IT'S game on here at Wonthaggi today in the Qualifying final with Leongatha turning a one-point deficit at quarter time into a 23-point lead by the long break.
And it was on the back of a master class by Cam Olden at full forward.
Olden had five goals by half time in a game that was otherwise very tight in general play.
Leongatha pulled a tactical stroke of brilliance by picking up Moe playmaker and defensive intercept machine, Declan Keilty, with the versatile Luke Bowman.
So successful was the move, to half time that Keilty was shifted forward with Bowman following him, part way through the second quarter.
But Moe grabbed the first goal of the third quarter iwithin a minute through their beanpole forward Nick Prowse who ran on to the bouncing ball tapped it over the back after a long searching kick by Bill Gowers and they had the perfect start in their fight back. Ben Daniher to Reilly Baldi and they won the next centre break seconds later to have them into attack again to the swimming pool end of the ground. Soon after Keilty received the handpass and might have goaled but the moment was lost.
Jacob Balfour to Trent Baldi was another chance as the Lions peppered the scoring zone early in a effort to wipe off some of the deficit and it was Nick Prowse who was awarded a free close to goal on the angle. Moe was coming but it was a point and Moe had cut the lead to a manageable 16 points.
Moe continued to take it up to the Parrots and it was principally Cade Maskell who frustrated their best efforts back there.
Finally though, the Parrots returned fire when Travis Nash was awarded a 50 metre penalty after a Moe player returned the football to the wrong player. What looked to be an 80 metre penalty followed and Nash slotted it through to take the lead out to 21 points again.
And so it continued, Moe never giving in but Leongatha having the answers all day with Cam Olden having his best day out for the Parrots finishing with eight
In fact Olden had the chance to make it nine when Aaron Turton sharked the ball and found his team mate laces out, Olden played on and was in the process of taking a shot from close range when the siren sounded but the Parrots had won through in convincing style by 28 points.
Moe, it must be said, didn't play their best footy but never gave up and might still play a key role in the 2023 finals series.
Final scores: Leongatha- 16.5.101 def Moe 11.7.73.
