Marriott, Harry, Littlejohn tune up for Parrots recall

THE Leongatha Reserves booked their place in the second semi-final against Traralgon at Morwell this Saturday with a hard-fought, low-scoring win over Moe in windy conditions at Maffra.

And sprinkled among the best players on the day were two senior premiership heroes likely to be pressing hard for a return to the top side against Traralgon, also at Morwell this Saturday.

Named best at Maffra last Saturday were Jackson Harry, who is yet to play a senior game this year, Luke Marshman, Tom Marriott, returning from injury through the reserves, Noah Clark, Nathan Skewes and Brok Davidson. You could also add the name Will Littlejohn to Marriott and Harry, as another player who impressed at Maffra, and likely to find his way back into the seniors.

Harry, in particular, had a big first quarter, turning back Moe’s attacking moves with the wind so effectively, especially with a number of intercept marks, that they didn’t score while Flynn Materia made the most of his limited chances to kick the opening goal.

As much as the Parrots’ fans were delighted to see the form of three of their former premiership players, there was also a lot to like about the overall team effort of the Parrots’ reserves.

Stung into action by the lack of scoring in term one, Moe returned fire immediately after the restart with a mark and goal to Callum Nash from the goal square to even the scores.

Both Marriott and Littlejohn were getting a good run if needed for the seniors next week, but the goals just wouldn’t come until Darby Kratzat scored one with a snap and Materia copped a head-high tackle going for the ball before kicking the Parrots’ third just before the half-time break.

The Parrots had to defend against the wind, but they did better than that with good forward pressure from Brok Davidson and Materia while Noah Clark, Marriott, and Harry were pushing the ball forward out of the defensive end.

Finally, however, Jayden Van Dyk kicked a goal from a seemingly impossible angle, out on the boundary, after a Leongatha kick-in was blown way off course. They were still in it at three-quarter time.

Leongatha coach Jake Cochrane singled Clark and Harry for praise at the last break and urged his players to use the ball well going into the forward 50 if they were to make good use of the wind.

But it was Moe’s Nash who produced the first goal of the quarter, drifting forward on his own to mark and goal, making it just one point the difference.

Harry cleared their next forward thrust and at the other end, Davidson found Marriott in scoring range and he made no mistake.

Mitch De Kleuver was contesting vigorously in the ruck and at the stoppages, as too was Lachy Rock, and with Marriott, Davidson and Tadgh Gannon also working hard the Parrots soon had the buffer they needed via a running snap from Gannon.

Moments later Gannon found Ben Fort with a ‘laces out’ pass and his goal allowed the Parrots to run away with the win, but not without effort across the board, from defence through the midfield and with plenty of forward pressure in attack.

The competition for ultimate success in the ‘Development’ division looks to be fierce this year but Leongatha have taken an important step by qualifying for the ‘double chance’.

Final scores Leongatha 6.5.41 to Moe 3.3.21.