ROCHESTER (9th) v MOOROOPNA (8th)
Mooroopna completed back to back wins for the first time since late 2024 at Kyabram on Saturday – beating the reigning premier and knocking them out of the top six in the process – and now sits just half a win outside the top six.
The Cats are a top four disposal team and are ranked 5th for clearances, thanks to the physicality of the Beston brothers – Keelin and Liam – along with prolific ball winner Kai Madgwick
Rochester was unable to frank its form of the previous week, when it had a 110 point win against Benalla, kicking just one goal in the second and third quarters to face a 30 point deficit at ¾ time.
On a positive Hugh Hamilton now has 14 goals from four games, since returning, and tackling machine Cooper Hamilton continues to support Mitch Trewhella in the engine room.
I think the Tigers can bounce back on their home ground.
Prediction: Rochester by 11 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 13, 2025 – Rochester won by 51 points
SHEPP UNITED (5th) v SEYMOUR (4th)
Trent Freer and Jessie Cucinotta’s United are the hot team at minute, winning their last three games after losing to Mansfield and Echuca in successive weeks.
They produced one of the most accurate goalkicking displays of the season to produce a 22.10 score and beat Benalla by 102 points – just two weeks after being Tatura by 99. Those results have them now sitting in 5th place on the ladder.
While it is unlikely they can pass 4th ranked Seymour, even with a win, they need the points to stay inside he top six. A loss could see them drop to 7th if Kyabram beat Benalla and Mansfield account for Tatura –both the Bombers and Eagles having better percentages than the Demons.
Seymour returned to the winners’ list on the back of a master class from Nic Quigg and Tom Stapleton in the centre. My trust levels in the Lions aren’t high, so it is the Demons narrowly for me.
Prediction: United by 4 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 16, 2025 – Lions won by 60 points
EUROA (11th) v SHEPP BEARS (1st)
The Magpies will be hoping to start this game how they finished their Round 9 clash with Echuca. They trailed by 78 points at ¾ time, after kicking just two goals to 13 in the first three quarters, but kicked four goals in the final term.
Cohen Paul appears to have returned to his best after just two games back from a five week spell on the sidelines. The Magpies have only gone past 60 points twice this year and face a Bears defence which has given up more than 60 points only twice this season.
Zac Metcalf and Max Brodie are working closely with Mitch Brett and Daniel Meek to restrict opposition clubs’ attacks to limited scoring opportunities.
Another master class from Luke Smith, Ash Holland and Lewis McShane (three top 20 players) have the Magpies facing an in form team for the second week in a row.
Prediction: Bears by 71 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 13, 2025 – Bears won by 105 points
BENALLA (10th) v KYABRAM (7th)
Kyabram is on the outside looking in for the first time in a long while, sitting 7th on the ladder after suffering a second straight defeat for the first time since Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2024 season.
For the second time this year the Bombers have been held to under 100+ points in successive weeks – having posted scores of 176, 166 and 150 in Rounds 3, 5 and 7.
They face a Benalla team that has lost their last three games by a combined total of 304 points, not managing more than 60 points in any of those games.
Apart from Anthony Depasquale’s five goal game the Bombers had no other multiple goalkickers, which is a rare event for the usually multi-pronged attack.
Prediction: Kyabram by 59 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 14, 2025 – Kyabram won by 119 points
TATURA (12th) v MANSFIELD (6th)
Mansfield was without star Callum Brown for the first time since Round 3 of the 2024 season last weekend and now sits sixth on the ladder – with Kyabram and Mooroopna breathing down their neck.
The Eagles have the chance to improve their situation with a win against the Bulldogs, but there were good signs for Tatura against Shepp Swans on Saturday. They not only passed 60 points for the second time this year, but they also led at ¼ time and were dead level with the Swans at half time.
Ben Les produced one of the games of the season when he racked up 198 ranking points and Sam Thomson continues to be a star for the Eagles. They should have the firepower to get back on the winners’ list after losing to top team Shepp Bears.
Prediction: Mansfield by 78 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 13, 2025 – Mansfield won by 136 points
ECHUCA (2nd) v SHEPP SWANS (3rd)
The match of the round pits two of the top three teams against one another, with Echuca having the chance to create a bit more breathing space if it can overcome the swans at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.
With Carlton’s VFL team having a bye this weekend, Oliver Warburton may well be back in the red and white for the first time since Round 6. Hugh Byrne took five marks for North Melbourne’s VFL team in a narrow loss, so is likely to keep his spot in the team.
Tom Evans was outstanding with 190 ranking points and Lachlan Hogan had his best game of the season, while Sam Reid’s four goals was a danger sign for opposition clubs.
Prediction: Echuca by 21 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Finals Round 1, 2025 – Echuca won by 18 points
