SHEPPARTON UNITED V SHEPPARTON SWANS
Shepparton United will be desperate to chalk up its second win of the season which would potentially lift it off the foot of the table.
The Demons have shown glimpses of what they are capable of this season, but the challenge is doing it for four quarters.
Coach Paul “Hair” Serra will be hoping his boys can start well and then take their opportunities when they have the run of the game.
The Swans put up a fight in the Blue-Ribbon match last Sunday.
And if, Bryden Squire, Isaiah Jones, Diesel Batey, Mason Pedretti and Quade Johnstone continue their good form, it will put the visitors in good stead to chalk up win number three.
For the Demons, they will look to Ed Adams, Kyle Clarke, Kaedyn Napier, Sheldon Bogdan coupled with the experience of Jamie Atkinson and Shane Sali down back to keep the visitors to a losing score. Tip: Shepparton Swans.
ECHUCA V BENALLA
Echuca is flexing its muscles and is proving every bit the team we all thought would be the team to beat for this year’s title.
Of course, the Murray Bombers were the minor premier in 2021 and are on track to repeat that feat in 2022.
That said, co-coaches Andrew Walker and Simon Maddox will ensure they keep the boys on task.
The visitors will look to Christopher Welsh, Jordan Wolff, William Martiniello, Jake Pallpratt, James Martiniello and Josh Marchbank to lead the way.
They will be up and about after back-to-back victories, with their six-point win last weekend against Shepparton lifting them off the bottom of the ladder.
But they could find the task of curbing the influence of the likes of Andrew Walker, Ben Reid, Kane Morris, Dan Willis, Cam Valentine and Mitch Wales too much today. Tip: Echuca.
MOOROOPNA V SHEPPARTON
Mooroopna will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce and at the same consolidate its place in the top six.
But coach John Lamont will be warning his players against complacency.
Shepparton should welcome back a few familiar faces who missed last week due to illness.
Those inclusions coupled with Lachlan Rumbiolo, Isaac Barry, Nick Allan, Zac Metcalf, Connor Fleming and Miles Rowland will be important to ensuring the visitors are competitive.
The Cats will look to Christopher Nield to kick another bag with support from Ben Hicks, Dom Gugliotti, Ben Woods, Mitchell Jones and Lachie Devine.
If the Cats can get on top early on in this contest, then they can run away with a comfortable win. Tip: Mooroopna.
EUROA V TATURA
The Euroa juggernaut just keeps rolling on and today’s opponent will find it difficult to go the distance.
An under-strengthened Bulldogs outfit was well beaten by Seymour last weekend.
Coach Paul Kirby knows his boys are giving effort, but it is just a case that they coming up against some really good teams, who have stronger lists.
Lachlan Hill, Jett Trotter (six goals), Jack Hellier, William McIntosh and Jacob Gleeson will be the Pies trying to continue their good form and if they do so and curb the influence of the likes of Tom Sullivan, Chris Ryan, Comanche Walls, Mitchell Elliott and Billy Cooper, then the Pies should make it nine on the trot. Tip: Euroa.
SEYMOUR V MANSFIELD
The stakes are high for both Seymour and Mansfield.
A win for the Lions could send them into the top six for the first time since the opening couple weeks of the season.
The Lions have won their past four games and a win against Mansfield would no doubt be the pick of those victories.
That said, the Eagles are keen to stay in touch with the top two and come into the contest off the back one of its best wins of the season at Kyabram last weekend.
Skipper Brett Mahoney, Ben Christopher, Sam Thomson, Harry Mahoney and Tom Dunstan will be looking to continue their good form and if they can and keep the likes of Todd Lawrence, Ben Rigoni, Nathan Beattie, Lachlan Waite and Nicholas Davey at bay, then they will feel confident of victory. Tip: Mansfield.
ROCHESTER V KYABRAM
Rochester will be desperate for a change in fortunes on the injury front.
The Tigers have been hit hard by injuries to a number of its regulars, with up to 15 senior/reserve players out on the sidelines, with a fair chunk of them done for the season.
A defeat today to Kyabram could see the Tigers drop out of the top six.
And, what will be difficult for the Tigers is that they have already lost to the reigning premier this year.
Adam McPhee, Mitchell Bright, Jordan Harper, Steven Stroobants and Christopher Jansen will be doing their best to take the game up to the Bombers.
Cooper Vick, Cade Mueller, Jack Sheldon, Riley Ironside, Aidan Robinson and Lachie Smith will be looking to help the Bombers return to the winners’ list today. Tip: Kyabram.
