Liam Durkin
SALE claimed a 38-point win over Maffra in the first senior football Battle of the Birds since 2019 on Sunday.
Sale kicked away in the final quarter to run out a 10.8 (68) to 3.12 (30) victor, and sits in third place on the Gippsland League ladder after the opening round of the season.
The morning’s rain cleared in time for the senior match, with a large crowd at Sale Oval treated to a high quality and physical game.
There was a separate narrative to the match, as former Maffra player and now Sale playing coach Jack Johnstone came up against his old team for the first time.
Honours were shared in the first half, with the Eagles taking a five-point lead into the main break.
The ball spent most of the third quarter between the arcs, but Sale was able to capitalise on its opportunities going forward.
Returning Magpie Shannen Lange brought out the trick bag in this quarter, gathering a ground ball before pirouetting through traffic to set up one of the Magpies’ three goals for the term.
Both teams displayed confidence to pull the trigger on corridor kicks and seemed to have identical game plans, which revolved around moving the ball quickly when they were forward of centre and limiting handball post stoppage.
With Johnstone now coaching Sale, it was evident he had brought across a number of trademark Maffra qualities to the Magpies, such as being hard in the contest and strong overhead.
At three-quarter-time, Sale held a nine-point lead, but come the final term everything the Magpies touched turned to gold, and they slammed on four goals to no score.
Sale took control of the match and had its hands on the ball more often than not, while conversely, the Eagles barely had one inside 50 for the quarter.
Once the Magpies got out to a three-goal lead, any plans Maffra may have had of staging a late comeback were extinguished.
In a great sign, Sale player Jordan Dessent was back out on the field and kicked three goals in his comeback match following illness. He provided a moment for the highlight reel in the last, dribbling the ball like a basketball around congestion to regain control.
Johnstone kicked his first goal in the black and white late in the piece, and duly celebrated by holding both arms aloft. The first person to congratulate him was the man he succeeded as coach – Chris Laverty.
Johnstone headed the list of best players for Sale, as well as Dessent, Jack Leslie, Jordan Dowsett, Lange and Daine McGuiness.
Best for Maffra were Kade Renooy, Daniel Bedggood, Ed Carr, Ben Brunt and James Read.
The match ended on a terrible note, after a sickening incident saw Read taken from the ground by ambulance.
Read appeared unconscious after a contest in the goal square at the social room end, and was immediately given attention from the goal umpire.
As the result of the match was beyond doubt during the delay in play, the umpires declared the game over.
LEONGATHA broke away after half-time to defeat Traralgon 15.14 (104) to 5.6 (36) on Saturday.
The Maroons were only 15 points down at the main change, but failed to score in the third quarter, while the Parrots piled on seven goals.
A 59-point margin at three-quarter-time turned into 68 when the final siren sounded.
Corey Stockdale kicked two goals for Traralgon and was among the best players, along with Matt Northe, Tye Hourigan, Adam Jaensch, Peter Strong and Dylan Loprese.
Tom Marriott picked up where he left off in 2019, with another best on ground performance for Leongatha. Others to play well were Jake Van Der Plight, Nick Nagel, Jake Mackie, Luther Juric and Kim Drew, who has crossed to the Parrots this season from Warragul.
MOE defeated Morwell by 26 points at home.
While leading by five points at the three-quarter-time, back-to-back goals from Tom Caile had the Tigers going into the final change with momentum.
Moe responded well in the final quarter, and kicked four goals to one to run out a 26-point winner, 11.10 (76) to 7.8 (50).
The Tigers employed an empty out style from the midfield to help their defence, which stifled Moe’s ball movement at times, as on numerous occasions the Lions looked to move the ball down field, only to see a host of players wearing yellow and black in their path.
For Moe, the type of win they had was one in which would normally be seen in round 12 or 13, with the team just needing to grind its way to victory to bank the four points and move onto the next challenge.
Ben Maslen, Cameron Manuel, Tyson Biffin, Scott Van Dyk, Jordan Ceppi and Tom Long, who booted four goals, stood out for the Lions, while Isaac Abas, Boyd Bailey and Anthony Rosato were best for the Tigers.
BAIRNSDALE went home from Warragul with a gutsy 8.13 (61) to 8.9 (57) win.
Momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the match, with the Redlegs having their noses in front when it mattered most.
Brayden McCarrey booted three goals for the victors, and received good support from Simon Deery who made a welcome return from injury.
Nick Mulqueen, Mitch Nobelius and Mason McGarrity were adjudged best for Warragul.
