Wonthaggi and Traralgon go at it in crucial Gippsland contest

IT WAS ‘game on’ in the second quarter at Traralgon as Wonthaggi Power closed the gap to two points with a pressure goal from second-gamer Billy Wyhoon.

Every single Power player got across to Wyhoon to celebrate his first goal in Gippsland senior football and they continued to attack to the city-end goal, pushing to go ahead of a tightly pressed Traralgon defence.

As usual, intercept machine Tye Hourigan was controlling the space in front of the Wonthaggi goal, working well with Membrey and Neilson, not only marking the incoming ball but making sure a promising kick by Jarryd Blair went through for a point.

However, after doing much of the attacking for the first 10 minutes, Traralgon went up the other end where Tom Hamilton received free for a high tackle and bombed it through from 45 metres out to restore a seven-point lead.

Wonthaggi’s Matthew Wade had the chance to make Traralgon pay after a 50 metre penalty but his shot went wide and the Power was making it hard for themselves with a string of points.

If not for Tom Glenn, Shannon Bray and Isaac Chugg holding up strongly in defence, Traralgon might have been able to surge further ahead as the Maroons started to get their running and rebound game going.

Wonthaggi continued to pepper the goals but finally Shannon Bray and Aiden Lindsay combined for a goal to put Wonthaggi back in front mid-way through the quarter.

Shannon Bray was moved forward and was keeping Hourigan honest by leading him away from the ball at times, but Hourigan continued to have an influence back there.

In the shadows of half time, however, Traralgon's Hamilton put them back in front by a matter of points.

But it was Wonthaggi which came on strong after half time kicking 9.5 to Traralgon's 6.3, hitting the front by the last change and then coming home with 7.1 to the Maroon's 4.3 to win a key game by 21 points with a withering finish.

Traralgon actually got out to a 15-point break with consecutive goals early in the third term, but Wonthaggi announced themselves with a string of three goals in four minutes to Jye Williams from the angle, Matthew Wade and Cooper McInnes, playing some of their best footy for the year.

The teams exchanged goals at the start of the last quarter and it was still anyone's game 10 minutes in with Traralgon leading by a point until Aiden Lindsay kicked his third but follow-up goals to Glenn, Williams and Cooper gave the Power the breathing space they deserved, and they went on to record a memorable win.

Traralgon actually won the 'inside 50' count in the last quarter 13/12 which was testament to the strength of the Power defence all day. Otherwise, Power won the inside 50s 54 to 36 in a dominant display only undone by Traralgon's straight kicking and Wontahggi's inaccuracy up until half time.

Wonthaggi won the clearances 44/33, the centre clearances 19/8, the free kicks 26/22 and the marks 96/91, including contested marks 12/8 and intercept marks 16/14 but not the inside 50 marks, Traralgon's way 10/8.

Daniel Bourke was the dominant ruckman with 39 knocks, ably assisted by Jasper Shone 12, easily accounting for Traralgon's Jacob Van Iwaarden.

Jye Williams, Isaac Chugg (TRFM Player of the Day), Bryce Joyce, Aiden Lindsay and Brodie Mabilia were the main ball getters for Wonthaggi in an even display, while Tye Hourigan was the standout for the Maroons with 28 disposals and 10 marks including six intercept marks.

It was quite a contest in cool, ideal football weather and an important one for both teams in their aim of finishing in the top three, to secure the ‘double chance’ ahead of the finals.