ECHUCA V MANSFIELD
Echuca will be looking to bounce back to the winners’ list after it tasted defeat for the first time in 2024. They only lost once in 2023 on their way to securing back-to-back flags.
After back-to-back losses to start 2024, Mansfield has got its season back on track with four successive wins, including two on the road at Tatura and Kyabram.
I think the Murray Bombers will return to the winners’ list. Tip: Echuca.
SEYMOUR V KYABRAM
Seymour will be looking to continue its winning form when it welcomes Kyabram to Kings Park in what will be a big day for the home team.
Former Fremantle Dockers midfielder David Mundy will make a return to his home club to pull on the boots. He will give the Lions a huge boost, especially after their first win of 2024 on the road at Benalla last round.
Kyabram has a couple of wins on the board in 2024, but will be looking to bounce back after a home defeat to Mansfield. The Bombers are yet to see their co-captain Mick Mattingly in 2024 as he struggles to shake off a quad injury.
The Bombers will fancy their chances of coming away from Kings Park with the win. Tip: Seymour.
SHEPPARTON UNITED V TATURA
This is a real opportunity for both teams to get on the winners’ list.
Tatura has lost its past four games after an after-the-siren win on the opening day of the season against Seymour while Shepparton United has only had a draw from its opening five weeks of the season. Both will be desperate for the win, but it will come down to who can play the better football for long enough across the 120 minutes.
Despite being winless, the Demons have shown in patches what they are capable of, but it is a case of doing it for longer in games.
I think this is a real flip of the coin and I am going for United, but not with a lot of confidence. Tip: Shepparton United.
SHEPPARTON SWANS V SHEPPARTON
Shepparton has been a revelation in 2024.
In 2023 they missed the finals by two games and percentage, but they went to work over the summer to make some important additions that have made them a genuine premiership contender in 2024. They have had some good wins in those five so far, defeating last year’s finalists Seymour, Mansfield and Euroa.
While the Bears have improved, some would say that a couple of the finalists from last year may have come back to the field a little after some key outs. Time will tell if that is the case once we get a bit more of a sample over the next month or so. But early results suggest that.
I think they will give the Bears a run for their money, but I expect the Bears to win and remain undefeated. Tip: Shepparton.
ROCHESTER V MOOROOPNA
The sky is the limit for Rochester after it scored arguably one of its best wins for some time when it overcame Campaspe Shire rival Echuca at Echuca last round.
The Tigers face another challenge when it welcomes the red-hot Mooroopna. The Cats are 4-1 after five rounds, losing only to Echuca by 14 points.
In a real positive for the Tigers, they won the premiership quarter against the reigning premier last round which was a huge boost against a team that has rarely lost a third quarter over the past two and bit seasons.
That said, I still like the Cats. Tip: Mooroopna.
EUROA V BENALLA
Euroa will be looking to return to the winners’ list after losing its past two games – v Echuca (45 points) and Shepparton (two goals).
The worry for playing coach Ryan Pendlebury in those defeats is the number of quarters they have won. They won only one quarter in each of those defeats, so it will be important to make a statement early against the winless Benalla. Tip: Euroa
