SEYMOUR (3rd) v BENALLA (10th)
While maintaining its third ranking, the Lions are just two premiership points in front of the Swans after losing to top team Shepp Bears on the weekend.
They were without star forward Riley Mason, but did unveil Werribee premiership player Bior Malual, who kicked three goals in the loss.
Benalla led Echuca at half-time before charging home to lose by just 11 points. The Saints are expected to unveil recruit Tom Downie, a 200+ centimetre ruckman, for the game.
KEY MATCH UPS
Mark Marriott v Tom Stapleton: The league’s seventh-ranked player against the 17th-ranked player in a ruck duel expected to turn plenty of heads.
Huw Jones v Michael Mummery: Jones was the league’s top-ranked player for the opening five weeks of the season, while Mummery now has 29 goals.
Prediction: Seymour by 26 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2026 – Seymour won by 53 points.
EUROA (11th) v MANSFIELD (9th)
After suffering their third loss in the last four weeks against the improving Rochester on Saturday, the Eagles find themselves ninth on the ladder after being fifth going into the weekend.
That result sounds a little more dramatic than it actually is, with the Eagles just two premiership points off fifth. In the final five games they play only one of the top four teams, which should allow them to reclaim a finals spot.
Euroa has passed the 10-goal (60-point) mark only once in its last five games and, despite being competitive, is struggling to put a winning score on the board.
KEY MATCH UPS
Jack McKernan v Gus Van der Heyden
Jett Trotter v Sam Thomson: Two live wires who both push forward but will know where one another is at all times. Trotter has 21 goals for the season, while Thomson has been among the top five-ranked players over the last month of football.
Prediction: Mansfield by 31 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2026 – Mansfield won by 80 points.
ROCHESTER (7th) v KYABRAM (6th)
The winner of this game will be in the top six at the interleague bye. The loser won’t.
Rochester is now one of four teams on six wins, sitting between fifth and eighth on the ladder, but still has three of the top five teams to play in the final five rounds.
KEY MATCH UPS
Ryley Ferguson v Zac Norris: Ferguson was best on ground in the win against Mansfield, while Norris returned from injury to again be Kyabram’s best player in the win against the Swans.
Coby McCarthy v Mitch Trewhella: Two of the most physical players in the competition, whose tackle and clearance numbers accompany 30+ disposal averages.
Prediction: Rochester by 3 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2026 – Kyabram won by 28 points.
SHEPP SWANS (4th) v MOOROOPNA (8th)
Mooroopna has won four of its last five games, the only loss coming by eight points to Rochester after the Cats led at the first change.
The Swans face just two of the top six teams after the general bye and will be looking to create some breathing space in the logjam behind them with a win over the Cats.
KEY MATCH UPS
Harper Simpson v Rory Huggard: Simpson has kicked 13 goals in the last four weeks, while Huggard is part of an in-form defensive unit.
Coby James v James Auld: Another defensive-minded Cat who sparks Mooroopna’s attacking thrusts, opposed to Swan James Auld, who has kicked 29 goals this season.
Prediction: Cats by 6 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2026 – Swans won by 21 points.
SHEPP UNITED (6th) v SHEPP BEARS (1st)
One of four teams with a 6-6 win-loss record, the Demons will drop out of the six if they lose to the Bears.
With just one defeat, the Bears have done everything but confirm their standing, needing just two more wins from their final six games to lock in a top-two finish.
KEY MATCH UPS
Matt Casey v Zac Metcalf: After two goalless weeks, Casey responded with a bag of seven. Metcalf has rarely been beaten this season and is a key part of a Bears defence that is, by a long way, the best in the league.
Lewis McShane v Jordan Haynes: McShane has 15 goals this season and is the second-ranked player in the league. Haynes is ranked 29th.
Prediction: Bears by 29 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2026 – Bears won by 64 points.
TATURA (12th) v ECHUCA (2nd)
Despite losing Sam Reid for what appears to be an extended period, the Murray Bombers’ next-man-up attitude has served them well.
Tatura doesn’t possess the forward power to stretch the Murray Bombers, but Tom Sullivan, Jimmy Bennett and Harry Murdoch will challenge the Echuca midfield physically.
KEY MATCH UPS
Jimmy Bennett v Tom Evans: Evans may well be leading the Morrison Medal after a five-week stretch where he has been among the top two-ranked players on the ground in every game. Bennett is the type of midfielder who will look to close down the young star.
Ben Darrou v Curtis Townrow: Darrou kicked five goals against Echuca in Round 1, so Townrow will be looking to limit his influence this weekend.
Prediction: Echuca by 53 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2026 – Echuca won by 115 points.
