UNITED V SHEPPARTON
The stakes are high for these two Deakin Reserve co-tenants on this traditional Good Friday showdown. Both started with defeats on the opening day of the new season – the Bears well beaten by Mooroopna and the Dees going down to Greater Shepparton rival the Shepparton Swans. The challenge for both coaches will be to get some small wins along this journey of re-build. Both have a bulk of young players in their squads, with the Bears slightly more experienced. Bears’ coach Ted Lindon led by example last week in his return to the league while evergreen midfilder Nick Allan, defender Mitchell Brett, premiership forward Anthony Andronaco and the returning Tyler Larkin were some of the better players in the loss to the Cats. Edward Adams, Adam Pigatto, Joel Serra, Sheldon Bogdan and Blake Serra were the four quarter contributors in the loss to the Swans last weekend. They will again need to play well and the Demons will be looking for a greater contribution from the few experienced heads in the squad to try and lead them to victory. Tip: Shepparton.
BENALLA V TATURA
Benalla will be looking to bounce back after an opening day loss to Seymour while Tatura will be looking to take some of its good form from a narrow loss to Kyabram to the Benalla Showgrounds today. The Bulldogs were good in patches against the reigning premier and coach Paul Kirby will be hoping his chargers can use the ball better forward of the centre. Joshua Marchbank, William Martiniello, Samuel Harris, Jordan Wolff and Jack Doidge will be some of the Saints that will be looking to lift their team off the canvas. Billy Copper, James Bennett, Brad Ryan, Aubrey Coote and Mitchell Elliott will be important to get enough ball to their forwards to ensure they can come away from Benalla victorious. Tip: Tatura.
KYABRAM V ROCHESTER
The reigning premier had to work overtime to shake off a gallant challenge from Tatura while Rochester was well beaten by its rival Echuca last weekend. Lachlan Smith was easily the best man on the ground last weekend. He was allowed to do as he liked and that will be something Rochester’s Steve Stroobants will be wary of to ensure he is made accountable. Zachary Keogh, Kyle Mueller (could easily have kicked more than 3 goals had he kicked straight), Kaine Herbert, Cade Mueller and Jason Morgan will be vital in trying to ensure the Bombers go 2-0. Joseph Atley, Christopher Jansen, Shaun Atley, Jordan Harper and Blake Evans were the key contributors in the defeat to Echuca. That said, Stroobants will be hoping to have Doug Wren back to add more class to its midfield. It is a huge game for the Tigers who will want to avoid going 0-2 while the Bombers know they will need to play better than last weekend to get past their Campaspe Shire rival. Tip: Kyabram.
MOOROOPNA V SWANS
Mooroopna made the best possible start in its quest to chalk up the necessary number of wins to play finals in 2022. They were able to make light work of the team that beat them twice by a point in 2021 last weekend.
That would have pleased coach John Lamont. That said, Lamont knows they need to back it up today and not get ahead of themselves or else the Swans will fly away with the win. Keelin Betson, Jack Hunt, Ryan Kilpatrick, Mitchell Jones and Lucas Caccaviello were outstanding last weekend and they will be crucial to nullifying the likes of Mitchell Bell, Nathan Rachele (five goals), Bryden Squire, Zac Banch and Rylen Damianopoulos. Tip: Mooroopna.
ECHUCA V EUROA
Echuca will be looking to confirm its early status of premiership favourite when it welcomes another challenger in Euroa today. The Magpies need to get back on the horse after suffering what some would say was an upset at the hands of Mansfield last weekend. But make no mistake about it, Mansfield will win more than it loses in 2022, so that loss may not be so bad in the bigger picture. Pies coach Scott Rowan will look to Andrew Smith, Marcus Varley, Ben Giobbi, Jacob Gleeson and Jack Frewen to lead the way. He doesn’t need to look any further than last year for motivation, knowing that his chargers were able to defeat Echuca. Co-coaches Simon Maddox and Andrew Walker are two smart operators. They will be wary of that but at the same time back their troops to play the game on their terms. Logan Prout, Jack Evans, Liam Tenace, Benjamin Reid and Ruory Kirkby will be crucial for the Green Machine to remain undefeated and I think they will get the points. Tip: Echuca.
MANSFIELD V SEYMOUR
This is shaping as the match of the round after last week’s victories by both teams. The Eagles had a strong four quarter win over Euroa and Ben Davey will be wary of the home team’s capabilities. He knows they will be in for a fight if last year’s match-up as an indication. Eagles coach Chad Owens will back his team in to get the job done. They were one of the form teams when the season was cut short by Covid-19. Owens knows that his defence has a big job in nullifying Michael Hartley (10 goals last weekend). Lachlan Waite, Riley Mason, Ben Rigoni and Jack Murphy will be other important players for the visitors and Davey will be hoping to welcome back a few more regulars from injury today. Tom McDonagh, Cameron Arnold, William Chiller, James Herridge and Patrick Marks will be important as will Will Foster who helped himself to a bag of 10 when the teams last played in 2021. Tip: Mansfield.
