by Nicholas Duck
We're in the home stretch now in the Gippsland League, with just six rounds remaining in the home and away season. With Leongatha well out in front, the chasing pack is experiencing a bit of a logjam, with all of second to seventh place all still with a shot of both making and missing finals. Every game counts as we draw nearer to finals, and here's how round 13 is shaping up.
2:20pm start for all matches.
Bairnsdale vs Leongatha
Location: Bairnsdale City Oval
Who can beat them? That's the question on many fans' lips after yet another week passed where Leongatha stood tall against a potential challenger.
The Parrots went into their match against second-placed Wonthaggi looking like it could be danger game, only to have the result essentially settled by quarter time thanks to a seven goal to none burst.
Now 18 points clear on top of the ladder, the Parrots are clearly going into finals as the number one seed, with the only question remaining being if anyone can actually defeat them.
If anyone's going to do it though it's not looking likely to be their opponents this week.
Bairnsdale enter this clash having won just two games. They showed flashes of some good footy last week against Maffra, but were blown out of the water badly last in the contest to end up being thrashed once again.
The Redlegs have lost their past 12 against the Parrots, and if they were hoping for some home ground advantage they'll have to keep looking. The Parrots have won an impressive 31 of the 40 games they've played against Bairnsdale at the latter's home ground, meaning there are few excuses to not get the job done here.
Bairnsdale's shown some improvement as the year's gone on, but like every team before them beating Leongatha should prove a bridge too far. Parrots to win.
Sale vs Maffra
Location: Sale Oval
The league's Battle of the Birds adds another chapter to its history this week, with the overall win tally between the two sides through their entire time playing one another sitting totally even.
It just points towards the intense rivalry these two clubs share, and with the context of the ladder in mind another classic looms here.
Maffra have pushed their way inside the top five in recent weeks at the expense of Moe, and will be keen to stay there for as long as possible. While they haven't looked like the dominant side we once knew them to be, they've shown enough glimpses of their old brilliance to strike some fear into anyone they meet.
For Sale, it's been a year of frustrating inconsistency, especially on the defensive side of things. They currently sit dangerously on the precipice in fifth spot, and with Morwell right on their tail they can't afford too many more mistakes on the run home.
It was a close affair when these two met earlier in the year as Sale got the win, and fans can expect another tight tussle with so much to play for.
This one is almost impossible to tip with any great confidence, but something about Maffra's recent form has them looking a little ominous at the moment.
Eagles to win, but this could go either way.
Traralgon vs Moe
Location: Traralgon Showgrounds
Playing at the newly christened Terry Hunter Oval, the Maroons host the Lions in what will be a significant match for both sides.
Traralgon looked flat last week against a hungry Morwell side, and even at times looked second rate compared to what they've put out at other times this year.
The Maroons in season 2022 have been one of the league's most frustrating sides. Their best footy, when they find it, has been utterly brilliant, and twice they've pushed the all-conquering Leongatha to the very brink to look the most likely challenger to the throne. At other times though, Traralgon has played listlessly and been made to suffer for it.
As it stands, while they sit third on the table, the fact they are caught in the middle of the logjam from second to seventh could easily be called an underachievement and if they end up missing out on a double chance they'll only have themselves to blame.
Moe, meanwhile, have plenty of their own issues to deal with. Injuries have absolutely cursed them and have been a major factor in them dropping six of the past seven games.
They haven't helped themselves at times though, having kicked themselves out of multiple games with poor accuracy.
They get some of their troops back this week, including James Blader, Riley Baldi and Scott Van Dyk, but the loss of playing coach Declan Keilty leaves them almost totally bereft of height around the ground.
Traralgon's form has indeed been patchy, but Moe's has been abysmal for a while now, meaning at home Traralgon should get the job done.
Warragul vs Morwell
Location: Western Park
Fresh off an uplifting win in the Western Derby, Warragul now turns their attention to this week against the surging Morwell.
The Gulls recovered from a shaky start last week to claim the bragging rights over their bitter rivals, thanks in large part to star spearhead Jed Lamb's 10-goal heroics.
Lamb was in rare form, clunking contested marks with ease while also looking dangerous once the ball hit the deck. If Warragul are to win this week they'll be looking to him to fire again, as outside of Lamb the Gulls have often lacked genuine goalkickers.
The Gulls have some real superstar power behind them, including backman Sean Masterson, midfielders Nick Graham and Nick Mulqueen and ruck duo Sam Whibley and Mitchell Smart. But when they've found their wins it's been through the efforts of their lesser known role players. If they don't play their role, Warragul struggles to win.
Playing your role has been a strong theme for Morwell this year, as the Tigers have surprised many pundits to be well in the finals conversation this year. They've won five of their last six, with their win last week against Traralgon just about being their best for the year.
Morwell's strong contingent of young players has them looking a vibrant and powerful side, and though their percentage remains relatively weak given the two sides above them face each other a win here could see them move into the top five.
Warragul's best has proved to be stiff competition for the sides above them, but with the form Morwell is in it's very tough to tip against them.
Tigers to win.
Wonthaggi vs Drouin
Location: Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve
Wonthaggi will be looking to bounce back this week against a Drouin side struggling to get on the board in season 2022.
The Power would have been bitterly disappointed after their efforts last week, where they went into a clash against Leongatha full of hope only to be blown away in the first quarter and have the result done and dusted by the time of the first change of ends.
While other results going their way has kept them in second spot, no doubt they would have spent much time reflecting on just how wrong they got that game.
They'll have a good chance to rebound this week against the struggling Hawks.
Drouin enjoyed a bright start to last week's Western Derby, kicking the first four goals before being reeled in and overwhelmed by Warragul.
It was a solid encapsulation of Drouin's season thus far. Their best, which comes in flashes, is full of dare and run, and is good enough to trouble most sides. But they just can't sustain it.
There's no shame in it given the Hawks are in the early stages of a rebuild, and their gradual improvement over the course of the season has been evident, but the fact remains that Drouin just can't quite string it together for long enough to get the results they desire.
And while Wonthaggi has at times looked shaky this year, away from home on the Power's home turf it looks unlikely that their second win will be coming here.
Wonthaggi to win.