MOOROOPNA V SEYMOUR
Mooroopna will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 10-goal loss to the much-improved Rochester last weekend, while Seymour is desperate to get its season back on track after only one win in 2024.
Cats coach John Lamont would have been frustrated and disappointed by the way the team gave up such a big margin in the final wash-up. He will be also concerned by the fact the team had two goalless quarters against the Tigers.
Seymour was slow of out the blocks but did have a really good second half, falling short by a goal against Kyabram. Coach Ben Davey is looking for small wins in 2024 as it faces an uphill battle to recapture the form that took them to the finals in 2023.
Lachlan Waite, Jack Murphy, Nathan Beattie, Jay Eager, Riley Mason and Nathan Fowler will be important if they are to push the Cats on their home deck.
Coby James, Jed Woods, Rory Huggard, Coby McCarthy and Jack Lear were the shining lights in the defeat to the Tigers.
If they can continue that good form then the Cats will feel confident it can bounce back.
They missed Nathan Drummond and Daniel Johnstone last weekend and Lamont will be hoping to be able to select them, which would make a huge difference structurally. Tip: Mooroopna.
KYABRAM V TATURA
Kyabram will be looking to continue its push up the ladder when it welcomes a Tatura team which hasn’t won since round one.
The Bombers sit at 3-3 after holding on against the fast-finishing Seymour last round. Co-coach Corey Carver is blooding some kids this year which will help set them up for the future.
Liam Ogden, Kaine Herbert, Anthony DePasquale (five goals again), Aidan Robinson, Jake Torney and Mick Mattingly will be important for the Bombers.
The Bombers suffered a massive blow when premiership defender Lachie Smith informed the club he would remain in Melbourne to play this year. He did play for the Bombers this season, but just felt it would be too difficult to make the trip up the highway each weekend.
Last weekend, they didn’t kick a goal in the last quarter, so it will be something Herbert and Carver study to try and rectify against the Bulldogs.
Chaz Sargeant was a welcome addition for the Bulldogs. He kicked a bag while Andrew Ciavarella, Tyle Williams, Mitchell Elliott and Ethan Penrith were the others to play well to give the Dogs a chance of victory against the Demons.
Last week was better by the Dogs, but still wasn’t enough to end a run of five straight losses.
And, I think while they will be competitive, but the Bombers will be eager to remain in touch with the top six and should win. Tip: Kyabram.
ECHUCA V SHEPPARTON SWANS
Echuca will be looking to consolidate its place at the top end of the ladder when it welcomes the Shepparton Swans.
The Murray Bombers made a fast start last round when they kicked six goals to nil against Mansfield. That was the difference in the end.
Premiership ruckman, Kane Morris made a strong return to the line-up after missing the Rochester loss. Jack McHale, Liam Tenace, Cooper Willoughby and Cameron Valentine were others to shine in the win over the Eagles.
In a further boost for the reigning premier, it had nine different goalkickers hit the scoreboard in the win.
The Shepparton Swans have been the hard luck story of 2024. They could easily have been 6-0 if they had executed some key moments late in games. Last weekend, they suffered a fourth defeat by less than a goal in season 2024, despite leading late against the undefeated Shepparton.
Steele Simpson, Zac Alderton, Jamie Macmillan, Andrew Riordan and Matt Perry were the shining lights in the loss to the Bears.
Today will be a huge test for the Swans who are winning plenty of quarters.
Last weekend, they won three of the four quarters, but will rue it didn’t kick more than four goals from their 11 last quarter scoring shots.
I think this will be a game of where the team that takes their chances will win and for mine, I think that will be the Murray Bombers. Tip: Echuca.
SHEPPARTON V BENALLA
Shepparton is looking to consolidate its place at the top of the ladder and at the same time remain undefeated when it welcomes the winless and bottom of the ladder Benalla.
The Bears have had some strong wins this year, but they are also learning how to master close games, having won their past two games despite being behind in the last quarter of their past two games. Bryce Stephenson, Joel Brett, Xavier Stevenson, Adam Decicco and Luke Smith were important in the win over the Swans.
Benalla was competitive against Euroa last round. Despite not winning they put up a real fight led by Christopher Welsh, Nick Mellington, Mark Marriott, James Martiniello and Jordan Wolff.
If they can come with the same intent and can hit the scoreboard, then the visitors will fancy themselves of taking it to the Bears.
In the end, I think it will be the Bears who get the win. Tip: Shepparton.
MANSFIELD V SHEPPARTON UNITED
Mansfield will be looking to steer its campaign back on track after it hit a hurdle at Echuca last weekend.
After back-to-back losses to start 2024, the Eagles won their next four, including two 100-plus point victories to help them to a 4-3 record. Harry Mahoney, Patrick Marks, Ben Les, Luke Menhenett and Ben Christopher will be looking to lead the way for the home team.
Jesse Cucinotta, Will McCartney, Edward Adams, Kaedyn Napier (six goals) and Aaron Britten helped the Demons win an arm wrestle against Tatura to chalk up its first win of 2024. And, they kicked over 100 points for a second successive week.
Today, will be tough against a big bodied Eagles outfit, but if the Demons can win the ball and get it on the outside, they will feel confident that they can take it up to the home team. Tip: Mansfield.
ROCHESTER V EUROA
This is an intriguing match-up for a variety of reasons.
The jury is still out on Rochester and what it can achieve in 2024, especially after back-to-back wins against the reigning premier and Mooroopna. The win against Mooroopna no doubt would have registered with Euroa coach Ryan Pendlebury. He knows that only their best will be good enough to overcome the improved Rochester Tigers.
Coach Ash Watson has done an amazing job to get this group competitive and a genuine chance of playing finals in 2024 in such a short time. The Tigers were competitive in 2023, but they have gone to another level. They haven’t been satisfied without just been competitive in 2024.
Kangaroos Flat recruit, Mitchell Trewhella played his best game since joining the club over the summer. Adam McPhee, Dillon Williams, Hamish Hooppell and Sean Williams (five goals for 17 in season 2024) have been others to shine over the past fortnight.
If they can continue that form and keep the likes of Michael Barnes, Jett Trotter, Will Hayes, Andrew Smith and Andrew Bell at bay, then they will fancy their chances.
The Magpies will be eager to improve their accuracy in front of goal after they kicked 3.13 in the second half against Benalla.
Ryan Pendlebury helped himself to 4 goals in the win over the Saints and he would have been pleased that eight different goalkickers contributed the 13 goals.
With the scalps of Echuca and Mooroopna already, I believe the Tigers can add the Pies to that list. Tip: Rochester.
