West Gippsland LaTrobe

[Stoney]

Last week Sale went down to Tralagon by 4 points in a good old-fashioned nail bitter ... this week they set out to tackle Moe at Moe - the nation's gumby capital!!!

Sale will be bolstered by the return of Springvale Scorpions listed Damon Arrezzolo who racked up 17 possessions and 1 goal last week, however controversially costed Sale the match giving 2 50m penalties away which resulted in Tralagon goals (and costed Sale the victory).

More details about the 'A-Factor' can be found on the Springvale website, or check back here next week for the round's update about the next household name in football Victoria!

Simon Goosey has nothing on this kid!

[Stafford678]

hahaha he's got nothing on the kids like mooney, dore, etc that played power

[ComicStoreGuy]

Look Sale are the greatest football team, since the Maffra left the comp to join the VFL ;)

[Stoney]

Arrezzolo has a cult following on the streets of Springvale ... his fans follow him wherever he goes!!!

[Groenwegen]

Last week Sale went down to Tralagon by 4 points in a good old-fashioned nail bitter ... this week they set out to tackle Moe at Moe - the nation's gumby capital!!!

Sale will be bolstered by the return of Springvale Scorpions listed Damon Arrezzolo who racked up 17 possessions and 1 goal last week, however controversially costed Sale the match giving 2 50m penalties away which resulted in Tralagon goals (and costed Sale the victory).

More details about the 'A-Factor' can be found on the Springvale website, or check back here next week for the round's update about the next household name in football Victoria!

Simon Goosey has nothing on this kid!

Stoney wondering where we will be able to catch the A factor this weekend?

[Stoney]

Haha the 'A-Factor' despite some brilliance at the start of the match kicking a miraculous goal from the impossible angle, he was unable to guide the Magpies to Sale as Moe defeated them in convincing style, watch for the 'A-Factor' next year - for more results on his pre-season training over the summer stay tuned!!!

[jcraw1]

I wanted to post this since Sunday evening, but I had to wait for my account to be activated...

The youthful "gumbies", as you so delightfully put it, absolutely dominated your Sale side on Sunday, putting the Magpies out of the 2005 Finals in straight sets. Moe played with two players UNDER 16 years of age and 6 under 18 years of age, yet they managed to dominate all but the opening five minutes of the game when Sale kicked the first two goals of the game, one of which came from one of the softest free kicks of the season. Sale were pathetic, embarassed by mere kids and never looked a chance.

Rod Peatey, who wouldn't even be in Moe's best 10 players, had an amazing 47 touches while Jason Shield kicked nine out of the goal square on one leg. Moe carried a lot of injuries into the game but had the luxury of keeping these guys on the bench for extended periods since Sale failed to put up a fight. Moe's young fringe players stood up though, with Leigh Stevens kicking four, Matt Dickerson finding plenty of the pill and young Peter Yates dominating at centre half back. Two finals, two blowouts for the maroon and blue.

Enjoy your offseason Stoney as the "gumbies" now prepare for Traralgon at Morwell, playing for the rights to be runners up to the virtually unbeatable Maffra outfit.

[Stoney]

Haha thats fantastic ... good luck getting close to Maffra if u even get to the GF, how does it feel playing out the finals for 2nd position???

Haha u are a bunch of gumbies - and what's with telling me to enjoy the off season?

I DON'T PLAY FOR SALE!!!

But a good try, and I'm not fussed if u played ur u/12's side, the Arrezolo factor >>>>> any of Moe's players!!!

[jcraw1]

No, you play for Sale City.. in the area's MINOR league. Not good enough for the big league. No one is even remotely close to Maffra, no one is denying this, but Moe has overachieved while the Magpies once again have underachieved.

Playing for 2nd position? That sounds great from where I stand.

[Stoney]

Haha big league? Until anybody outside the league gives a crap ur still a small league, hell there's only one BIG league and u arn't in it so don't know why ur so happy???

the only thing big about ur league is the ego's of everyone who plays there ...

A-Factor>>>Stoney,

but Stoney>>>>>>>>>>>>>you - so i'm content!

[Stoney]

Also standing at the North Gippsland grand final yesterday looking around at just some of the talent our so called 'minor league' has produced ...

David Wojcinski (Cats)
Leigh Brown (Roos)
Adrian Cox (former Hawks)
Mark Stevens (former Roos/Crows)
Matt Freguson (Saints)

And siblings of current afl players Stephen Walsh (Peter Walsh's bro), Andrew Stevens (Mark's bro) and Damian Birss (Shane Birss' brother)

I rekon if we had our AFL crop back and u had McLaren, Shane Birss and Jacob Schuback back and both leagues made a best 22 ours wouldn't be far off the mark!

must be a real minor league ... haha u tool!

[Buster the hawk]

Also standing at the North Gippsland grand final yesterday looking around at just some of the talent our so called 'minor league' has produced ...

David Wojcinski (Cats)
Leigh Brown (Roos)
Adrian Cox (former Hawks)
Mark Stevens (former Roos/Crows)
Matt Freguson (Saints)

And siblings of current afl players Stephen Walsh (Peter Walsh's bro), Andrew Stevens (Mark's bro) and Damian Birss (Shane Birss' brother)

I rekon if we had our AFL crop back and u had McLaren, Shane Birss and Jacob Schuback back and both leagues made a best 22 ours wouldn't be far off the mark!

must be a real minor league ... haha u tool!
Interesting point you make ,Sale like Traralgon continually produce outstanding juniors which is why we see the likes of the guys you've mentioned (add to that list Jason Gram, Piasente captain of West Adelaide & Rod love also Westies 1sts)leaving us & playing in the big leagues .Now here's a thought ,imagine if our juniors were more like Maffra's i.e reasonably good @ local level but not good enough to stay in the big time & consequently had to stay home & play locally like the Maffra boys have, might make the comp a bit more interesting.eg Birss & Schuback v the Burgiel boys
McLaren V Batahlia I'd say we'd match up pretty well wouldn't you?With regards to the North Gippy league the gap between the two is a lot less now days.There are players in almost every team save for probably Stratty & Glen that would walk into WGFL seniors in a heartbeat.

[Stoney]

Im fairly sure Heyfield (not Tralagon) produced all of the AFL players I mentioned, which means had they not made AFL and stayed in the local comp (ie - Maffra players) it's fair to say that Heyfield would>>>Maffra

Heyfield are clearly the best in the North Gippsland, add Wojcinski, Ferguson, Leigh Brown, Adrian Cox to Stevo and the Roos current lineup and Maffra wouldn't look half as dominant!!!

[Buster the hawk]

Im fairly sure Heyfield (not Tralagon) produced all of the AFL players I mentioned, which means had they not made AFL and stayed in the local comp (ie - Maffra players) it's fair to say that Heyfield would>>>Maffra

Heyfield are clearly the best in the North Gippsland, add Wojcinski, Ferguson, Leigh Brown, Adrian Cox to Stevo and the Roos current lineup and Maffra wouldn't look half as dominant!!!You are correct there Stoney although Heyfield's most recent premiership team (couple of days ago)didn't come without a lot of outside help -Birss ,Wilson,Zsabo & Burridge .Never the less they have a record to be proud of with the amount of AFL talent they've produced.You sound as if you too are sick of hearing how good Maffra are all the time.They have been well coached and administered but have had more of their fair share of good luck as well .Unlike other clubs such as Sale & Traralgon they have managed to keep all their playing group together when at the same time we keep losing our players first to Power & then to the bigger leagues.Apart from Ben Robbins Maffra have not produced one AFL senior player since Jeff Geishen in the 70's.The fact remains however they are still clearly the best in WGFL & will no doubt win their fourth flag in a row this week by ten goals or more.Hopefully this time around they'll confine their celebrations to the village.

[Groenwegen]

Stoney you really seem to have a chip on that shoulder of yours. Yes the Heyfield FC has a magnificant record for a small town in producing AFL players, but it does not and has not considered joining the major league WGLFL because it would not survive, the town does not have population or sponsorship, by the way how many AFL players have Sale City produced recently. Over the last 5 years in VCFL restructure talks Heyfield FC has not been considered a major league club. As for your club, it disbanded 2 years ago. As for making comment on Maffra, your argument re if local players stayed can be applied to all leagues in Victoria. Fact is Maffra is well coached, well administered and has improved their facilities, they have done what is needed to win flags.

[Buster the hawk]

It's not sour grapes against Maffra ,they are well coached & administered but living locally you get sick of hearing about them all the time as you do Collingwood on a much larger scale.FFS they even advertised the Eagles players as making guest appearances @ the Sale races at one stage this year, now you would have to admit that that is taking things a little far.People keep saying that with Sale having a much larger population (15-16000) than Maffra (3-4000) we should be blitzing them as should Traralgon ,Morwell & Moe,but what is not taken into account is that a large portion of the young blokes of footy playing age around sale anyway are in the RAAF or offshore working for weeks @ a time & not only that the town supports another club (Sale City) plus the likes of Stratford & Heyfield frequently poaching players ,this situation is worse again for the WGFL clubs in the Valley.Maffra doesn't have this problem.Good luck to them anyway this week should be a close game.

[ComicStoreGuy]

Buster you've got it so wrong my friend.

Maffra like Collingwood? When was last the pies went undefeated for 45 + matches.

The Raaf and the offshore worker make up 12,000 of the Sale pop? And no one living in Maffra works off shore(better rush off tell the old man) or the Raaf?

Maffra doesn't get players poached(gee better go and fill me mates in who play for startford, holefield and boisdale briag)?

[Buster the hawk]

Question CSG ,how do you think this current Eagle side would match up against the 89' runner-up team?

[ComicStoreGuy]

Question CSG ,how do you think this current Eagle side would match up against the 89' runner-up team?
Well I think this current side would have big edge, the 89 side reminds me of the 97 side for the Saints, but hey thats just me.

[Groenwegen]

CSG, from one who grew up many moons ago watching the eagles get flogged and Sale being a successful club I ask you what Sale people would be like if they won 4 in a row, Kevin Hogan would be beside himself. As for this side v the 89 side it would be interesting, from what I am told the standard of football has dropped but you can only beat whats put against you, I am told the current side is more even across the field, there was a fair smuttering of individuals and good players in the 89 side. I believe the current side is very skillfull and wins games through a skillfull midfield, believe Peter Hudson made some comment on how good they move the ball, would Enrico Misso get a game in this side, think not, this side has the record on the board. Been told H Burgiel is a very special player. Good luck to the eagles and may they win many more and how satisfying it must be when talking to our friends in black and white nearby.

[Stafford678]

Buster you've got it so wrong my friend.

Maffra like Collingwood? When was last the pies went undefeated for 45 + matches.

The Raaf and the offshore worker make up 12,000 of the Sale pop? And no one living in Maffra works off shore(better rush off tell the old man) or the Raaf?

Maffra doesn't get players poached(gee better go and fill me mates in who play for startford, holefield and boisdale briag)?

tell me the guys that play for heyfield, i think most of them are heyfield born and bred players from the start, i know maffra poached josh conway off heyfield who then got him back this year

[Stoney]

Stoney you really seem to have a chip on that shoulder of yours. Yes the Heyfield FC has a magnificant record for a small town in producing AFL players, but it does not and has not considered joining the major league WGLFL because it would not survive, the town does not have population or sponsorship, by the way how many AFL players have Sale City produced recently. Over the last 5 years in VCFL restructure talks Heyfield FC has not been considered a major league club. As for your club, it disbanded 2 years ago. As for making comment on Maffra, your argument re if local players stayed can be applied to all leagues in Victoria. Fact is Maffra is well coached, well administered and has improved their facilities, they have done what is needed to win flags.

Wrong maffra are only good cause no players have made it to the big time - Heyfield>>>Maffra (based on pop, players produced) - maffra have nothing on us!

[Tyger]

Maffra have won the last premierships because they are the best TEAM in the league. No one is arguing the fact that some very handy players have come out of Heyfield and that Sale have produced some very good kids. The secret to Maffra's success lies in the fact that they play for each other more than they do for themselves.
They have a gameplan that works and a list that is committed. They have a smattering of talent and a heap of dedication.
Argue as much as you want, it doesn't alter the fact that Maffra have won the last 3 premierships in a recognised major league with locally grown talent.
As for the '89 team, they cost 10 times more to put on the ground without any silver ware to show for it, but they would beat the team playing this weekend by a fair margin.

[Buster the hawk]

Maffra have won the last premierships because they are the best TEAM in the league. No one is arguing the fact that some very handy players have come out of Heyfield and that Sale have produced some very good kids. The secret to Maffra's success lies in the fact that they play for each other more than they do for themselves.
They have a gameplan that works and a list that is committed. They have a smattering of talent and a heap of dedication.
Argue as much as you want, it doesn't alter the fact that Maffra have won the last 3 premierships in a recognised major league with locally grown talent.
As for the '89 team, they cost 10 times more to put on the ground without any silver ware to show for it, but they would beat the team playing this weekend by a fair margin.My point in exactly in posing the question.yes the standard has dropped since then but Maffra's hasn't they are doing the things they have always done plus they have two once in a century type players playing @ the same time in the Burgiel boys.I'm never one to compare different eras because @ the end of the day it's pointless .Maffra with their current team would be up there with any era but so would the other teams.Anyway good luck to them this weekend (not that they'll need it)in creating history & if as expected the wheel turns again & they end up back @ square one in a few years ,they'll have a record to hang their hat on that will be very difficult if not impossible to surpass.CSG ,i'll even buy you a pot @ Sammi's.

[Stoney]

Hahaha what a month of football ...

What was the highlight?

1 - The 'A-Factor' Damon Arrezzolo turning it on in week 1 of the finals
2 - Tralagon beating the gumbies (better known as Moe)
3 - Tralagon beating the so called 'undefeatable' Maffra outfit

and the winner is ...

4 - All the Moe and Maffra tools on here claiming how good they were - and then not delivering after they talked themselves up during the week!!!

Now please do not be stupid and try to configure an argument to this, but if Ferguson, Leigh Brown, Wojcinski, Stevens and Cox didn't go on to play in the AFL Heyfield would easily>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Maffra

In fact Maffra not having any 'real' talent (in terms of going on to play in the AFL) is what makes them such a "talented" West Gippy outfit!