TRARALGON overcame a disappointing Drouin to end a two-game losing streak and keep second spot.
The Maroons were quick out of the blocks with early goals to Tim Johnston and Dan McKenna as the Hawks struggled to get the ball out of the backline.
Traralgon's inaccuracy in front of goals could have proved costly as it booted 3.6 before Drouin pegged the lead back with two late goals.
Andy Soumilas and Pat McGrath started to take charge in the midfield as Drouin piled on five goals to lead by 14 points at the long break.
In an effort to curb Drouin's dominance of the midfield, coach Steve Hazelman put Nic Quenault onto McGrath with immediate success.
While McGrath still had plenty of possessions he wasn't as effective as he was before half-time.
Traralgon started to get back into the match and by three-quarter-time had regained the lead and ended up winning by 13 points.
Drouin's only goal for the second half came late in the game and one must seriously question their desire to win a premiership.
The message coach Ben Soumilas delivered at half-time obviously fell on deaf ears.
They simply had too many passengers.
Traralgon was best served by Jamie Aitken, McKenna, Matt Jones, Ryan Potter and Tim Darby.
Jay Barr did a good job on Tim Aitken but still allowed the league's top goal kicker the opportunity to bag four majors.
Bob McCallum was the standout ruckman on the day and Malcolm Dow was excellent.
Other good players for the Hawks were McGrath and Andy Soumilas.
Moe v Leongatha
MOE made it five wins on the trot with a 29-point victory over Leongatha, after withstanding a comeback in the third term by the Parrots.
Coach Troy Makepeace told his team they had lost their way in the third term after squandering a 23-point lead at half-time.
He told them they had lost their concentration and to reclaim the focus that enabled the Lions to win four in a row.
Makepeace said Leongatha was harder at the football and wanted the ball more and they are a team that doesn't go away.
left
 reclaimed some pride with a thirteen point victory against  at the Traralgon Recreation Reserve and Showground. As a result, Drouin move to fifth on the  ladder and Traralgon reduce 's lead on to to one game. 

The Gippsland Football League (officially Gippsland League) is the only major  competition in the  region according to the .

Scores are quoted as ''goals-behinds (total)''.


'''Around the Grounds'''

 8-13 61 def. by  12-13 85
 13-14 92 def.  9-9 63
 16-8 104 def.  10-15 75


A sturggling Drouin defence allowed early goals to Tim Johnston and Dan McKenna. The visitors struggled to get the ball out of their backline as Traralgon kicked and inaccurate three goals and six behinds. Drouin kicked two late goals to keep in the contest.

Drouin kicked five goals in the second quarter to take a fourteen point lead into half time, thanks to dominant midfield porformances of Andy Soumilas and Pat McGrath.

Steve Hazelman swung Nic Quenault onto McGrath with immediate success. McGrath gathered mandy poccessions but was not as effective as he was in the first half.

Traralgon got back into the match leading at the end of the third and went on to win 10-11 (71) to 8-10 (58).