ECHUCA VS. MOOROOPNA
Mooroopna faces a massive challenge to avoid a third loss in the past month when it travels to the Port of Echuca to take on the top of the ladder Murray Bombers. The Cats have lost its past two home matches in between a comfortable win at Benalla before the bye. Liam Betson, Ben Hicks, Christopher Nield (six goals), Rising Star nominee Jed Woods and Dom Gugliotti will be out to lead by example for the visitors. Echuca was locked in an first half arm wrestle with its neighbouring rival Rochester last weekend. It was able to kick away in the second half and that was largely due to the efforts of Sam Willoughby, Kane Morris, Benjamin Reid, Jack McHale and Aiden Mills. If the Murray Bombers get the game played on their terms, then they should be able to keep the Cats to a losing score. Tip: Echuca.
SHEPPARTON VS. KYABRAM
Shepparton will be looking to challenge itself against one of the powerhouse teams of the past decade today. The Bears started off the game well against Seymour last weekend, but then could not sustain its form through the middle part of the game. Today, coach Edward Lindon, Rhiley Lau, Rowan Hiscock, Mitchell Brett and Jayden Dhosi will be doing their best for a very young Bears outfit. If the young Bears allow the likes of Kaine Herbert, Zachary Norris, Anthony DePasquale, Lachlan Smith, Nic Denahy and Zac Keogh to get on top then they could be in for a tough day at the home of football. Tip: Kyabram.
TATURA VS. UNITED
Shepparton United and Tatura will be gunning for their second win of the season when they go in to battle at Tatura Park today. Edward Adams, Kyle Clarke, Kaedyn Napier, Joel Serra and Adam Pigatto were solid for the Demons, especially when they challenged the reigning premier to be only down by two points at the main break. If they can continue their good form and can get their team-mates to come on the journey, the visitors just may get the win. Tatura coach Paul Kirby would have been disappointed by last weekend’s 77-point loss to the Swans. He knows that his Dogs need to bounce back and he will look to his more experienced players to lead the way. If they fail to get their hands dirty, then the visitors will get the chocolates. Tip: United.
ROCHESTER VS. SEYMOUR
Seymour will take some winning form into today’s contest but coach Ben Davey is aware of the challenge ahead for his group. He knows the Tigers will be tougher opposition than some of the opponents they have managed to skip past in the past couple of weeks. Jack Murphy, Nathan Beattie, Seamus Feery, Ben Rigoni and Dylan Scopel led the way for the Lions as they took control of the game in the second half against the Bears last weekend. The Tigers were right in the contest against Echuca until half-time, so coach Steven Stroobants knows only a four-quarter effort will be good enough to get the points over the Lions. Adam McPhee, Grant Fuller, Mitchell Bright, Andy Henderson and Izaac Johnson will be important for the Tigers. If they can continue their good form and ensure enough supply to the Tiger forwards then they can win a tight one. Tip: Rochester.
BENALLA VS. SHEPPARTON SWANS
Shepparton Swans will get an opportunity to make it two wins on the bounce when it takes on the winless Benalla today. The Swans were outstanding in getting the win over Tatura. Benalla found it tough against Euroa. They will look to ruckman Joshua Marchbank, Will O’Donoghue, Jake Pallpratt, Michael Rheese, Jordan Wolff and coach Will Martiniello to led the way. BJ Squire, Andrew Riordan, Quade Johnstone will be important for the visitors and if the Swans can get the continued growth from the kids, then they should make it win number 3 in season 2022. Tip: Shepparton Swans.
MANSFIELD VS. EUROA
This is probably the match of the round. Mansfield is 7-1, having only lost to premiership favourite Echuca while Euroa has recovered from its back-to-back defeats to start the season to be 6-2, which has included six victories on the trot. The Eagles had an outstanding win on the road last weekend, defeating the Cats while the Magpies were too strong for the winless Benalla. This is no doubt going to be a fantastic game between two teams that love the contested football. Lachie Christopher, Dirk Koenen, Tom McDonagh, Ben Christopher, Frazer Dale and Will Foster (five goals) will be important players for the Eagles. If they can get the game played on their terms then that will go a long way to helping them claim the win. Euroa will look to Jack McKernan to continue his hot form up forward while Jack Frewen, Jett Trotter, Dan Garside, Jacob Gleeson and young Ben Bath will be just as important for the visitors. The two played on the opening day of the season where the Eagles got the points. No doubt, Scott Rowan and the Pies coaching group would have learnt a fair bit from that loss. It should be cracker and I am going for the Eagles in a thriller. Tip: Mansfield.
