SHEPPARTON UNITED V SHEPPARTON
Shepparton will be looking to build on its best win of 2023 when it takes on its fiercest rival Shepparton United.
The Bears produced arguably their best performance to knock off premiership fancy Kyabram through winning three out of the four quarters.
Co-coaches Ted Lindon and Xavier Stevenson will be drilling the players to be ready for United.
The last meeting between the teams saw the Demons victorious in what was a bit of an upset.
Jonty Wardle, Bryce Stephenson, Mitchell Brett, Adam De Cicco and Rising Star nominee, Jacob Watts were outstanding in the very even team performance against Kyabram.
If they can continue that form it should hold the Bears in good stead to turn the tables on the Demons.
Marcus Wattie, Fergus Pinnuck, Kyle Clarke, Declan Newbound and Brodie Telford will be looking to feed the ball into Lewis Stanton and Jayden Magro to give them the chance to help the Demons kick a winning score.
While the Demons won the opening day meeting between the teams, they aren’t winning this one given the Bears have more to play for.
Tip: Shepparton.
SEYMOUR V MOOROOPNA
Seymour is the real deal and looming as one of the big threats to Echuca going back-to-back.
Are Mooroopna the real deal or are just making up the numbers?
We are going to find out a lot about the Cats.
They have won 9 of their 10 games against teams outside top six.
Their only win against a team that will play finals is against Mansfield at home six weeks ago.
Coach John Lamont will welcome this challenge along with the remaining games against Kyabram, Mansfield and Echuca to finish off the home and away season.
He will find out a lot about his team today and over the coming month.
Jackson Trengove had a day out against the Demons with a bag of 10 to take his season tally to 47 and to the top of the leaderboard.
Keelin Betson, Bryce Rutherford, Isaac Dowling and Christopher Nield were others to feast on the Demons
Jack O’Sullivan, Rory Scopel, Huw Jones, Riley Mason, Joshua Alford and Michael Hartleywill be looking to continue their good form and help the Lions take another massive step towards securing a top two finish.
Tip: Seymour.
KYABRAM V TATURA
Kyabram will be out to avoid a third straight defeat and revive its top two aspirations.
Consecutive losses by the Bombers have opened the door for Euroa and Mooroopna to potentially snatch third spot on the ladder if they are good enough.
The Bombers are expected to get the job done against Tatura who is not a high scoring team.
But they will face stiffer competition in the run home with matches against Mooroopna and Euroa to follow this game before rounding out their home and away campaign at Benalla.
Brad Whitford, Nic Denahy, Lachlan Smith, Jason Morgan and Thomas Holman will be important for the Bombers as they look to supply Kyle Mueller and Brad Mangan to ensure they can kick a winning score.
Ethan Penrith, Daniel Weetra, Billy Cooper, James Nihill and Comanche Walls will be doing their best to try and restrict the Bombers to a losing total.
Tip: Kyabram.
MANSFIELD V SHEPPARTON SWANS
Mansfield will look to take another step towards securing its place in the top six when it welcomes the Shepparton Swans to the high country.
Coach Chad Owens would probably be cursing Kyabram for not defeating Shepparton to end their slim finals hopes, but he knows that one win might just be enough for them given their healthy percentage.
The Eagles finish with Shepparton (away), Mooroopna (home) and Euroa (away), so no easy games.
Frazer Dale, Ben Christopher, Dirk Koenen, Harry Mahoney and Brett Mahoney will be trying to lead the way to bank another win to make it difficult for the Bears who are three games adrift and a whopping 42 percent.
Zac Banch, Joeve Cooper, Ben Gilberto, Diesel Batey, Will Dwyer and Steele Simpson will be trying to lead the way for the Swans as they look to try and finish with another win or two to end 2023.
Tip: Mansfield.
ROCHESTER V BENALLA
Rochester will be looking to record its fourth win of 2023 and third in the past month when it welcomes Benalla.
The Tigers have won their past two home games and had it kicked straight in the final term of last week it could have walked away from Tatura with the chocolates.
The Saints last won in round 8 on June 3 at home against Rochester.
Fintan Brazil, Jordan Wolff, Nick Mellington, Christopher Welsh, Colby Mathieson and Jarrod Waite will be desperate to try and lead the way to help their team off the bottom of the ladder before season’s end.
Hamish Hooppell, Reid Gordon, Bailey Wileman, Sean Williams, Dylan Gordon and Lachlan Watson will be important to try and help the Tigers to another win.
Tip: Rochester.
ECHUCA V EUROA
This should be a cracking game of football.
Echuca sits at the top of the pile and will be eager to finish off the home and away campaign strongly ahead of defending its title.
Euroa lost to Seymour last weekend and coach Scott Rowan would be eager for his chargers to claim a big scalp after losses to most of the teams inside the top six, only defeating Mooroopna and Mansfield in 2023.
Ryan Pendlebury, Jacob Gleeson, Will Hayes, Jett Trotter and Jayden Gleeson will be pivotal in taking the game up to the reigning premier.
The last meeting between the teams was a real arm wrestle.
Ruckman, Andrew Smith didn’t play against Seymour and Rowan will hope to have him back to go head-to-head with Echuca skipper and big man Kane Morris.
Liam Tenace, Cameron Valentine, Hugh Byrne, Samuel Reid and Matthew Lias were some of the players to help the Murray Bombers finish off strongly in the 10-goal win over the Swans
Andrew Walker didn’t play as the reigning premier manage him to be primed for September.
I expect him to play against the Magpies.
Logan Prout played at Carlton last weekend, so he could also be available, depending on whether he is required for the Blues’ VFL team.
I am thinking at home that the Murray Bombers should prove too good for the visiting Magpies.
Tip: Echuca.
