OFFICIAL ALEX SCOTT & STAFF WEST GIPPSLAND FNC RECORD ROUND 9 2021 SATURDAY 26 JUNE 2021 BULLDOGS HOST SEA EAGLES IN TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH TOP OF THE TABLE wgfnc.org.au ROUND 9 All roads lead to the Cowes Recreation Reserve By far the biggest question heading into this this Saturday when Phillip Island and Inverloch- match is also by far the most obvious. Kongwak go head-to-head for top spot on the How does Soumilas stop the power and ladder in one of the most eagerly anticipated dominance of former Melbourne and North match-ups of the season. Melbourne player and reigning league best and The two former Alberton League clubs have fairest winner Cam Pedersen? dominated the most important headline in The 34-year-old is consistently doing elite level football – premiership winners – since the things that you don’t often see in community reinvention of West Gippsland footy in 2017. football. Pack marks, clutch goals, and the ability The Sea Eagles will forever be remembered to break the game open with enormous distance as the first winners of the title in that debut on his kicks is a luxury the Bulldogs have now year, while the Bulldogs are the back-to-back become accustomed to. champions and poised for a rare three-peat of Is former Hawthorn champion Jarryd Roughead premiership success. the answer? Despite their premiership-winning exploits, neither Wouldn’t it be magnificent if restrictions and rules team has defeated the other in the big dance – are relaxed and Soumilas could pit the four-time and it would almost seem fitting that these two premiership star against the undisputed best should collide on the final day of the season and player in the competition? battle it out for the ultimate bragging rights. If there’s one player who could take Pedersen down Of course, there is a torrent of water to flow under a cog or two with banter – and have the record to the bridge before that scenario takes place but, back it up – it’s one of the most highly decorated right now, these are the two leading contenders, players in the AFL over the last 15 years! the Ali and Frazier of the WGFNC as we head into the second half of the season. Let’s wait and see what happens. Beau Vernon’s Bulldogs have been the dominating But even without Roughead the Sea Eagles have force this year, crushing the lesser lights of the the capabilities to bring down the reigning champs. competition in devastating style, while picking Bunyip faces a tough essay this week when the apart their fellow premiership aspirants. Bulldogs host Tooradin-Dalmore on Saturday. Their only hiccup came in a surprise loss to Nar Nar The Doggies had their best win of the season Goon in round three, on the very deck where the last week, downing a talented Warragul Sea Eagles will try to repeat the dose on Saturday. Industrials, in the best sign yet that Tim Ben Soumilas and his Sea Eagles haven’t McGibney is finally getting his team to gel. tasted defeat since round one, when Cora Former Cora Lynn star Jackson Dalton is Lynn’s Anthony Giuliano kick-started a return certainly living up to his end of the bargain, to football in the best possible fashion with an while Dylan and Ryan Quirk, and Michael Collins, after-the-siren classic. have been serviceable, without dominating, to Soumilas and his team have since gone on a this point of the year. seven-game winning streak. Tooradin-Dalmore is such an interesting case www.wgfnc.org.au 1 ROUND 9 cont. study at the moment. But the first the likes of Matt Ryan, Brent Urwin, The Gulls might be able to draw inspiration from Lochie Peluso and Tom Stiglich need to make the US Open win of Jon Rahm. sure there are no nasty surprises against the Giants and Warragul Industrials next week. They know they have the talent to compete at the top level, they’ve been close . but they just Garfield should also consolidate its top-six need a breakthrough win! position when the Stars turn on the porch light A win this week against the Bulldogs won’t fulfil for Dalyston. that desire…but a big win can’t be far away and Hayden Stanton will be keen to fine-tune the could be the confidence builder they need. engines ahead of next week’s game against Kilcunda-Bass will be hoping for a fast start Tooradin at Westernport Oval. when the Panthers roll out the welcome mat for Players like Ned Marsh, Tanner Stanton and Nar Nar Goon. Michael Wallace have been around long enough The Panthers had a confidence boosting victory to know that things can turn sour in a hurry. over Kooweerup last week, while the Goon And Warragul Industrials will need to have their will look to rebound after copping an absolute wits about them when the Dusties welcome a shellacking from Inverloch. young and vibrant Kooweerup to Western Park If the Panthers can stick with the Goon early – this on Saturday. one could be a lot closer than people might think. The Demons do look hungry and have really Players like Hayden Spierings, Jayden Nolan, tightened up in defence after conceding some Jake Smith and Hayden Egerton have played massive scores in the early part of the season. every game this year and would love nothing better than to roll the Goon and get a sniff of The Demons will also be a grumpy after last finals in the nostrils. week’s nail-biting loss to Kilcunda-Bass and you can bet that Rhys Nisbet will have his boys fired The Cobras should consolidate their position over up for the early exchanges. the next two weeks – but then we find out more in round 11 when the passport gets stamped by the But the likes of Anthony Bruhn, Michael gate attendant at Tooradin. Debenham and Noah Glen will lead the Dusties We already can’t wait for that one . it is going to a hard-fought 21-point victory. to be a beauty. David Nagel – Pakenham Gazette CONTACT DETAILS REGULAR START TIMES AFL Gippsland, PO Box 853 Traralgon VIC 3844 FOOTBALL NETBALL Email: [email protected] Under 16 – 9:00am 11 & Under: 8:00am D Grade: 11:30am Under 18 – 10:30am 13 & Under: 8:50am C Grade: 12:30pm Website: www.wgfnc.org.au Reserves – 12:10pm 15 & Under: 9:40am B Grade: 1:30pm Phone: (03) 5134 8733 Seniors – 2:00pm 17 & Under: 10:30am A Grade: 2:45pm NO DOGS OR ALCOHOL ALLOWED TO BE BROUGHT INTO ANY WGFNC VENUE ON MATCH DAY 2 2021 WEST GIPPSLAND BARRACKER ROUND 9 RESULTS: SENIORS BUNYIP 2.6 5.9 7.11 12.14 (86) WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS 1.1 4.8 7.9 8.12 (60) BUNYIP: Goal Kickers: H. Morgan-Morris 4, B. Runnalls 3, J. McLeod 1, B. Heus 1, D. Quirk 1, A. Dijkstra 1, B. Walker 1 Best Players: J. McLeod, R. Quirk, J. Dalton, N. Allen, A. Dijkstra, M. Collins WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS: Goal Kickers: M. Debenham 3, A. Bruhn 2, D. Granger 1, W. Jolley 1, K. Taylor 1 Best Players: W. Gibson, K. Beveridge, M. Debenham, S. Brewster INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 3.3 9.3 16.8 23.14 (152) NAR NAR GOON 2.4 5.6 8.7 10.8 (68) INVERLOCH-KONGWAK: Goal Kickers: T. Van Driel 8, T. Hams 4, C. McInnes 3, D. Clark 2, R. Sparkes 1, C. Casey 1, O. Toussaint 1, J. Hutchinson 1 Best Players: J. Hutchinson, T. Van Driel, T. Hams, L. Scott, R. Sparkes, S. Hawking NAR NAR GOON: Goal Kickers: S. Stocco 3, B. Hermann 2, K. O’Sullivan 1, T. Noy 1, F. Parker 1, T. McDermott 1, J. Smith 1 Best Players: B. Homfray, A. Young, J. Smith, T. Noy, T. Armour, M. Virtue PHILLIP ISLAND 1.5 5.7 14.12 14.12 (96) TOORADIN-DALMORE 2.3 6.5 9.11 9.11 (65) PHILLIP ISLAND: Goal Kickers: C. Pedersen 3, O. Kane-Gillard 2, H. Bruce 2, J. Patullo 2, M. Blake 2, J. Youle 1, N. Anderson 1, K. MacKenzie 1 Best Players: C. Pedersen, A. Duyker, J. Youle, J. Tomada, J. Patullo, D. Pearce TOORADIN-DALMORE: Goal Kickers: B. Grewar 3, A. Oxley 2, J. Suarez 2, K. Sabbatucci 1, A. Dean 1 Best Players: B. Grewar, A. Galea, B. Butler, K. Sabbatucci, B. Egan, B. Lenders KILCUNDA BASS 4.2 6.4 8.8 9.10 (64) KOO WEE RUP 1.3 5.4 7.8 9.8 (62) KILCUNDA BASS: Goal Kickers: T. Gibson 3, J. Nolan 2, J. Phillips 2, J. Soroczynski 1, J. Rosenow 1 Best Players: J. Soroczynski, J. Weightman, D. Atkins, Z. Rolph, T. Gibson, J. Nolan KOO WEE RUP: Goal Kickers: N. Voss 4, T. Deighton 2, A. Whitta 2, J. Berry 1 Best Players: N. Voss, C. Milojevic, T. Bindley, A. Whitta, J. Berry, F. McMillan 4 2021 WEST GIPPSLAND BARRACKER ROUND 9 RESULTS: RESERVES CORA LYNN 4.7 7.12 11.14 16.15 (111) DALYSTON 0.1 1.1 1.2 2.2 (14) CORA LYNN: Goal Kickers: L. Carr 4, L. Banting 2, J. Mackenzie 2, J. Wilson 2, T. Ramsdale 1, S. Wilson 1, G. Da Costa 1, T. Drew 1, B. Millier 1, D. Ross 1 Best Players: T. Ramsdale, M. Ferguson, G. Da Costa, J. Wilson, L. Banting, S. Wilson DALYSTON: Goal Kickers: J.