Parrots send Eagle feathers flying in Leongatha

LEONGATHA showed impressive form to end the home and away season with a thumping 111-point win over Maffra.

The Parrots were in charge all day, allowing the Eagles a meagre 2.5(17) for the match.

Aaron Heppell was again in blistering form, leading the Leongatha charge and winning heaps of the Sherrin and creating opportunities for teammates as well as nailing three majors.

When Maffra was able to get the footy forward, the Eagles were often thwarted by Jackson Harry.

“He did a really good job on Daniel Bedggood, Maffra’s key forward,” Leongatha coach Trent McMicking said.

Although facing a steeper challenge in the first week of finals against Moe, McMicking was impressed with the work his players put into the win over Maffra.

“Our ball movement was as good as it has been for quite a while,” he said, adding that the team also defended well as a whole when required.

Jenson Garnham topped the Leongatha goal kicking with four majors, while Josh Hopkins, Tallin Brill and Will Littlejohn booted two goals each and six other Parrots contributed single goals.
Kade Renooy kicked Maffra’s only two majors.

Brayden Monk was named best for the Eagles, with Ben Brunt and Ed Carr also prominent.

Leongatha expects to get a number of players back for what promises to be a ripper qualifying final against Moe on Saturday, with the Parrots not yet having toppled the Lions in 2023.

As Richmond has been eliminated from this year’s VFL competition, Cam Olden returns to Leongatha, while Tom Marriott, Luke Bowman and Kim Drew are all set to be back in action for the Parrots.

Jack Hume may be available, having taken time to recover from a medial ligament strain in his knee.

McMicking is hopeful his side can minimise the effectiveness of dangerous Moe forwards Billy Gowers and Harrison Pepper but is also mindful of negating a Lions’ powerhouse at the other end in Declan Keilty.

The centre half back has starred in Moe’s two wins against Leongatha this season, with the Lions triumphing by 27 points and 22 points in rounds 7 and 16 respectively.

Leongatha will undoubtedly hope for a better run with the officials than it got in that round 16 match, with the rub of the green not going the Parrots’ way.

It should be a terrific game on Saturday between two worthy premiership contenders.