Gippsland’s boys grinded out a hard-fought 9.9 63 to 9.3 57 victory over GWV Rebels at Windy Hill on Sunday.
From late in the first quarter until Power small forward Sam Grummisch’s back-to-back majors to start the last quarter, it was goal for goal, with one point separating the sides at each of the three breaks.
Grummisch’s goals were followed by Zach O’Keefe’s second goal of the day, which shot Gippsland to a 17-point lead and despite conceding the
Sunday was O’Keefe’s first game match from injury and he tuned up for Vic Country’s first game next weekend with 23 disposals, four tackles and two goals.
For the second consecutive week, stand-in captain Brodie Atkins led all comers with 26 disposals and 11 tackles as he looks to prove a point after being a surprise omission from Vic Country’s squad for its first game against Western Australia.
Jonah Walker’s second game in the backline was another positive one, while Cody Templeton was also a standout alongside Finn O’Brien who played his best game of the season and Willem Duursma will take confidence from his 20-disposal, seven-tackle effort.
Meanwhile, Gippsland’s girls shook off a plucky Bendigo outfit with six goals to zero in the second half to run out 8.10 58 to 2.6 18 victors.
After showing glimpses in a Vic Country trial match last weekend, winger Baia Pugh had her most productive game of the season, gathering 20 disposals, laying seven tackles and kicking a goal.
Maya Crestani strengthened her case for Vic Country selection with 35 hitouts, bottom-ager Lily Milner continued her fine season, and Chelsea Sutton booted two important goals.
Gippsland’s girls travel to Genis Steel Oval, Preston on Saturday to take on Northern Knights at 12pm, while the boys have a week off.
For Dandenong, a stirring final quarter comeback lifted it to victory over Tasmania at Shepley Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Clutch last quarter goal kicker Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves put Dandenong up by seven points at the 22-minute-mark of the last quarter, which was enough to secure the 9.9 63 to 9.2 56 victory.
After leading by 11 points at quarter-time, the Stingrays kicked just two goals to Tassie’s eight through the middle two terms before majors to Lachie Commons, Marcus Prasad, Callum Smith and Hibbins-Hargreaves got the ‘Rays over the line.
Hibbins-Hargreaves tuned up for Vic Country’s first game of the U18s National Championships next weekend with 18 disposals and seven tackles, while Callum Smith continued his consistent form in the midfield with 24 touches and five tackles.
Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect Toby Sinnema had 16 disposals, while 19-year-old Langwarrin local Charlie Orchard led the backline with aplomb, taking six marks among his 18 disposals.
Pacy forward Marcus Prasad was a potent threat in attack, finishing with three goals.
Meanwhile, the Stingrays’ girls suffered their first defeat of the season, heartbreakingly going down 7.5 47 to 7.4 46.
The hosts trailed by 13 points at three-quarter-time, before goals to Nalu Brothwell, Evelyn Conolly and Lily Snow briefly handed them a one-point lead at the 15-minute-mark.
The Devils scored the last two behinds of the game to get up, with the winning score coming with just 45 seconds remaining.
Silky bottom-ager Matilda Argus backed up a promising Vic Country trial match with 27 disposals and 11 tackles.
Sophie White dominated the ruck battle with 46 hitouts to go with 14 disposals.
Snow, Alice Cunnington, Molly Reimers and Gabrielle Mehrmann were all in the best in new coach Nathan Boyd’s first game in charge.
