Gippsland: Wonthaggi, Morwell and Sale fight for finals spots

Finals spots in four major country footy leagues are still up for grabs heading into the final home-and-away round this weekend. See the state of play.

Traralgon’s Tristen Waack will qualify for finals in the last match of the Gippsland league season on Saturday when results of three games will determine which team claims fifth spot.

Waack plays the fourth match he needs to qualify for finals when he lines up against his former club Morwell after spending the bulk of the season playing for Northern Bullants in the VFL.

Traralgon teammate Harvey Neocleous is also eligible for finals after playing nine matches for the Maroons in addition to 11 for Casey Demons in the VFL.

Traralgon can’t move from third even if it loses to Morwell in the final round and will play Moe in the qualifying final.

Morwell’s best chance of holding onto fifth spot, and keeping sixth-placed Sale out, is beating Traralgon.

Sale will start favourites at home against out-of-contention Bairnsdale in the final round.

Another scenario is fourth-placed Wonthaggi will miss if it loses to second-placed Moe, and Morwell and Sale both win.

The Tigers and Magpies battled out a draw in Round 17! Check out the highlights from TRFM Match of the Round! #GippyLeague24pic.twitter.com/fbfiKFaEYP

— Gippsland League (@GippyLeague) August 21, 2024

The Gippsland league has been one of the tightest on record with Morwell figuring in two draws against Traralgon in round 9 and Sale last round.

“They have got a greater motivation with finals on the line,” Traralgon coach Troy Hamilton said.

“But when it’s Morwell-Traralgon no one really struggles for motivation.”

Traralgon was bolstered by the return from injury of captain and key defender Tye Hourigan and former Geelong player Jordan Cunico has strung together five matches in a row after well documented hamstring trouble.

The addition of Waack, who can play in a variety of roles, is another major boost for Traralgon.

Traralgon coach Troy Hamilton. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Meanwhile, Leongatha is resigned to being without key position player Noah Gown for finals.

He has only played three matches for the reigning premiers and will play for Frankston against Gold Coast in the VFL wildcard round this weekend.

Ovens & Murray, Murray and Central Murray are other major leagues with finals spot up in the air with one match remaining.

Albury could miss O&M finals for the first time since 2008 with three teams, North Albury, Wangaratta and Wodonga, four points ahead heading into the last round.

North Albury hosts Wodonga and Albury plays out-of-contention Myrtleford.

Myrtleford did beat Albury earlier this season.

Murray league premiers of the past two seasons, Mulwala, will miss finals if it loses to Cobram.

Cohuna Kangas (fourth), Balranald (fifth) and Woorinen (sixth) enter the Central Murray league last round level on 36 points.

Cohuna Kangas have the toughest assignment against second-placed Nyah-Nyah West United.

Balranald and Woorinen play out-of-contention duo Tooleybuc-Manangatang and Tyntynder.

The Central Murray league plays a top five finals series.

UPPER MURRAY

Cudgewa and Bullioh will meet in the first country footy grand final of 2024 on Saturday.

The four-team Upper Murray league has bumped the Omeo District league as the first flag to be decided with Cudgewa chasing back-to-back premiership wins after crushing Bullioh by 94 points in the grand final last year.

Veteran forward Adam Prior, who kicked seven goals in the grand final last year, is poised to return for Cudgewa after missing the second semi-final when Cudgewa came from 21 points down in the last quarter to beat Bullioh.

The second semi-final victor secured the right to host the grand final.

Bullioh earned another crack at Cudgewa by beating Tumbarumba in the preliminary final.

Meanwhile, Lindenow South and reigning premier Swifts Creek meet in the Omeo District preliminary final at Bruthen today to decide who plays Omeo-Benambra in the grand final at Swan Reach next Saturday.