Premiership defence begins for Gulls

by Nicholas Duck
It's finals time in the Gippsland League.
Warragul's under 18s team will be carrying the hopes of local supporters as they embark on their premiership defence.
Meanwhile in the seniors there are more than a few tantalising narratives to keep track of.
Leongatha thirds vs Warragul thirds, Saturday September 2, Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, 10:45am.
Fresh off securing a double chance in finals, Warragul are raring to go as they look to go back-to-back.
The Gulls were locked in during their 10-goal demolition of fellow finals side Bairnsdale, taking them from fourth on the ladder to the top three.
The return of star key position player Patrick Ireland proved to to be a boon, as he came back with a vengeance to kick six goals.
Warragul's bevy of young talent, which saw them take out the thirds premiership and make the fourths grand final, has them primed for what they hope can be a period of success in years to come.
But for now, the real games begin.
They face off with Leongatha, who they split the points with over the course of their two encounters in the home and away season, though they did win their most recent match.
A victory here will see them progress through to a preliminary final date with Traralgon - a team the Gulls knocked off last time they met.
Win and the premiership dream is well and truly alive, lose and it's going to be a fight.
We know Warragul has what it takes, now it's time for them to show it on the big stage.
Senior matches
Two of the leading premiership contenders face off when Moe meets Leongatha in Saturday's qualifying final.
The Lions look as good a chance as ever to break their premiership drought, having built a team designed to contend.
Having beaten Leongatha twice this year they'll have plenty of reason to be confident, though dangerous forward Harry Pepper missing out may prove problematic.
For the Parrots priority one will be countering Moe coach and star stopper Declan Keilty.
Keilty intercepted anything and everything the Parrots threw forward during their two battles, and limiting his influence will be a necessity if they are to go back to back.
Moe will start favourite here, but if there's anything we've come to know about Leongatha, it's that you don't want to underestimate them in finals.
Sunday's elimination final sees Traralgon play Sale for the second time in as many weeks.
A reversal of fortune is needed for the Maroons, who are coming into the finals off the back of some abysmal form - they've lost their past four matches, including a shock loss to Bairnsdale.
Even more pressing is the fact that they were thoroughly outdone last week by the very same opponent they find themselves up against on Sunday.
The Magpies for their part have gone through a turbulent year on the field, churning through players as they failed to find a stable best 22 for most of the year thanks to injuries and indifferent form.
But they made the grand final last year for a reason.
They should be coming into this as warm favourites, but anything could happen.
As it stands though it's a little hard to see either of these two challenging the big boys.