I might just add a very quick summary from last rounds Wonthaggi and Warragul.
I caught the last five minutes and it was fantastic! Wonthaggi jumped out early and set the tone. With the access to information now, it was pretty clear, through what Gary Ayres outlined post-game, that there was a strong wind favouring the eastern end early on the game. It gave a bit more context to how the game played out.
It was a terrific contest. These two clubs have now produced a couple of unbelievable finishes, both decided by a point at Wonthaggi, so the next fixture shapes as another cracker. What stood out from the stats was Warragul’s uncontested marking game, that gave them a real edge and it’s something they have obviously worked on. As we spoke about in the preview, their ability to compete inside with Wonthaggi was key, and they were able to do that, match them at the contest, and then use the ball well on the outside.
When you beat Wonthaggi in inside 50s, match or get on top in clearances, have high uncontested marks and hold your own in contested possession, that’s the formula. It played out that way.
Tom Hobbs had a massive game, 10+ clearances and 30 + disposals — and Vinny Caia, who I mentioned last week, is a little star. Hopefully he gets a clean run at it because he’s had a tough run with injuries. His pace late, particularly in the last five minutes, was outstanding.
Wonthaggi will be fine. They won’t lose too much sleep over that. They had players coming back in, a number of new faces, and they’ll be around the mark again in 2026.
The game was brutal, both sides ran at over 75% disposal efficiency and still had 60+ tackles each. Proper Gippsland League contest.
We move onto this week. With Anzac Day on the Saturday it’s a split round over the weekend, but I’m focusing on Traralgon v Moe on Saturday night
Moe have jumped out of the blocks. The win over Leongatha at Leongatha was significant and they followed it up by dismantling Maffra. I like their spread of goalkickers, and I like how measured they’ve been with selection. Crocker playing twos in round one, Tom Long also in the twos, they’re not rushing it. Long’s a favourite son and you’d expect he’ll push for selection if that’s his plan. Chris Prowse returning from Phillip Island also strengthens them. Right now, they’ve got everything in their favour.
They come up against a Traralgon side that had to work hard to get past a determined Drouin, but were clinical in their dismantling of Bairnsdale. They’ve got players with VFL aspirations in Joel Scholtes and Luis D’Angelo (playing for Casey this week) this will affect selection and outcome, the move of Harvey Neocleous into the midfield might be a terrific coaching move or is it necessity to cover the loss of the best clearance player in the league last season in D’Angelo, it might also inject some more speed inside like Cunico had, Harvey has got the attributes to be a genuine inside mid who can also hurt you forward and he’s started so well
Traralgon’s strength last year was around the contest, clearances, contested possessions and tackles. They want to win it inside, get it out quickly, and move the ball with speed. If they don’t, Moe’s composure and forward-half efficiency might be too much for them to match at this stage of the season.
One area the Maroons need to tidy up is discipline. Their free kick differential sits at around -38 across the first couple of rounds, they’ve given away roughly 20 and 18 more free kicks than their opposition, this could easily be umpiring error or poor execution but they can’t afford to give Moe that many easy opportunities. Their tackle count has also been down, although that can be skewed given how little of the ball Bairnsdale had against them.
But it comes back to their identity. If they get back to what worked last year, winning the contest and applying pressure, they give themselves every chance. I’m concerned about the absence of Jacko Mcmahon and Tom Hamilton they’re two key players in front of the football that they need firing. I’m just not sure where there goals come from, as I think they need to kick 12 plus to win.
Their record against Moe is strong, winning the last five, and conditions under lights should suit how the Maroons want to play. Moe couldn’t keep up with them in the prelim last year, but they’re a different side now and will be looking to knock off another contender.
I can’t go past the Lions though there class in all lines, addition of young talent and multiple options up forward means they are the standout early and I expect them to break there Maroon hoodoo.
Around the grounds: Morwell should get over Bairnsdale, who showed some good signs against the Parrots. Wonthaggi over Drouin. Warragul to beat Sale. Leongatha head east again to take on Maffra, they’ll be wary.
Lastly we should honour the occasion for this weekend, ANZAC Day is the most important day as an Australian, enjoy your freedom courtesy of others