ECHUCA V SEYMOUR – QUALIFYING FINAL
What a cracking contest this promises to be between the two best teams during the home and away campaign.
The reigning premier lost once during the campaign – to Seymour while the Lions lost twice – once by a point to Kyabram and in the last round to Shepparton.
On what I have seen, this promises to be a fantastic game between two teams that play vastly different brands of football.
The Murray Bombers’ love the contest and got the perfect dress rehearsal against Mooroopna last round while the Lions are a run and gun team with exceptional execution skills.
It will be interesting to see the composition of their teams with Seymour expected to have Josh Alford, Michael Hartley, Seamus Feery and Tom O’Sullivan available for selection while Andrew Waker, Cam Valentine and Ben Reid should all play.
The Murray Bombers will hope to have brothers Hugh and Angus Byrne available for selection as well, with the latter dependant if qualified given he spent most of the year playing in the VFL for Geelong.
Jackson Stewart was brilliant for the Murray Bombers, Liam Tenace is a talent on the rise and clunked some crucial marks, while Logan Prout, Matthew Lias, Jack Evans and Sam Reid were very good especially as the Cats clawed their way at them in those dying minutes.
Jack O’Sullivan, Riley Mason, Ben Cooney, Dylan Scopel and Ben Rigoni will be important for the Lions and they will take confidence in that they have beaten the Murray Bombers this season.
While the last round loss was not ideal, coach Ben Davey is a savvy operator and he will back in his boys to dish it up to the reigning premier.
I think it will be cracking contest, but I am leaning towards the Green Machine to advance to the second semi-final. Tip: Echuca.
KYABRAM V MANSFIELD – ELIMINATION FINAL
Mansfield faces a massive task if it wants to keep it season alive when it takes on Kyabram.
The Eagles have done well to qualify for the September action, but to continue their season they must reverse a trend.
And, that is win a game against a team inside the top six.
All of the Eagles’ wins came against teams outside the top six.
They failed to win a game against a team above it, including Kyabram which defeated the Eagles recently.
The Bombers will look to win to set-up a crack at the winner of Echuca versus Seymour for a shot at qualifying for the season decider.
Aidan Robinson, Kaine Herbert, Archie Watt, Zachary Norris, Jake Parkinson and Kyle Mueller will be important for the Bombers as will Lachie Smith down back.
Jason Morgan should return for the Bombers, which will provide them with that leadership and experience in the back half.
The Eagles will look to Brett Mahoney, Jack Tomanovits, Cameron Arnold, Harry Mahoney and Dylan Lowry to try and lead the way for the Eagles in their bid to upset the Bombers.
I think the Eagles will be competitive, but it will be the Bombers that advance to the second week of the finals. Tip: Kyabram.
EUROA V MOOROOPNA – ELIMINATION FINAL
This is a really intriguing match-up.
Both teams have had their good games and then not so good.
Mooroopna got itself ready for the finals with a hotly contested arm wrestle with Echuca while Euroa was up for the fight it getting past finals bound Mansfield last round.
The Magpies welcomed back a whole host of players and it was probably the first time in a long time that it had close to their best 22.
Jacob Gleeson, Jett Trotter, Andrew Smith, Jack McKernan, Andrew Bell and Morrison Medal favourite Will Hayes will be looking to lead the way for the Pies.
Boom recruit Bryce Rutherford was outstanding for the Cats and he was up for the contest last round.
Jack Johnston, Jed Woods, Nathan Basile, Liam Betson Jackson Trengove and Daniel Johnstone were others who contributed in the narrow loss.
This will be a real arm wrestle like when the teams last played which was won by the Pies by less than a goal.
I expect it to be close again and I am going to go with the Cats to advance to the second week of the finals. Tip: Mooroopna.
