SHEPPARTON UNITED V SEYMOUR
This is a massive opportunity for Shepparton United to test itself against one of the in-form teams in the competition.
The Lions have only lost the one game which was by a point to 2019 premier Kyabram and they come to Deakin Reserve fresh from inflicting Echuca’s first loss of 2023.
United is fresh of its own win last weekend – its first since the opening day when it defeated Rochester by 13 points.
Marcus Wattie, Sheldon Bogdan, Adam Pigatto, Riley Onley and Damien Pigatto all led from the front for the Demons.
They will again be important for the home team.
The Demons will be without Lewis Stanton for the game as serves the second week of three game suspension.
Jack O’Sullivan, Nathan Beattie, Ricky Schraven, Riley Mason, Jay Eager and Michael Hartley will be looking to continue their good form to ensure the Lions walk away with the four points. Tip: Seymour.
KYABRAM V BENALLA
This will be a massive challenge for Benalla to take on the red-hot Kyabram on its home deck.
Since its three-goal loss to reigning premier Echuca in round 2, Kyabram hasn’t lost, claiming some prized wins against all the other top six contenders to be sitting second on percentage.
Ruckman, Zachary Norris, Brad Whitford, Rhys Clark, key forward Kyle Mueller, premiership defender Jason Morgan and young star Rueben Rode have been in strong form for the Bombers.
And the return of Brad Mangan in recent weeks coupled with the return of premiership forward Kayne Pettifer makes the Bombers a tough match-up.
The visiting Saints were competitive for three quarters against the Shepparton Swans only to go goalless in the last quarter to slip to a six-goal defeat.
Jakob Salmi, Blake Uebergang, Tom O’Brien, Nick Mellington, Josh Mellington and Chris Welsh will be doing their best to ensure their team is competitive for long periods of the contest. Tip: Kyabram.
EUROA V SHEPPARTON
Shepparton will be hoping to use the thrilling after-the-siren win against Tatura to launch a challenge to try and put pressure on Mansfield and Mooroopna.
The Eagles and Cats are two games clear of the Bears and if they are to play finals, then they need to claim a big scalp to make a statement.Co-coaches Xavier Stevenson and Ted Lindon would have like elements of what they have done in the past two victories.
But they both know that only a four-quarter effort will be enough to compete with the Magpies, especially on their home deck.
Will Hayes has been in Morrison Medal form in his first season back in the competition.
Nate Trotter, Jack Frewen, Nathan Stewart, youngster Darby Wilson, Ryan Pendlebury and Jett Trotter will be important for the Pies to ensure they consolidate their fourth place on the ladder with a win over the Bears.
Connor Fleming, Ethan Baxter, last week’s hero Trent Herbert, Jacob Watts, Tyron Baden and Bryce Stephenson will be important for the Bears. Tip: Euroa.
ROCHESTER V SHEPPARTON SWANS
This is a massive opportunity for both these teams to be able to get a win.
Rochester will be hoping to kick straight after only scoring 5 goals from a possible 25 shots on goal in its 13-point loss to Shepparton United.
Mitch Cricelli, Joseph Atley, Grant Fuller, Nate Rasmussen and Reid Gordon will be desperate to help the Tigers get off the bottom of the table.
Promising youngster Will Hamilton made his return from injury to play his first game last round, which would have given the Tigers a big boost in what has been a difficult period post the October floods.
Tom Preece, Max Clohesy, Zac Banch, James Auld and Isaiah Jones will be important for the Swans.
Others who will be important in this match-up will be ex-Kangaroos Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Horvat and Sam Wright coupled with the continued strong form from defender and 2014 premiership player Andrew Riordan.
Coach Jedd Wright will be hoping his team can dish up what they did in the last quarter in the win over Benalla where they kicked six goals to finish over the Saints.
If the Swans can defend and make goals hard to come by for the Tigers, then they walk away with the win for me. Tip: Shepparton Swans.
MOOROOPNA V TATURA
Former Rodney Shire rivals will go head-to-head in what should be a good contest.
The Cats were impressive in their wins over Benalla and Mansfield, but fell short by one point against fellow top six aspirant Euroa.
Coach John Lamont knows that there is room for improvement for this team and he will look to the likes of Ben Hicks, Rory Huggard, Jack Hunt, Liam Betson and youngster, Nathan Basile to lead the way.
Lamont will be hoping to have Matt Deane and Nathan Drummond available for the match-up with the Dogs if they are cleared to return from injury.
Tatura needs to get back on the horse straight away and forget about the heartbreak of the loss to Shepparton.
The Dogs were in front when the final siren went only for Trent Herbert to break their hearts when he kicked a goal after the siren to snatch the four points away from them.Harley McCarthy, Comanche Walls, Ethan Penrith, Andrew Ciavarella and Chris Ryan will be important if the Dogs are to cause an upset.
Tip: Mooroopna.
ECHUCA V MANSFIELD
Mansfield faces one of the longest trips in football to try and get its season back on track.
The Eagles have struggled to re-capture the form that saw them finish second in the home and away in 2022 and make the preliminary final.
Coach Chad Owens will be under no illusion of how tough it will be for his Eagles up against the reigning premier who is on the rebound after its first loss of 2023 at Kings Park last round.
Jackson Stewart, Cooper Willoughby, Jack Mchale, Matthew Lias, Mitchell Wales and Sam Reid will be keen to lead the way for the Murray Bombers while the visitors will look to Lachie Christopher, Dirk Koenen, Tom Dunstan, Jack Tomanovits, Jack Hutchins and Cam Arnold to try and come away from the Port of the Murray with the win.
Tip: Echuca.
