SHEPPARTON UNITED V EUROA
Euroa will be looking to continue its push up the ladder when it comes to the home football for the first time since grand final day. The Magpies will welcome the opportunity to get back to Deakin Reserve to take on the Demons, They were able to do enough to get past Benalla last round. Out-going coach Scott Rowan will be hoping his team can continue to bank the wins and work on their game ahead of launching an assault on the 2023 premiership come the back end of the season and September. Jack Frewen, Adam Giobbi, Lachlan Hill, Andrew Smith, Ryan Hill and Will Hayes were the better players in the win over the Saints and they will look to continue that form against the Demons. Sheldon Bogdan, Marcus Wattie, Mitchell Roche, Patrick Thompson and Damien Pigatto will be trying to help the Demons to some victories to try and finish the season off in positive fashion. Tip: Euroa.
SEYMOUR V BENALLA
Seymour will be looking to continue its winning form when it welcomes the bottom-of-the-ladder Benalla to Kings Park. The Lions needed a six-goal last quarter to overcome Mansfield last round to keep pace with the top two teams on the ladder – Echuca and Kyabram. The victory would have been a massive confidence boost to the Lions, showing them that they can win from any situation. They had to battle not having the game on their terms and the likes of Dylan Scopel, Jack O’Sullivan, Ben Cooney, Nathan Fowler and Jay Eager lead the way along with others to get them over the line against the Eagles. They will be important again as they look to curb the influence of Tom Bennett, Henry Hill, Colby Mathieson, James Martiniello, William Martiniello and Jarrod Waite to ensure another win. Tip: Seymour.
MANSFIELD V TATURA
Mansfield will be looking for its first win since the King’s Birthday weekend when it welcomes the improved Tatura Football Club to the Alpine Country. The Eagles have lost their past three games, including two at home. Coach Chad Owens will be desperate for a win to take them a step closer towards securing their place in the finals. He will look to Frazer Dale, Harry Mahoney, Tom McDonagh, Dirk Koenen, Sam Lynch and Cam Arnold to lead the way against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs aren’t a high scoring team and Owens will know that. Ethan Penrith, Billy Cooper (if available and not in the VFL), Michael Archer, Sean McAllister and James Bennett will be important if the Dogs are to record their first win since June 3, but I think they may have to wait another week longer. Tip: Mansfield.
ROCHESTER V SHEPPARTON
Shepparton knows if can’t afford anymore losses if it wants to make a late charge towards the finals.The Bears put up a really good fight for a half against the finals bound Mooroopna Cats last weekend.But they weren’t able to continue the form in the second half and slipped to a 20-point loss after leading by 13 points at the main break.Co-coaches Ted Lindon and Xavier Stevenson will be hoping their team can put together a four- quarter effort against Rochester.They will be reminding their players to come to play given the Tigers will go into contest full of confidence after topping the Swans in their last home game.And the Tigers were fairly competitive against the 2019 premier Kyabram as well last weekend.Jacob Watts, Adam De Cicco, Jonty Wardle, Ethan Baxter and Trent Herbert will be important for the Bears to bank the win to keep the pressure on sixth placed Mansfield.Reid Gordon, Nathan McCarty, Joseph Atley, Angus Martin and Grant Fuller will be hoping to replicate the effort and intensity of the game where it overcame the Swans to try and help them to a third win off the season. Tip: Shepparton.
SHEPPARTON SWANS V MOOROOPNA
Mooroopna faces another tricky assignment in its run to September.The Cats showed grit and determination to fight their way back against Shepparton last round when the game wasn’t on their terms.That would have pleased coach John Lamont, but also disappointed him because his chargers allowed the Bears to play the game on their terms in the first half last round.After half-time, some of the Cats big guns – Bryce Rutherford, Christopher Nield (five goals) and Jackson Trengove (three goals) proved the difference while, Matt Deane and Rory Huggard were also important for the team.I saw the Swans first hand last round.And, they were quite impressive after half-time.Ex-AFL Nathan Hrovat was very good as was Isaiah Jones, Tom Preece, Zac Clohesy, Mason Pedretti, Andrew Riordan and Quade Johnstone.If the Swans can match the Cats in and around the contest, then they will be outside chance of causing an upset. Tip: Mooroopna.
ECHUCA V KYABRAM
What a game this promises to be?The clash of the league’s past two premiers.And, they are in splendid form heading into this contest at 9-1 and in first and second on the ladder.But for the loser, they could drop out of the top two if Seymour wins at home against Benalla.The Murray Bombers come into this contest in really good form, having won three of their past four while the Bombers have won 10 in a row – last losing in round 2 to Echuca.Co-coach Samuel Reid has been in really strong form and his form in recent weeks has elevated him to Morrison Medal contention.Jackson Stewart, Jack McHale, Liam Tenace, Mitchell Wales and the returning Andrew Walker who missed the trip to Tatura will be others that will be important for the Murray Bombers against the visitors.The visiting Bombers will look to Brad Whitford, Liam Ogden, Zachary Norris, Kaine Herbert, Anthony DePasquale and Kyle Mueller to try and continue their extraordinary run of victories and at the same time claim the scalp of the Murray Bombers to go to the top of the ladder.This will be a cracking contest and the team that keeps its structures the best will win. Tip: Kyabram.
