Football Previews R15

By Sam Saracino

SHEPPARTON UNITED V EUROA
Euroa will be out to continue its winning form when it comes to the home of where the GVL grand final will be staged in 2022.
The Pies put in a four-quarter effort to comfortably push past the improved Shepparton Swans last round.
Coach Scott Rowan would have been pleased with his group and he would have also liked that the Pies had 10 different players kick their 21 goals last weekend.
Jack Hellier, Jett Trotter (six goals), Andrew Bell, Harrison Jarvie and Max Gleeson led the way in the win and Rowan will be hoping these guys can continue their strong form.
Kaedyn Napier, Kyle Clarke, Edward Adams and Sheldon Bodgan will be doing best to try and lead the way for the young Demons while the experienced senior bodies of Shane Sali, Jamie Atkinson and Stephen Scott will be important players as well to ensure the home team puts up a competitive effort for four quarters.
That said the Pies have too much to play for and they will win to consolidate their place in the top two.
Tip: Euroa.

BENALLA V MANSFIELD
The rollercoaster season of Benalla returns to the showgrounds today.
After putting up competitive efforts in recent weeks that included a come-from-behind win at Tatura Park in round 13, the Saints struggled over at Rochester last weekend.
They appeared to be missing a few senior bodies including that of ex-AFL player Jarrod Waite.
If he is back in the team then, that will straighten up the Saints and give them a much-needed target in their forward line.
Michael Rheese, Jake Pallpratt, Christopher Welsh, Samuel Harris and Cameron Symes (four goals last weekend) will be looking to continue their good form.
For Mansfield, coach Chad Owens would be looking for a four-quarter effort from his players.
Owens would have been slightly disappointed by last week’s second half against the improved Shepparton Bears.
They were outscored in the second half.
Tom McDonagh, Frazer Dale, Jack Hutchins, James Herridge and Tim Costigan will be hoping to lead the visitors to an important win to take them a step closer towards qualifying for the September action.
Tip: Mansfield.

TATURA V ROCHESTER
Rochester will be looking to continue its strong form from last weekend when it makes the trip to Tatura Park.
For the Tigers the task is simple.
Keep winning and hope one of the teams inside the top six have a few slip ups to allow them to leapfrog.
That said, coach Steven Stroobants knows that his boys can’t get ahead of themselves as the Bulldogs will be keen to bounce back after a heavy loss to Echuca last weekend.
Stroobants will look to ex-AFL star Shaun Atley to continue his strong form along with Christopher Jansen, Mitchell Bright, Nicholas O’Connor and Grant Fuller.
The Bulldogs will look to Tom Sullivan, Billy Cooper, Mitchell Elliott, Michael Archer and Sean McAllister to ensure the home team gives a good account of themselves.
That said, the Tigers have too much to play for and should win.
Tip: Rochester.

SHEPPARTON SWANS V SHEPPARTON
This is a big game in the context of bragging rights.
Both have won four games this season with reasonably young lists and their percentage is almost identical.
The earlier meeting in the season was won by the Bears at Deakin Reserve.
But since that meeting both teams have shown some improvement, the Swans claiming their best win in round 13 when they upset the sixth placed Seymour.
And the Bears have put in some great performances against Euroa and Mansfield in recent weeks despite not winning the points.
Hamish Rowlands, Anthony Andronaco, Edward Lindon, Tyler Bell and Mitchell Brett will be important players for the visitors as they look to replicate their second half form of last weekend that saw them outscore the more fancied Mansfield.
The Swans didn’t win any quarters last weekend but were still gallant against the bigger bodied Euroa.
If the likes of Bryden Squire, Kurtis Dixon, Isaiah Jones, Will Dwyer and Tyreece Collison can win enough ball to get it to their forwards then the Swans are capable of kicking enough goals.
It will be an arm wrestle and I think that the visitors just may have a few more avenues to goal to kick a winning score.
Tip: Shepparton.

MOOROOPNA V SEYMOUR
This is a massive match for both, but probably more so for the visiting Lions.
They are clinging onto their spot inside the top six with Rochester breathing down their necks to leapfrog if they slip up.
And the Cats know the importance of this match, as a win takes them one step closer to stitching up a top six spot while defeat means they will need to win at least one of their final three games against Mansfield (away), Euroa (away) or Echuca (home).
And the task for the Lions is not easy with a game against Euroa to come after today’s match-up.
Bior Malual and Michael Hartley pulled on the Lions jumper last week with the former starring in a best on ground performance against Kyabram.
If coach Ben Davey doesn’t have this star duo he will need to turn to Nathan Beattie, Riley Mason, James Wooster, Jordan Angus, Dylan Scopel and Jack Murphy to lead the way.
Chris Nield and Jackson Trengove kicked more than half of the Cats score in the big win over Shepparton United last weekend.
Trengove did sit out the last quarter as a precaution with a leg injury, but should be good to go, meaning the Lions’ coaching staff will need nullify his impact if they want to take the points.
Ben Woods, Jack Lear, Dean Smith, Nathan Basile, Toby Williams and Oscar Lear will be doing their best to ensure enough supply gets to the key forwards and coach John Lamont will be reminding his players to be switched on from the first bounce.
When the Cats jumped out of the blocks like against Rochester and last weekend, they scored good wins.
So, Davey will know this and will be telling his players to be ready for this.
The earlier meeting was won by the Cats and I reckon they can do it again.
Tip: Seymour

ECHUCA V KYABRAM
This will be an intriguing match-up as both look to fine tune their game plans before the finals.
Echuca has secured its place in September and will win the minor premiership unless it doesn’t win another game while Kyabram still needs at least two wins to be assured of a place in the finals.
The reigning premier will be looking to bounce back after last week’s defeat at Seymour which leaves them a game clear of Seymour (32) and Rochester (32).
Coach Paul Newman knows his chargers have had an up and down season.
Trying to find the balance between their good and bad has been a challenge for Newman. Against the Murray Bombers they will need to be at their best for four quarters.
If they aren’t then the likes of Mitchell Wales, Ruory Kirkby (six goals), Jack Evans, Marty Hore, Benjamin Reid and Sam Reid will put the home team on the road to victory.
Another challenge for the visiting Bombers will be trying to shut down their many avenues to goal – 15 different goal kickers last weekend the Murray Bombers had in their big win over Tatura.
Zachary Norris, Kaine Herbert, Jason Morgan, Lachlan Smith and Kayne Pettifer will be charged with the responsibility of ensuring the visitors are in the game for long periods and a chance to reverse the defeat at the hands of Echuca earlier in the year.
Tip: Echuca.