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Gippsland: Riley Baldi and Dyson Heppell finals participation still in doubt

A Moe star will be a step closer to playing finals under Gippsland league rules on Saturday, but his flag dreams are still in the hands of AFL Victoria. See the latest.

Moe star Riley Baldi will take another step towards the Gippsland league’s finals qualification mark of four senior matches on Saturday when his VFL club Casey Demons has its next bye.

The reigning Trood Award and Rodda Medal winner hasn’t played for Moe since mid-June when he lined-up in the reserves against Bairnsdale.

But Baldi’s eligibility for finals is still contingent on confirmation that an overarching rule stating once a player has played more than 12 VFL matches he can’t play finals for his country club, won’t be enforced.

Moe’s Riley Baldi playing for the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan (AFLNT Media)
Moe’s Riley Baldi playing for the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan (AFLNT Media)

In the event that a proposed compromise of four senior matches for one-point players only is ticked off by AFL Victoria, Dyson Heppell still has to play one more match for Leongatha and Baldi two for Moe.

The former Essendon captain played his third match for Leongatha last round.

Heppell plays for VFL club Port Melbourne which is out of VFL finals contention.

Baldi and Heppell have both played more than 12 VFL matches this season.

Moe coach Leigh Poholke. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Moe coach Leigh Poholke. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Warragul’s Will Hayes qualified for the Gippsland league finals series when he played in the Gulls’ come-from-behind win against reigning premier Traralgon.

Hayes has only played seven matches for Carlton in the VFL.

Meanwhile, Drew Lloyd hit the Goulburn Valley league five-match finals qualification mark when he played his latest game for Rochester in a draw against Mansfield.

Lloyd has played 10 matches for Port Melbourne this season and the GV does enforce the 12-match VFL rule.

Kyabram’s Anthony Depasquale has qualified for the GV finals series, but will be sidelined for remainder of the home and away rounds with a back injury.

The VFL’s latest injury report had him listed to miss five matches.

Depasquale has played eight matches for Werribee up until mid-June.

Kyabram is on top of the GV ladder undefeated after 15 rounds.

Werribee also has a bye this weekend and North Albury will be sweating on the availability of Foster Gardiner, who needs to play two more matches to qualify for Ovens & Murray finals.

Time is running out for another flag contender, Myrtleford, to have former Fremantle key forward Matt Taberner eligible for finals.

Perth-based Taberner played two matches earlier in the season and has to play one more to qualify.

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/gippsland-riley-baldi-and-dyson-heppell-finals-participation-still-in-doubt/news-story/2a816a9bdb33ba7a3dd0765827e50e39