The Eagles went into the home game without their match-winning midfielders as the Stars jumped out of the blocks with a six-goal to three first quarter.

From that point the Eagles were playing catch-up football and eventually hit the front at the final change, leading by a goal.

Both teams kicked three goals in the final term as the Eagles scrambled home by 11 points, 14.13 (97) to 12-14 (86).

Maffra went into the match without Hayden Burgiel, Craig and Ben Robbins, Sam Walker and Nick Horsford, who has been kicking goals up forward.

Garfield defender Shane Reid, midfielders Ben Marsh, Ben Jostlear, Brent Eastwell and Josh Tynan, and ruckman Brett Reid took the fight right up to the under-manned Eagles.

Maffra had good players in defence and its half-back line players Ben Batalha, Glen Semmens and Josh Stubbe, with support from Matt Lee, kept rebounding the ball.

Brendon Rathnow, four goals, and Adrian Burgiel, three, were the best of the Eagles forwards. Daniel Stubbe and Daniel O'Brien chipped in with two goals each to help get the Eagles over the line.

Adrian Burgiel took over the coaching role against Garfield with Graham Robbins looking at likely finals opponents over the weekend.

The Eagles did well to fight back against a very persistent Garfield who would be trying to salvage something from what could be their last season in the West Gippsland-Latrobe league.

The Eagles are hoping they will take a full-strength line-up to Drouin for their last match before the finals.

Maffra proved too strong in the reserves, winning by 69 points and the fourths had a 147-point win, while there was no thirds match.

TOP of the ladder Traralgon was far too strong Leongatha, who slipped to fourth place after the loss.

The Maroons were relentless in the opening stages, kicking 10.4 to 1.2 in the first term then 4.8 to one point to led by 87 points at half-time.

The Maroons went on to win 20.20 (140) to 8.8 (56).

Tim Aitken was the best of the Traralgon forwards with Danny Campbell, Rohan Hore and Michael Geary kicking three each.

Attacking defender Ryan Potter, who runs off the half-back line, was named the Maroons' best but he had plenty of mates who were well up on the stats for possessions.

Moe moved back into third spot with a two-point win over Morwell in a low-scoring struggle played before a big crowd at Moe on Sunday.

Moe led by four goals at the first change, but Morwell kept fighting back with the Lions holding on to win 8.9 (57) to Morwell 7.13 (55).