WELL, there it is! The Leongatha Parrots are premiers and champions in the Gippsland League for 2022.
But it wasn’t easy. A gallant Sale led by playing coach Jack Johnstone and talented onballer Shannen Lange, together with Ryan Pendlebury controlling the defence threw absolutely everything at Leongatha and combined with the Parrots own mistakes, the Magpies were within striking distance all day, trailing by just two goals at the last change.
But with the match in the balance, the Parrots leading by just eight points at the 18 minute mark of the last quarter and cold rain sweeping across the ground it was one of the Parrots’ lesser lights, but a young bloke who has played a great final series, that took the contest by the scruff of the neck and put the result beyond doubt.
Where some Leongatha players hadn’t quite adjusted to the changed conditions, that the three quarter time deluge had brought about, Aaron Turton sized up the situation as the ball came tumbling and sliding his way on the Parrots’ forward line.
He soccered the slippery soap of a ball ahead of him once, twice, maybe three times as the Sale players were bearing down on him and then “boom”… with his offside left foot he kicked the ball off the deck, 20 metres from the posts and it slithered and slid its way through for a glorious goal… the sealer.
The crowd huddled together under the Moe social rooms, a predominance of green and gold amongst them went mad.
“I was just trying to get it closer to goal but I thought if I stopped to pick it up they’d be on me. I just kicked and hoped,” said the unlikely hero of the day, Aaron Turton.
There had been plenty of other heroic moments.
Tom Marriott crashing pack after pack as he put the huge week of a Trood Award and Rodda Medal behind him.
Luke Bowman and his partner in midfield crime Ben Willis were absolute towers of Parrot strength on the ball.
Young Ned Hanily and the veteran Aaron Hillberg up forward both with two goals.
Cade Maskell and his mates back in defence including Matt Willcocks who trudged off with a sore head but some important defensive marks to his credit. Will Littlejohn one of the up-and-coming young brigade at Leongatha.
Josh Hopkins always creative up forward, the elusive Aaron Heppell who kicked two vital goals.. you could go one.
After premierships in 2017 and 2018 and finishing top in 2021, a year when they were robbed of a final series, Leongatha has emerged as the benchmark of the Gippsland competition after the ravages of COVID.
The cup now goes back down south to Leongatha but Sale have nothing to be sorry for. They played a great final series and took it right up to the undefeated Leongatha Parrots, unfortunately hit the post several times when the game was there to be won but ultimately just came up short on the day.
The Parrots now go ahead of Sale on 11 GLFL/GL premierships, still well behind the great Traralgon on 20 Gippsland titles.
Final scores: Leongatha 10.10.70 defeated Sale 6.12.48