The Gazette looks back on 2022 with part two of Sports Year in Review.

JULY
An all-female football umpiring contingent took to the field in a Gippsland first at Bunyip.
Warragul spearhead Jed Lamb became a hero, booting a whopping 10 goals to lead the Gulls to victory over bitter rivals Drouin in the Western Derby.
It was the most goals ever kicked by a Warragul player against Drouin in Gippsland League.
Warragul's Ollie Muir had a full training schedule ahead as he prepared to pull on the Big V in not one, but two, sporting codes.
The talented 12-year-old was selected in the School Sports Victoria (SSV) football team before also being announced in the basketball team.
Sylvie Endersby took home the gold medal from the Gippsland Region Country Cross Country Carnival in Berwick.
Drouin footballers broke an 11-game losing streak in Gippsland League, defeating Bairnsdale 14.14-98 to 10.5-65.

AUGUST
Five local cricketers were named in the Gippsland Cricket Team of the Year.
Sam Batson, Sanjaya Gangodawila, Fraser Duncan, Damon Healy and Craig Byrnes of Warragul and District Cricket Association were all selected.
Neerim-Neerim South sharpshooter Matthew Roberts booted his 100th goal for the season in the under 18s.
The remarkable feat, rarely seen in football these days, came after steering 12 goals over the goal umpires' hat in round 17 of the Ellinbank District league.
Local footy fans had the chance to watch one of their homegrown talents on the big stage after Jai Serong made his AFL debut for Hawthorn.
The 19-year-old, who played much of his junior football with Warragul and Ellinbank, celebrated his first AFL game with a seven-point win over Gold Coast Suns in Tasmania.
A senior Leongatha player was suspended for eight weeks following an incident in a match against Wonthaggi.
After a league investigation, the player was found guilty of "intentionally or carelessly striking another person".
Garfield senior footballers got a win on the board for the first time in 392 days after a thumping victory over Dalyston in West Gippsland football.
With her signature "Steffi dodge" move and graceful goaling, Ellinbank netballer Stefanie Backman became just the second player to notch 500 games for the Eagles.
Poowong North dairy farmer Tom Robertson was selected to bowl in Dubai representing Australia.
Robertson, aged 24, was excited for his first trip overseas as part of Australia's men's deaf cricket team to play in a T20 tournament against South Africa, Pakistan and Nepal.
Neerim-Neerim South star Chris Urie celebrated his 200th club game with a best on ground performance over finalist Ellinbank.
Defiant Warragul Industrials shocked Inverloch-Kongwak in the elimination final.
The side that finished sixth put in one of their best performances of the season in their first-ever final since joining the West Gippsland league, winning 9.7-61 to 6.11-47.
Despite leading by three goals at half-time, Hill End was knocked out by a desperate Boolarra in the Mid Gippsland elimination final after a stunning comeback.
Hawthorn footballer Jai Newcombe, drafted from Poowong, won the AFL Coaches Association best young player award.
Warragul Industrials supporters dared to dream after another remarkable victory, this time over Cora Lynn.

SEPTEMBER
The Warragul Industrials women's team were crowned premiers in division two of the South Eastern Women's Football League.
However, the men's senior team were in despair after their season ended in preliminary final heartbreak.
Following an arm wrestle, Dusties lost when Phillip Island kicked a goal after the extra time siren.
In the Warragul District Junior Football League, premierships went to Buln Buln in the under 14s, The Bulls in under 12s and Garfield Stars in under 10s.
Poowong's Jack Hazendonk won his third Alf Walton Memorial best and fairest medal in the Ellinbank and District league.
Neerim-Neerim South defender Christie Urie was a runaway winner in the A grade netball count.
After only securing a finals berth in the final round, Yinnar completed a stunning finals series to come from sixth to win the Mid Gippsland senior footy premiership.
After qualifying all five teams into the West Gippsland Junior grand finals, Warragul Blues won the under 14 girls, under 12 and under 10 premierships. Drouin Maroon won the under 14 grand final and Warranor the under 12 girls premiership.
Three junior premierships were decided by a penalty shoot out in West Gippsland Hockey Association.
Gulls won four grand finals - under 18, under 15. under 12 and women's, whilst Warriors won the men's division.
It was triple premiership glory for Neerim-Neerim South in the Ellinbank and District league grand final. The Cats won the senior football, A grade netball and under 18 football titles.
The glorious Gulls brought the under 18s premiership cup home to Warragul after the Gippsland League grand final.
However, the under 16s fell just short of a flag, doing down by 30 points to Maffra.
Lily-Rose Williamson, a former Warragul Industrials player, made her AFLW debut for Essendon in the Dreamtime clash to round out a whirlwind couple of months.
Labertouche took out the section one premiership in Mid Gippsland Badminton Association grand finals.

OCTOBER
Hallora got a slice of revenge in the opening round of the cricket season, defeating Ellinbank in a grand final rematch by 44 runs.
The annual Gippsland Hockey Championships were held in Churchill, with West Gippsland association taking home both champion and runner-up awards across all three age groups.
Former Trafalgar cricketer Nicole Faltum was officially named new captain of the Melbourne Stars WBBL team.
It was announced Warragul star forward Jed Lamb would take the reins as the club's senior coach.
Fresh of winning the Gippsland League's senior goalkicking award, the homegrown ex-AFL talent was rewarded with a two-year coaching stint.
Drouin bowlers made a strong start to the Strzelecki North bowls season, with three wins in the opening round.
Drouin Dragons Soccer Club completed a successful season with increased player numbers, three league championships, three grand final wins and 10 teams in finals.
Scorchers defeated Hurricanes in the Baw Baw Squash Club Autumn Competition grand final.
Warragul United Soccer Club members voted yes to a merge proposal, signalling the biggest change in the club's 60-year history.
The new club, known as Gippsland United, is the result of an amalgamation of Gippsland FC and Latrobe Valley WFC. United will still wear Warragul's red and black strip for home games at Baxter Park, but will wear Gippsland's blue strip for away games. The women will wear teal.

NOVEMBER
Warragul teenager Sabine Wilks-Hansen won an incredible five medals in rhythmic gymnastics at the Victorian championships in Geelong.
Sabine, 16, won every event she entered, including freehand, ball, clubs and ribbon, whilst also taking home gold for individual overall champion.
The Warragul Cycling Club postponed the 20th edition of the Baw Baw Classic due to lack of volunteers and sponsorship.
Suspended fines ranging up to $6000 hit all senior Gippsland football clubs for breaches of the AFL's Player Points System.
The fines flowed from an AFL Victoria investigation that began after a complaint over points allocated for some players at Warragul Industrials back in September.
Local cricket was washed out for a third consecutive week.
A Drouin triples team played extremely well whilst representing Victoria at the Bowls Australia championships on the Gold Coast.
The team of Samantha and Sheryl Atkinson together with Maureen Leighton had a big victory over the eventual winners from Western Australia, drawing another and losing a third by just one shot.
Drouin resident Mark Allen was selected to represent Australia at the Asia Pacific Senior Amateur golf tournament in Malaysia.
Local horse owners Mathew and Sue Ridgeway had plenty of reason to celebrate after their horse "High Emocean" managed third place in the Melbourne Cup.
The husband and wife duo were left jumping for joy after the six-year-old mare came from the clouds in the final 200m of the race that stops the nation.
Division one cricket finals fancies Western Park and Ellinbank played a rollercoaster thriller.
Jack Armour smashed 88, his highest score for the club, to put Western Park in a terrific position. However, miracle man Jeremy Gray smashed 44 to get Ellinbank within three runs of victory. But, a run out and wicket saw Western Park claim the win.
Warragul basketball legend Mike Santo was left speechless after a guernsey retirement ceremony and life membership presentation at Warragul Leisure Centre.
Making his debut at age 16, Mike played for 28 years before retiring at age 44.
Nine junior swimmers from Warragul Swimming Club represented Gippsland at the Country Junior District Competition in Melbourne.
Lilah Stevens and Pippa Biorci finished third in the 200m girls eight to nine medley relay and Logan Gibson was second in the boys nine-year-old breaststroke.
Speculation AFL superstars and former Warragul players Harry and Ben McKay were secretly been the same person was officially put to bed. The twins, who play for Carlton and North Melbourne respectively, took the reins at Warragul's senior training.

DECEMBER
Warragul's Jacob Konstanty could hardly wipe the smile off his face after being selected by the Sydney Swans at pick 20 in the AFL draft.
Past champions returned as Wild Dog Triathlon Club celebrated its 25th year.
The Warragul club held a special all-comers race followed by the surprise presentation of three life memberships to Jason Oswald, Heather Ferguson and Niall Thompson.
Nick Pratt won his third consecutive title, and fifth overall, at the Drouin Tennis Club Championships.
An over of magic from 53-year-old Jason Batson of Western Park turned the division three game against Longwarry on its head.
The slow-medium trundler claimed a career-first hat-trick in the midst of four wickets in five balls.
Warragul teenager Liam Serong was invited to train with Fremantle over summer for the chance to claim an AFL rookie list spot.
Warragul Croquet Club had a magical day, defeating Wonthaggi to win the final of the GCA Pennant.
Samoa USO wowed the crowd to win the West Gippsland Volleyball Association division one grand final over the Tigers.