Gulls fourths go down

The hope of a finals appearance are fading fast for Warragul's fourths following a 68-point defeat to Leongatha.
Playing away from home and needing a scalp to keep pace with the top five, the sixth-placed Gulls were blown away by an early onslaught and never recovered, losing 2.6 (14) to 13.8 (86).
The Parrots piled on nine goals to one in a statement first half, putting the game to bed before easing to victory via a slower second half.
Now four points and significant percentage adrift of fifth, Warragul simply has to knock off Moe this week if they are to have any hope.
John Strating, Saxon Cook, Riley DiGrandi, Ollie Bain, Kale Dunstan and Chad McIntosh fought for Warragul all game.
Drouin's fourths were completely crushed by a rampant Morwell.
Against another of the league's strugglers the Hawks couldn't make a dent, failing to score in the 0.0 (0) to 19.18 (132) thrashing.
The scoreline – and the Hawks' year in general – makes a bit more sense when you take into account more than half of their named side on Saturday were plucked from the club's under 14s.
It's been a tough year but hopefully they're better for the long run.
In other fourths results Bairnsdale bested Moe 10.10 (70) to 4.9 (33), Traralgon toppled Maffra 7.13 (55) to 3.6 (24) and Sale smacked Wonthaggi 9.12 (66) to 3.7 (25).
It was a tough trip down south for Warragul's thirds, who found themselves no match for Leongatha.
The Gulls battled bravely with just 14 players named but the weight of numbers won out, the Parrots plentiful in both numbers and goals to leave the visitors adrift 5.4 (34) to 20.13 (133).
The club's numbers plight has plagued their junior ranks in recent years, though this is the first year in some time it's seemingly totally derailed.
Leongatha's third quarter was particularly potent, the home side driving home seven goals to one and blowing the margin out in the process, with Max Carter (eight goals) enjoying a day out.
Warragul will hope for some reinforcements back at Western Park this week.
Harvie Dennis, Toby Senini, Nash Olsson, Ty Kindermann, Dean Brown and Jeremy Baxter battled bravely against the odds.
A slow start cruelled Drouin's thirds from scoring their third win of the season against Morwell.
Playing the league's only winless side to that point the Hawks were caught napping early, conceding five goals to one in the opening quarter.
From there they were unable to work their way back, going down 4.10 (34) to 10.7 (67).
It's a bitterly disappointing defeat in a campaign that has returned little success.
Drouin were generally the better side past half time though it mattered little, the early deficit too big a hill to climb – not that their goalkicking helped.
With two games remaining against top five teams it's hard to see them winning another this year.
Jesse Etchell, Tyler Williams, Joab Ferguson, Joshua Taranto, Charlie Adamiak and Christian Dorian gave their all despite the loss.
Elsewhere in the thirds Moe overcame Bairnsdale 12.7 (79) to 11.6 (72), Traralgon mashed Maffra 15.8 (98) to 4.2 (26) and Wonthaggi had the bye.
Warragul's reserves just fell short of a monumental victory, falling to the all-conquering Leongatha by four points.
The Gulls looked on the verge of an all-timer victory when they led the Parrots by nine heading into the final term, only for the champs to do what they do best, putting aside their indifferent accuracy and arrest the momentum.
Try as they might - and they had a few last gasp chances inside 50 – the Gulls couldn't regain the ascendancy, left to wonder what might have been 8.5 (53) to 7.15 (57).
While a win wouldn't have made a material difference on the ladder it would have done wonders for Warragul's confidence heading into finals.
Regardless, the Gulls will take plenty out of the game, namely their first and third terms where they made the four-time reigning premiers look second rate.
Another stern test awaits when they face Moe at home this weekend.
Samuel Grummisch, Patrick Carpenter, Tyson O'Leary, Jeremy Baxter, Heath Jinks and Harry Hodge were among the Gulls doing their chances of a senior recall no harm.
Drouin's reserves found themselves on the wrong end of the result against Morwell.
Despite beating the Tigers last time around, the Hawks were unable to replicate the result, held to one goal in the first half en route to defeat 6.6 (42) to 9.6 (60).
Though they won the second half 5.2 to 4.2 the damage was done early and the result with it.
In other reserves results Moe monstered Bairnsdale 31.10 (196) to 3.2 (20), Traralgon thrashed Maffra 17.15 (117) to 3.4 (22) and Wonthaggi got past Sale 10.13 (73) to 6.3 (39).