Gippsland: Former AFL player Billy Gowers stars in first game for Moe

Former Western Bulldogs player Billy Gowers has starred in his first match for Moe. See how many goals he kicked and check in on results from around the country footy grounds.

Former Western Bulldogs utility Billy Gowers has made a stunning debut for Moe in its 27-point win against Leongatha in the Gippsland league on Saturday.

Gowers booted five goals as Moe ended Leongatha’s 34-match winning streak that began in early 2021 and included last year’s grand final win over Sale.

Gowers started the season with Old Xaverians after playing the previous two years with Southport in the VFL.

But he will play out the rest of the season for Moe, which lost its key forward Kristian Jaksch to a season-ending knee injury in round 2 after he kicked five goals in the season opener.

Billy Gowers playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2020. He kicked five goals for Moe against Leongatha. Pic: Michael Klein

The Lions made Leongatha pay for a poor first term when it kicked 0.7 before taking the upper hand with four goals to one in the second to lead by 21 points at halftime.

The Moe defence, led by coach Declan Keilty, restricted Leongatha to only six goals at home with Jenson Garnham and Jack Ginnane, who kicked 19 goals between them a month ago, managing only one goals between them.

Grady Cocksedge and James Blaser were also instrumental in the Moe victory.

In a further bonus, Moe has 199cm ruckman-forward Nick Prowse, Trent and Ryan Baldi and Tom Long to return.

Moe began last season with six successive wins before a disastrous run of injuries that cost it a finals spot.

TALLANGATTA

Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Yackandandah are heading for a mid-season blockbuster after both beat other finals contenders on Saturday.

The Hawks rolled Beechworth by 17 points and the Roos had an even more emphatic win against Mitta United by 36 points.

Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Yackandandah are due to meet on June 10 to decide premiership favouritism.

Yackandandah coach Darren Holmes, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Kiewa-Sandy Creek opened a matchwinning 51-point win lead at halftime before Beechworth showed some belated fight in the second half.

Key forward Connor Newnham kicked four goals for the Hawks who had other excellent contributors in Tristan Mann and Josh and Jake Hicks.

Yackandandah prime movers Ben McIntosh and Johann Jarratt starred in the Roos win with their backline well led by Angus Lingham.

Mitta United forward Ethan Redcliffe was kept to one goal.

OMEO DISTRICT

Omeo-Benambra has recorded an upset 52-point win against Swifts Creek to stay alive in the race for the double chance.

Swifts Creek was on a six-match winning streak that included victory over ladder leader Swan Reach going into the match played at home.

But Omeo-Benambra was on top from the outset against its arch rival, opening a 13-point lead at quarter time before extending the margin to 32 at halftime.

Daniel Jones, recruited from Paynesville this year, continued his hot form this season for Omeo-Benambra by kicking four goals with Ross Ansaldi and David Paech also in the best.

Swifts Creek captain Conor Harvey was in his team’s best players for the fifth successive match.

Swan Reach stayed top of the ladder with a crushing 126-point win over Bruthen.

Max Solomon returned to the Swan Reach to boot nine goals, but teammate Alex Saunders going one better with 10.

Originally published as Gippsland: Former AFL player Billy Gowers stars in first game for Moe