by Nicholas Duck

After a week off for the Easter break, the Gippsland League returns this week with plenty of top-level matches and local rivalries galore. Round three is shaping up to be a great one, and here's how this week's individual games are looking:

Saturday April 23
Bairnsdale vs Sale
Time: 2:20pm
Location: Bairnsdale City Oval
Bairnsdale will be out to put an indifferent start to the season aside as they host Sale, who will be equally as keen to get their season rolling.
The Redlegs will be frustrated with how things have gone in their two matches so far, having led both Morwell and Maffra well into their respective match-ups before losing, with the Morwell match in particular appearing as a real lost opportunity.
If the Redlegs are ruing lost opportunities, Sale will be fuming at their own start to the season, as a team once touted as a premiership contender now finds themselves second last on the ladder having been thoroughly dismantled on their home deck by Leongatha last round.
The Magpies will be encouraged by the fact they have won their last seven matches against Bairnsdale, and would still likely be expecting to win comfortably. Anything less and the alarm bells might just start ringing.

Moe vs Maffra
Time: 2:20pm
Location: Ted Summerton Reserve
It's one versus two on the ladder this week as Moe plays host to Maffra in what looms to be one of the matches of the round.
The Lions once again look to be one of the Gippsland League's stronger teams, and will be keen to test themselves against one of the league's best sides.
Former Hawthorn forward Harry Pepper has been one of the highlights for Moe, kicking five goals in each of the team's first two games, and Maffra will want to find a way to lock him down to improve their chances of winning.
Player-coach and former Melbourne player Declan Keilty also returns for Moe this week, further bolstering an already strong team.
After a years-long 16 game winning streak against the Lions, Maffra have lost their past three to the home side as they try to reverse last year's indifferent form and firmly establish themselves in the top five once again.
They've started well this season, winning their two games so far with little trouble and will be keen to fire a warning shot to the rest of the league that they may just be back in full flight this year.
Moe will likely start as slight favourites due to their home ground advantage, but expect a tight match-up that will tell us plenty about these two sides and their potential fortunes.

Wonthaggi vs Leongatha
Time: 2:20pm
Location: Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve
Fresh off their incredibly entertaining draw against Warragul last round, Wonthaggi meets Leongatha in a match-up that many pundits picked as the potential grand final for season 2022..
It hasn't quite been the start to the season that Wonthaggi would have hoped for, having only barely accounted for Sale in round one before their aforementioned draw leaving them still well placed but looking to improve their position.
Things certainly don't get any easier this week against Leongatha, who once again look to be one of the teams to beat.
This will be a battle won and lost in the midfield, and with Leongatha onballers Cade Maskell and Tom Marriott in strong form Wonthaggi will be wary of the Parrots' bigger bodies in the middle.
Wonthaggi player-coach and former Collingwood premiership player Jarryd Blair is an out this week, making things more challenging for the home side.
The Power's best is good enough to topple Leongatha as the two sides went one win apiece in their two games in 2021, but if any complacency creeps in expect Leongatha to capitalise.

Sunday April 24
Warragul vs Drouin
Time: 2:20pm
Location: Western Park
Warragul hosts Drouin in what will be the 100th official match between the two sides as their intense rivalry continues.
The Gulls will be ruing a lost opportunity last round as their brilliant comeback against Wonthaggi didn't quite result in a victory, with the two teams instead sharing the points in what was the game of the season so far.
With that result, as well as a competitive showing in round one against Moe, the Gulls remain winless but have at least shown significant signs of improvement since last season, and they look likely to at least cause a few upsets this season.
Things aren't looking anywhere near as hopeful for their rivals however, as Drouin remains anchored to the bottom of the ladder going into round three.
The Hawks, having lost a significant amount of their senior talent and experience over the off-season, have been simply outmatched by their bigger bodied opponents in the first two rounds as they've been thoroughly thrashed twice.
Despite this, Drouin will be significantly boosted this week by the return of 2021 club best and fairest Eddie Morris, who has been named to play his first game of the season.
Morris will provide a genuine boost of talent into a side that desperately needs it right now, and his presence, along with the match-up against Drouin's traditional and bitter rival, may be able to spark his younger teammates into a stronger performance than what's been shown thus far.
Warragul, who will also be boosted by the return of former Carlton player Nick Graham, will still enter this game as warm favourites, but with this rivalry sometimes you just never know.

Traralgon vs Morwell
Time: 2:20pm
Location: Morwell Recreation Reserve
Traralgon will be a team out for revenge against nearby rival Morwell on Sunday, as the Maroons seek to avenge their shock loss to the Tigers last season.
Having gone into the previous match-up as strong favourites against the one-win Tigers, Traralgon was ultimately jumped in the last quarter by a plucky Morwell side who pulled off one of the upsets of the season.
Traralgon appears to be a stronger side this year however, bolstered by star recruits such as former Port Adelaide forward Brett Eddy. who is fresh off a 10 goal performance against Drouin last round.
Morwell, for their part, are still a young, rebuilding team and looked every bit of that as they were crushed by Moe last week.
A Traralgon win looks on paper to be the obvious result, but after last year's match the Tigers will be keen to cause another upset.
Fans should note that while Traralgon are listed as the home side, this game will take place at Morwell due to continuing works on the Traralgon home