a match to come against Wonthaggi, the Eagles will need to work hard to maintain third place.
Michael Geary, Tim Northe and Kim Harrold were the Maroons' best, while Lee Stockdale led all goal kickers with four.
Tough Tigers
MORWELL kicked 9.0 in the second term to set-up its big win at Drouin.
Leading by just two points at quarter-time, the Tigers' big second term took the match away from the Hawks.
The Tigers went on with the job in the second half, winning 28.12 (180) to 8.6 (54).
Dean MacDonald and coach Harmit Singh were the Tigers' best players, both kicking five goals. Jeff Ryan contributed three.
The Tigers are safe in second place on the ladder, two wins ahead of third-placed Maffra, but two behind top side Sale.
Steve Ballingall, who kicked three goals, was Drouin's best.
