Lions loss leaves top five wide open
Moe's season is officially in crisis mode, courtesy of their rivals just down the road.
One week after their shock one-point loss to Warragul, the depleted Lions needed a win to keep their spot inside the top five. They were unable to find it against a bold Morwell side, falling 13.6 (84) to 13.16 (94).
Having been one of the premiership favourites earlier this season thanks to a 5-0 start, Moe have now lost five of their past six to sit outside the top five. They will now need some significant wins, and fast, if they want to regain their spot.
The Tigers, meanwhile, kept their season alive thanks to some calm plays late in the match that allowed them to break away from their rivals by the time of the final siren.
Morwell's Brandon McDonald kicked four goals to take his season tally to 30, while Justin Morrow played a relatively lone hand up forward for the Lions with four of his own.
The first three quarters had both sides relatively even with one another, as the margin never blew out to any significant degree.
That was until the final quarter, where the Tigers kicked away early in the term to look like they were going to entirely run away with the match. The Lions would fight back and manage to get the margin back to under a goal, but a late Morwell major ensured they would come away with the win.
Once again, Moe's lack of height around the ground proved an issue, particularly up forward. Coach Declan Keilty, normally the general of the Moe defence, put himself forward in an attempt to create a marking target and managed two goals. But it wasn't enough, and had the ripple effect of allowing McDonald to hurt Moe up the other end.
The Lions will now look to next week where they face Maffra, the side that took their top five spot, as they hope to bounce back and get their season back on track. Morwell, meanwhile, while still be dreaming of finals but, with their percentage, will need to rack up the wins to get there.
Trent Baldi, Grady Cocksedge, Justin Morrow, Ben Morrow, Declan Keilty and Brock Smith were named as Moe's best.
Morwell's stronger players were Ryan Hearn, Brandon Mcauliffe, Tristen Waack, Brandon McDonald, Cody Macdonald and Dan Musil.
You just knew they'd find a way, didn't you? Once again the fight was taken right up to Leongatha and once again the champs found that extra gear needed to see off a gallant challenge from Sale.
Going into the final quarter just two points up for the second week in a row, spectators wondered if this might be the game where the Parrots finally slip up. But a fourth quarter five goal to two blitz was enough to see Leongatha get over the line, 13.4 (82) to 9.10 (64).
Sale would have plenty of reason to be frustrated with themselves, as this was their second game straight where victory beckoned only to be undone through some inaccuracy in front of goal.
Brad Dessent was the only Magpie able to consistently find the middle as he kicked four, while Lachlan Todd and Cooper Whitehill were excellent as well.
For Leongatha, it was some of the normally unsung names that got them the win, with Ned Hanily crafty in the forward half and Ben Willis strong.
At quarter time, it looked as if this would be a simple win for Leongatha, as they kicked five goals to one to take a solid lead into the first break. From there, the Magpies fought back, making things even in the second quarter and keeping them that way until the Parrots' aforementioned final term burst.
Sale's loss leaves them teetering in fifth spot. Like many of the sides around them, they will feel hard done by given the close nature of some of their losses to fellow finals contenders.
For Leongatha, a 14-point buffer at the top of the table will do just nicely. The last two weeks have shown that for as incredible a team as they are, they can still be vulnerable.
Ned Hanily, Ben Willis, Aaron Hillberg, Jack Ginnane, Kim Drew and Travis Nash were all fantastic for Leongatha.
Sale's best were Lachlan Todd, Cooper Whitehill, Brad Dessent, Jack Leslie, Shannen Lange and Mitch Bown.
Sitting inside the top five has been a given for Maffra in the past, but not this year. Since round five, the Eagles have been forced to sit just outside the upper echelon of the ladder, waiting for their opportunity.
Now, after Moe's season has gone into freefall, they've taken their chance thanks to a big win over Bairnsdale.
It was a glimpse into the Maffra of old, as the Eagles ran riot after quarter time to win 18.14 (122) to 5.8 (38).
Mitchell Bennett was the star up forward, kicking five goals to very nearly beat the Redlegs' score by himself, as the experienced hands of Hudson Holmes and Kade Renooy were as steady as ever through the middle.
In truth, after a tight first term, the Redlegs didn't look in the contest, with their mids and backs consistently bullied around the ball. It was an especially disappointing effort given the strides Bairnsdale had appeared to be making in recent weeks.
With the win, Maffra now sits in fourth place, as a match-up against Moe next week looms as a potentially season-defining fixture.
Kieran Vickery, Logan Austin, Andrew Nelson, Simon Deery, Daniel Preston and Charles Mein were the better players for Bairnsdale.
Maffra's best included Hudson Holmes, Kade Renooy, Lachlan Channing, Ben Brunt, Ryan Auld and Danny Butcher.