BENALLA v ECHUCA
With five losses in a row and two of the top three teams in the next two weeks the season is screaming out for an upset win from the 10th ranked team. Despite having only won 3 games the Saints remain only two wins outside the top six. Echuca is two games clear of third ranked Echuca and despite inaccurate kicking (10.20 on the weekend) now has 4 wins in a row since its hiccup against Seymour in Round 8.
KEY MATCH UPS:
Mark Marriott v Darby Jones: The number one ruckman in the league faces off against the rising star of the big man stocks. Jones kicks goals, something Marriott hasn’t done too much – an interesting component of this battle.
Jackson Stewart v Colby Mathieson: When Mathieson tagged Stewart in Round 2 it had a big impact on the game, the Saints going down by just six goals. Echuca did kick 10.17.
David Mennen v Lachlan Hogan: Mennen is one of the most prolific ball winners in the back half and Hogan has been in outstanding form as a half forward who pushes into the mid-field.
Prediction: Echuca by 63 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 2, 2026 – Echuca won by 37 points.
KYABRAM v SHEPP SWANS
Kyabram has lost 3 of its last 4 games and sits at the top of a four teams who all have 20 premiership points – from sixth to ninth. The Swans now have some breathing space, 2 games clear of 5th placed Mansfield. A concern is the Swans scoring ability, having only gone past 100 points once this season.
Last weekend the Bombers were without Aiden Robinson, Jack Russell and Brad Whitford.
KEY MATCH UPS:
Jake Parkinson v James Auld: Parkinson usually gets the opposition’s most dangerous forward, his job made tougher if intercepting defensive partner Brad Whitford doesn’t play.
Charlie Barnett v Zac Clohesy: With Depasquale playing at Werribee a lot falls on the shoulders of Barnett, including having the opposition’s best defender for company.
Ethan Warburton v Josh Dillon: Dillon’s defensive forward ability fits the profile of shutting down the long striding Warburton – a springboard to attack who had another 36 disposal game on Saturday.
Prediction: Kyabram by 7 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 2, 2026 – Swans beat the Bombers by 24 points.
MANSFIELD v ROCHESTER
A Tigers win would throw the ladder into chaos, particularly if the Bombers lose to the Swans. It would see the Tigers go from 7th to 5th on the ladder and back in contention after a slow start to the season. Rochester has won 3 of its last 4 games, while Mansfield has only had one win an a draw from its last five games – losing to Kyabram, the Bears and Echuca. Mansfield had some starpower out last week, including Matt King. His return will be important to the result.
KEY MATCH UPS:
Bailey Wileman v Callum Brown: Wileman laid 14 tackles in the Tigers win against United last week. He is in a rich vein of form and was the second highest ranked player on the ground.
Tom Dunstan v Hugh Hamilton: Eagles vice captain is in great form (151 ranking points on the weekend), but Hamilton (last year’s leading goalkicker) is building momentum after a late start to the season.
Sam Thomson v Mitch Trewhella: Both are tackling machines, who rack up 30+ disposals at will. Whoever wins this battle could influence the result
Prediction: Mansfield by 9 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 2, 2026 – Mansfield won by 92 points.
MOOROOPNA v TATURA
Percentage is something the Cats are sadly lacking – of the four teams who have 5 wins, they have the worst percentage. They have won 3 of their last 4 games, losing the other by just 8 points, and despite scoring 100+ points in only one game this year rate highly for their defensive work. Tatura has been defensively stronger in recent weeks, but has passed 60 points only twice this season.
KEY MATCH UPS:
Liam Betson v Ryan Young: Clearances are a statistical category that both these teams have performed well in during 2026.
Keelin Betson v Tom Sullivan: Both big bodied mid-fielders who put up some big ranking points numbers. Betson had 190 ranking points on Saturday and Sullivan has been back to his best in recent weeks.
Ben Darrou v Rory Huggard: Darrou is a key to any hope of an upset Tatura win. His strong marking could swing the game, given enough opportunities.
Prediction: Mooroopna by 26 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 2, 2026 – Mooroopna won by 70 points.
SEYMOUR v SHEPP BEARS
With the scalps of Kyabram, Mansfield and Echuca already in its keeping the Lions will be hoping to add the Bears to this list. They won last week without star forward Riley Mason, but defenders Huw Jones and Lachlan Giles stood strong. The Bears are coming off wins against the 11th and 12th ranked teams, but now have Jake Watts, Xavier Stevenson and Jonty Wardle with games under their belts after long stints out of the game with injury.
KEY MATCH UPS:
Luke Smith v Lachlan Giles: Giles is the Lions leading one per center player and Smith is coming off a rare zero goal game.
Ash Holland v Tom Stapleton: Since starting his season in Round 5, Stapleton has made an immediate impact. He faces the league’s most dominant big man this weekend.
Lewis McShane v Jack Murphy: Tall ball magnets (McShane had 211 ranking points on the weekend) who are both goalkicking mid-fielders and the winner of this battle could decide the overall result.
Prediction: Bears by 11 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 2, 2026 – Bears won by 40 points.
SHEPP UNITED v EUROA
Poor kicking in three of their last four games has not helped the Demons, who have lost to Seymour and Rochester in successive weeks after winning three games in a row. They kicked 4.12 against Rochester, after 5.16 the week before against Seymour. And a fortnight before that they kicked 10.19. Euroa has tasted victory only once this season, but was highly competitive against the Swans on the back of defence from Ryan Hill, Adam Giobbi and Jack Frewen.
KEY MATCH UPS:
Brodie Newman v Jett Trotter: Newman was United’s highest ranked player last weekend, having 165 ranking points. Trotter kicked three goals for the Magpies and now has 19 for the season.
Kaedyn Napier v Nate Trotter: Napier took 11 marks, had 27 disposals and 7 Rebound 50s. He will face a defensively minded forward who is dangerous around goals.
Matt Casey v Adam Giobbi: Casey hasn’t kicked a goal for two weeks, after kicking 23 in the preceding five games. Giobbi returned in good form last weekend.
Prediction: United by 32 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: (Round 2, 2026) – United won by 28 points.
