LEONGATHA bounced back from their second loss of the season with a workmanlike display against Traralgon at the Traralgon Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The match featured a typically tight opening quarter with both teams scoring two goals apiece, but Leongatha made light of the slippery ball and wintry conditions to kick five goals to one in the second term to take complete control of the game.
The Parrots opened up first, after a free kick and goal to Jenson Garnham, and they had the second before Traralgon could reply, despite an easy chance for Daniel McKenna from close range.
And it was Jackson Harry who produced a screamer in the goal square, after a speculative kick in by Julian Callahan, before bringing up the Parrots’ second.
Ben Willis had joined Traralgon big man Max Jacobson in the ruck, and they looked set for a good contest, while Leongatha swung several changes on the ball in a bright and busy opening.
Traralgon was competing well and soon evened it up on the scoreboard after Liam Willaton intercepted the ball within striking distance, and when Luis D’Angelo earned a free kick and 50 metre penalty, leaving the home side in front at the first change.
But the Parrots never looked back after the restart with an even contribution front to back.
Which was no mean feat when you consider Leongatha’s team on Saturday included 11 players that weren’t part of the Parrots’ 2023 premiership team only nine short months ago.
Where household names including Tom Marriott, Cade Maskell, Aaron Hillberg, Cam Olden, Sean Westaway, Luke Bowman and Aaron Heppell were missing, the Parrots stood up 11 new soldiers and to think that they could hold their own with one of the powerhouse teams of the competition was impressive.
Not that the players they’ve added don’t come in with their own talent and experience.
Max Donohue is having another excellent year with Gippy Power, Mitch Bentvelzen, Nick Argento and Adam Trotto have all come through the Leongatha system strongly, and Julian Callahan is another Gippy Power talent who joined in seamlessly on Saturday. Jacob Lamers, Matthew Borschman, Jarrod Stewart, Ty Hall, Darcy Hume and Kyle Brown all came in knowing what’s required.
It's a tribute to the Parrots’ coaching staff though, and the Leongatha program that they can continue on at such a high level with those personnel changes.
There was just enough of the required leadership from Ben Willis, Jake van der Pligt, Kim Drew and Tallin Brill on the ball, and the necessary experience front and back from the likes of Jackson Harry, Jenson Granham and Jack Ginnane up forward and Will Littlejohn and Sam Forrester down back; to complete the winning mix on the day.
There was a lot to like about how the Parrots went about it, constantly driving the ball forward, from stoppages and also off half back with good skills and numbers and when they got it forward, competing hard to keep it there until they produced a score.
Traralgon was able to stop the rot at the start of the second half when Lucas Tripodi snapped one early but Leongatha soon responded when Adam Trotto momentarily dropped his tagging role on D’Angelo and found Garnham with a creative pass.
Soon after, Nash fired it forward, Garnham provided the contest, Max Donohue hit the pack at pace and one over the top to Harry was champagne footy from the Parrots.
There was no looking back from there.
Traralgon kept coming and produced their own share of highlights on the day including a spectacular mark by young Josh Hamilton on the clubhouse wing, a fine effort with a slippery ball.
With the Loy Yang A powerhouse smoking it up in the background, the Parrots came away with a very pleasing 34-point victory ahead the ‘local derby’ against a resurgent Wonthaggi side at Parrot Park on Saturday, July 13.