BENALLA (7th) v SHEPP BEARS (1st)
Shepp Bears has overcome its 2025 stumbling block to lead the competition as one of only two unbeaten teams – the other being Echuca. Last season the Bears won their first four games and then lost five in a row before getting back on track.
No sign of that happening this year.
Their opponent for Round 7, Benalla, is sitting just outside the top six – exciting enough in itself. The Saints have one of the in form forwards of the competition – Michael Mummery, who has kicked 17 goals in four games.
Benalla has star power in ruckman Mark Marriott, on-baller Chris Welsh and key defender Nick Warnock – all capably of posting big numbers and keeping their team in any contest.
Prediction: Bears by 27 points
KYABRAM (6th) v MANSFIELD (3rd)
Mansfield has reinvented itself after successive losses to Seymour and Benalla in Rounds 3 and 4. In the last two weeks Callum Brown has kicked 11 goals (only one less than he kicked for the entire 2025 season – 18 games).
And then there is Matt King, a half back who has kicked six goals in the last two weeks. Last season he kicked only four goals in 21 games for the Eagles. Harry and Max Mahoney have both been in Eagles colours, and not the black and white of the VFL club Collingwood, which has also enhanced the Eagles momentum.
In contrast Kyabram has been without co-captain Aiden Robinson (probably back after the May 23 general bye), one of the most important pieces in their jigsaw – particularly without Jason Morgan in the team.
They were also without Anthony Depasquale last week, who was an emergency for VFL team Werribee and sat on the sidelines after kicking 10 goals a week earlier (one of the quirks of the arrangement between VFL and country clubs).
SEYMOUR (4th) v ECHUCA (2nd)
Echuca’s defence first mindset has served it well in 2026 and despite having only the equal 4th best offensive unit, it sits 2nd on the ladder as one of only two unbeaten teams.
The Murray Bombers have topped the 100 point mark in only two of those 6 wins, although 100 behinds (they brought up the century against United on Saturday in a much more accurate display) has been the only reason they have been light-on in the scoring space this season.
While Echuca does not lead any of the major statistical categories this year it is ranked second in several of them and once it has a full squad assembled will be a scary proposition.
Seymour has the personnel to match it with Echuca in most areas on the ground, but comes into this game after a disappointing 8 point loss to the Swans.
Prediction: Echuca by 21 points
EUROA (11th) v MOOROOPNA (9th)
Saturday was only the 2nd time this season the Magpies had passed 50 points and they led Rochester by two points at half time before being outscored 7 goals to 3 in the second half.
Mooroopna will be desperate to stay in touch with the top six – they are one of three teams with two wins from six games – but have 4th ranked Seymour and Kyabram (6th) following this game.
They were completely outplayed for the first time on Saturday, having only allowed one other team to score 100 points (Echuca) against them this season.
Prediction: Mooroopna by 34 points
ROCHESTER (8th) v SHEPP SWANS (5th)
There is some momentum building at Tigerland. Last year’s league leading goalkicker Hugh Hamilton kicked two goals in his return from injury and while there are still a number of players on the sidelines the signs are positive.
They were slow to start against Euroa, but charged to the line and Mitch Trewhella probably put another three Morrison Medal votes in the bank with his performance.
That said, Shepp Swans are a determined, well coached and well oiled machine. They beat Seymour by 8 points, on the back of a 3 point Benalla win and now sit a game clear inside the top six.
Prediction: Swans by 11 points
SHEPP UNITED (10th) v TATURA (12th)
United has a 4-game schedule that will dictate whether it is challenging for a finals berth or sitting in the bottom four teams at the end of the season.
Following this weekend’s game against an improved Tatura (which lost by just 32 points on Saturday), they face teams they will need to displace in order to make the finals (Kyabram, Benalla, Seymour and Rochester – four of the five teams directly above it on the ladder).
Tom Sullivan 198 ranking point game was a highlight last week, as was the 200 point performance of United’s Brodie Newman. Watching them will be worth the price of admission alone.
Prediction: United by 64 points
