Parrots soar late in opening round

THOSE at Leongatha were in no doubt stern challenges would come their way this season after last year’s unbeaten campaign, and the Parrots didn’t have to wait long, needing to dig deep to see off Traralgon’s round 1 onslaught.

A glance at the final score, however, doesn’t suggest that, showing a comfortable 37-point margin in favour of the team in green and yellow, but that was after it delivered a commanding last term with the wind.

Early in the match, the Maroons raced to a three-goal quarter time lead, and they were just nine points behind at the last change, but something had already clicked for the defending premier late in the third term.

The Parrots’ confidence and composure suddenly lifted, not long after Traralgon hit the front with a goal at the 17-minute mark of the penultimate stanza.

It started with an accurate pass to Tallin Brill who goaled from close range early in time on to edge Leongatha ahead, following up with another minutes later to give his side a little breathing space.

A classy accurate snap from popular Parrots’ backman Sean Westaway all but sealed the contest 16 minutes into the final term, with Westy accepting a polished handball from Brill who was under Traralgon pressure.

It was fitting, with Brill having not long before driven Leongatha into attack in one of his many inspired moments of the season’s opening day.

Brill came into the side when skipper and last season’s league Best & Fairest Tom Marriott was unable to take the field.

Jenson Garnham wasted no time justifying the Parrots’ decision to recruit the young medium-sized forward from Inverloch Kongwak, slotting five goals in his Leongatha debut and being named the winning side’s best player.

His two first term goals were the Parrots’ only majors during that period, helping keep Leongatha in touch at the opening break, with his remaining three goals coming with the wind in the second quarter.

While he didn’t add to his goal tally in the second half, the club debutant continued to work hard around the ground.

Garnham was followed on Leongatha’s ‘best players list’ by reliable midfielder Aaron Heppell, who finished with three goals, and big Ben Willis who worked tirelessly in the ruck for much of the match, battling it out well with foes such as Max Jacobsen.

Westaway was also named in the best, but his relentless defensive efforts couldn’t top the major that will long be recalled by all at Leongatha.

Harvey Neocleous was best for the defeated Maroons, matching Garnham’s five-goal output.

Leongatha will need to be at its best to topple the in-form Wonthaggi in round 2 following the Easter break, and will be eager to eliminate ill-disciplined moments such as the two double 50 metre penalties that cost the Parrots a couple of second quarter goals against Traralgon.