Parrots and Power in seven grand finals

ON A DAY when 20 teams play off for premiership glory in the Gippsland League, at Morwell this Saturday, the local clubs Leongatha and Wonthaggi will be well represented with eight teams featuring in seven of the day’s 10 grand finals.

The neighbouring rivals only meet each other in one of those games, the eagerly anticipated B Grade Grand Final starting at 1.30pm.

The teams have traded wins during the season, Leongatha convincing winners early in the year and again in the Qualifying Final, but Wonthaggi got them at home, 39-38, indicating the contest could go either way, with the Parrots slight favourites.

But the Power has two of the highest-voting players in the league this year, best award winner Courtney Young and Jess Blair to call on, with much to play for.

Local interest starts early with the Leongatha Under 13s opening the day against Sale at 8.30am, the Leongatha Thirds up against Maffra at 10.30am and then Wonthaggi in the C Grade netball grand final at 11am.

At 12.30pm it’s Leongatha versus Traralgon in the Reserves’ grand final and at 1.30pm, Leongatha and Wonthaggi in the B Grade, as the perfect appetiser for the big senior football grand final starting at 2.30pm featuring last year’s grand finalists Leongatha and Traralgon.

The A Grade netball grand final between Warragul and Moe may not feature a local team but for netball aficionados, it should be a cracker with the top two teams of the competition both boasting plenty of star power and separated by only four goals in the Qualifying Final where Warragul prevailed over the previously undefeated Lions. Expect to hear plenty of noise coming from the Morwell courts as that game reaches its crescendo.

Main game

The fairy tale result from Saturday’s Gippsland League Senior Football Grand Final for locals would be to see Leongatha brothers, Dyson and Aaron Heppell, draped in their premiership medals and holding up the 2025 cup.

But, as Parrots’ fans found out last year, reputations mean nothing when it comes to grand finals and a pacy Maroons’ lineup left the much-vaunted Leongatha team of last year in its wake to claim the 2024 title.

The two powerhouse clubs of the competition, since Leongatha rejoined the central Gippsland league in 1969, have shown themselves both capable of winning from any position when it comes to “the big dance”.

They expect success and Saturday’s contest shapes as one for the ages, Traralgon coming in with their famous run and carry and Leongatha hoping to stop that at the source with the likes of Dyson Heppell, Tom Marriott, Luke Bowman, Kim Drew, big Benny Willis, Aaron Heppell, Sam Forrester, Jay Walker and Trood Award and Rodda medal winner Ben Harding all first-class ball winners and distributors.

But Traralgon are equally blessed in that department with names such as Ambler, D’Angelo, Willaton, Cunico, Northe, Hallyburton, Neocleous and Anderson match-winners on their day.

Add to that a miserly defence led by intercept-marking force, the league’s MVP Tye Hourigan, and you have a scoring barrier that looms as a significant challenge for the Parrots.

Who wins it? Stupid question! There’s nothing between these sides, even with the significant inclusion of Dyson Heppell this year, hoping to share in some hometown success after a stellar career at the top level.

It’s all about who brings it on the day… all we can say is “Carn the Parrots”!!