BENALLA V SEYMOUR
Benalla and Seymour kick off the 2023 season. The summer of these two teams have vastly differed. Both experienced damage to their facilities due to storms and the October 2022 floods.
But as expected with small communities this just brought the resilience of them to the forefront.
They are now ready to roll into the season and both have very different expectations. As we know it, Seymour missed the finals by 0.19 percent while the Saints missed the finals.
The Lions are expected to be a top six contender while the Saints remain a bit of an unknown.
No doubt on their day they will claim some scalps with the likes of Josh Mellington and Jarrod Waite running around in the forward line.
Lions coach Ben Davey will be thrilled to have ex-AFL and VFL player Michael Hartley on the books full time. He kicked 33 goals from his limited appearances in 2022. I expect Hartley to double that tally in 2023, therefore influencing more games in the favour of the Lions.
This will be a really good contest, but I am going for the Lions to win a tight one. Tip: Seymour.
SHEPPARTON UNITED V SHEPPARTON
Shepparton United and Shepparton will lock horns in their traditional Good Friday clash under lights at Deakin Reserve.
The Demons struggled to 1-17 last year, defeating Benalla for its only win while the Bears finished eighth last season but a little off the sixth placed Kyabram.
The Bears have been one of the most active in the off-season, bringing in some talent from Murray League outfit Cobram and Picola League powerhouse Tungamah. With those inclusions coupled with the natural improvement from within the playing group, I expect the Bears to be vying for a spot in the six.
That said, they will need everything to go well, starting with the match-up with the Demons.
The Demons are under the watch of new coach Duane Hueston. He is under no illusions how difficult 2023 will be and they will continue to expose the number of kids from last year again this year coupled with some of the more seasoned bodies they have welcomed over the summer.
But that said, the Bears will win the four points. Tip: Shepparton.
ROCHESTER V KYABRAM
Rochester is an intriguing watch as is Kyabram.
The Tigers have lost its best and fairest from last year in Shaun Atley coupled with its leading goal-kicker and former coach Steven Stroobants. Many pundits are predicting a slide for the Tigers.
The Tigers finished fifth last year, losing to Mooroopna in the elimination final while the Bombers bombed out at the same stage, losing to eventual runner-up Euroa.
The Bombers will be coached by premiership coach Paul Newman again. There are expectations that they will be thereabouts again and figuring in the finals. The challenge for them is whether they can elevate themselves in to the top 2-3.
They have recruited well enough, and like other GVL clubs, have a few on VFL lists who have nominated them as their home club.
I think the Bombers should win this one, with the returning Kyle Mueller (three games only in 2022) to lead the way up forward. If he stays fit, and on the park, I expect him to challenge Hartley and Chris Nield for the goal-kicking honours. Tip: Kyabram.
ECHUCA V TATURA
Tatura has drawn the short straw, having to play the reigning premier first-up. But you know what. Former Essendon utility and now coach of the Bulldogs Paul Barnard will be relishing that opportunity to take on the Murray Bombers.
He is going to find out straight away so much about the gap between his Dogs who finished in the bottom 3 and one of the league’s best teams over the past two seasons.
Barnard will be looking for his team to gel from the first bounce against the well-drilled Green Machine. He will look to his newcomers coupled with those regulars from the Bulldogs to take it up to the home team.
The Murray Bombers are expected to be as good as 2022. Whether that is good enough or whether the group has the hunger will be confirmed very early on the season.
What we need to remember is the likes of Ben Reid, Sam Reid, Andrew Walker and Ruory Kirby don’t lose their talent or ability to influence games overnight.
And, with that, the Murray Bombers will be too strong for the Bulldogs. Tip: Echuca.
MANSFIELD V EUROA
Euroa will go into 2023 as most pundits’ favourite to win the flag after getting so close to what many thought wasn’t possible last year.
The Magpies will no doubt take a huge amount of confidence out of last year’s grand finale that it is good enough. Coach Scott Rowan will no doubt be reminding his group to back themselves in and they have added what I believe will be two of the best players in the GVL this season on a full-time basis.
Ryan Pendlebury will play full time after only playing two games last year while Will Hayes has committed to the Pies after his stint with Carlton ended at the end of 2022.
For mine, Hayes will start as the Morrison Medal favourite and if he plays every game, I expect him to be in the count right up to his neck.
Mansfield finished second at the end of the home and away season last year, only losing three games. The Eagles unfortunately didn’t have the best start to the preliminary final which ultimately cost them a place in the grand-final.
Coach Chad Owens is one of the best coaches in the competition and he will again have a large chunk of last year’s playing group to try and go that one step further to the last game of the season.
I do like the Eagles, but the Pies have won the last two matchups and I expect them to win a thriller to start the season. Tip: Euroa.
MOOROOPNA V SHEPPARTON SWANS
Mooroopna is expected to be challenging when the whips are cracking in September. As for the Shepparton Swans, they are expected to be on the rise in 2023.
The inclusions of the three ex-AFL Kangaroos are sure to make them a competitive outfit along with the continued growth of its talented youngsters.
A big out is BJ Squire but hopefully the likes of the returning Tom Preece and Zac Alderton can help offset that departure.
Goals will be the problem for the Swans, with Zac Banch leading the way with 21 in 2022. They will need to find someone who can be that target and kick around 50 goals, with all the other forwards chipping in with 20s and 30s.
The Cats are one of the best coached teams and that was proven by the last round effort where few gave them a chance to overcome minor premier Echuca and retain their place in the top six.
A defeat would have knocked them out. And, they were good value for their two finals, defeating Rochester and pushing Mansfield all the way.
I think coach John Lamont will be hoping his team can finish in the top two which gives them that chance to launch an assault on the premiership.
Anything less and the Cats will be forced to potentially have to win two or three finals to qualify for the big dance.
This will be a game where the Cats are expected to win, but if the boys don’t turn up then the Swans will cause an upset.
That said, I think the Cats have the talent in each third of the ground to enjoy some Easter chocolates after the final siren. Tip: Mooroopna.
