Four teams remain in the race for the Goulburn Valley League senior football premiership after Shepparton Swans and Seymour’s season were ended in the first week of finals on the weekend.
The Swans lost to Kyabram by 12 points after controlling the first quarter of the game, while Mooroopna’s “Cinderella story” season continues after Seymour missed a couple of late opportunities in the other elimination final.
Shepparton Bears have a second chance after losing to Echuca by 30 points under lights at Rochester – beating the Bears for the second time this season – the top team’s only two losses of the season.
Echuca will now face Kyabram, on the Bombers home ground, in the Father’s Day Second Semi Final (Sunday, September 6) – the winner rewarded with safe passage through to the grand final on September 19.
On Saturday the Cats will confront Shepparton Bears in the elimination First Semi-Final at Seymour.
BEARS v CATS
In round 3 this year the Bear were 17 point winners after they kicked an inaccurate 8.16 on the back of 12 first quarter scoring shots and a 29 point quarter time lead.
Ash Holland was best on the ground and Trent Herbert was the only multiople goalkicker in that game.
In Round 14 it was much closer, the Bears winning by just two points after Mooroopna led at quarter time and outscored the Bears in the second half.
Liam and Keelin Betson were the Cats best two players, while defender Coby James was another of the stand out individuals.
Zac Metcalf, Liam Duguid and Bryce Stephenson – three parts of a miserly Bears defence – were among the top team’s best players.
In those two games Luke Smith, the second highest goalkicker of the season, kicked just two goals. He and Lewis McShane were below their best in both those games, which will again be a focus of the Cats.
On the weekend a minor hamstring niggle to the competition’s top ball-winner Kai Madgwick saw him spend the last quarter of the tight elimination final on the bench.
His fitness will be important to the final result. The Bears relied on its defence again in the loss to Echuca, with goalkicking power a concern.
They do have the option of bringing some young talent into the team as the Murray Bushrangers season is now over and a player like Angus Williams (five goals in his senior debut this season) could be an option in attack for the second week of the finals.
ECHUCA v KYABRAM
Tom and Jack Evans combined for 75 disposals, 14 inside 50s and 14 rebound 50s on the weekend.
The Murray Bombers were in control from the outset, with livewire forward Liam Gronow kicking four goals and the sting taken out of the game by a 34 point half time advantage to Echuca.
Kyabram ruckman Zac Norris will face Bears star Ash Holland in one of the match-ups of the season. Norris had an competition high 178 ranking points in the win against Shepparton Swans, including a quarter where he scored 82 ranking points.
With Kaine Herbert kicking two goals, Jack Russell collecting 37 disposals and Aidan Robinson looking dangerous alongside Rhys Clark in attack the Murray Bombers defence will be under pressure.
Curtis Townrow has led the Murray Bombers defence expertly, with support from speedy half back Aiden Mills. For mine this is how things will go.
Echuca will win by 23 points and the Byrne brothers (Hugh and Angus) will combine for six goals.
In the other game the Bears will win through to a preliminary final, signalling an end to John Lamont’s time as coach of the Cats.
NETBALL
In the A grade netball, Shepparton Bears and Mansfield were the two teams to bow out of the premiership race – leaving Echuca, Euroa, Mooroopna and Seymour standing as we head into week two of the finals.
Mooroopna evokes its second chance after losing by three goals to Euroa, on the Magpies home court on Sunday, in the Qualifying final. The Cats face Seymour on the Lions home court, the second time Mooroopna has faced a finals opponent on their home court in successive weeks, on Saturday in a do-or-die final.
In the other game, which has a grand final place as the reward, Echuca veterans Steph Vick and Lauren Jones will both play in their 299th A grade game against Euroa.
In the only meeting between the Magpies and Murray Bombers, in Round 9 this year,m Echuca won the match 57-51. Bec Colwell’s match up against Lauren Jones is a key, while the contest between Sophie Owen and Eliza Hoare – pitted against Greta Pearson and Steph Vick – will be a deciding factor.
I expect Mooroopna to have the defensive capability to hold Seymour goaling pair Ally Black and Ruby Martin. When these teams met in Round 8 it was a 46-33 win for the Cats.
That game is at 2.15pm at Kyabram on Sunday.
Here are the other games
FOOTBALL
Saturday at Seymour Reserves: Kyabram v Seymour at 11.45am. Under 18: Shepp Bears v United at 9.30am
Sunday at Kyabram: Echuca v Shepp Bears at 11.45am. Under 18: Echuca v Benalla at 9.30am.
NETBALL
Saturday at Seymour B grade: Echuca v Seymour at 1pm. B Reserve: Shepp United v Seymour (Second Semi Final) at 11.45am. 17&Under: Shepp Bears v Mooroopna at 10.30am. 15&Under: Shepp United v Euroa at 9.15am.
Sunday at Kyabram B grade: Euroa v Echuca. B Reserve Euroa v Rochester (First Semi Final) at 11.45am. 17&Under: Echuca v Shepp Swans at 10.30am. 15&Under: Echuca v Mooroopna at 9.15am.
In other league news, the league’s under age competitions, both the Under 18 football and two netball competitions, will have their own end of season event.
The Unders GVL Awards event will be held on Saturday, October 3 – as an afternoon event with the time to be confirmed – at Kialla’s Museum of Vehicle Evolution. It will involve the presentation of the best and fairest awards, the 2026 Rising Star awards and feature a keynote speaker.
Watch the GVL App, The Adviser and the GVL socials for more details on the event.
