ECHUCA V SHEPPARTON UNITED
Echuca will continue to fine tune ahead of its quest to claim the 2022 GVL premiership.
Co-coaches Andrew Walker and Simon Maddox will be reminding the group to not get ahead of themselves and to stick to the game plan.
These games are equally as important as the ones they will play on the way to hopefully qualifying for the September 25 decider.
United is looking to get some positives out of the game as it also has an eye towards setting themselves up for 2023.
Skipper Kyle Clarke has done an outstanding job leading this very young group. He will be hoping the likes of Sheldon Bogdan, Kaedyn Napier, Liam Serra and Harry Smith can continue their good form while Shane Sali should return after a one week ban to provide some leadership and experience to the backline.
Liam Tenace, Daniel Willis, Jackson Stewart, Jack Evans and Logan Prout were the solid contributors in the big win over Shepparton last weekend. With the likes of Jack McHale, Sam Reid and Walker, then the Murray Bombers win comfortably. Tip: Echuca.
MANSFIELD V KYABRAM
Kyabram has a huge challenge on its hands in the High Country to take on second-place Mansfield.
The reigning premier is sixth on the ladder – four points and percentage clear of Seymour.
Coach Paul Newman knows there is work to do to qualify for the finals, starting against the Eagles.
Their earlier meeting went in the favour of the Eagles and coach Chad Owens will be looking to his team doing the double over the visiting Bombers. That will not be easy task especially with Lachlan Smith.
Smith celebrated his milestone game with the Bombers with a personal best of 11 goals in the win over his former club.
If he can continue that form and get support from Jason Morgan, Zachary Keogh, Anthony DePasquale, Kaine Herbert and the returning Kyle Mueller, then the Bombers will fancy their chances.
But if the likes of Tom McDonagh, Jack Hutchins, Ross Brown, Cameron Arnold, Tom Dunstan and skipper Brett Mahoney can dictate the contest and tempo, the Eagles should get the points to consolidate their place in the top two. Tip: Mansfield.
SHEPPARTON SWANS V ROCHESTER
Rochester seeks to continue its strong finish to the Home and Away season to qualify for the finals.
Coach Steven Stroobants knows this is a danger game if his team is 10 percent off its game.
He will be reminding the boys what the Swans did a few weeks ago against another top six contender. The Tigers were brutal in dismantling the bottom-of-the-table Shepparton United.
If they bring that to this game and the likes of Hugh Hamilton (seven goals), Jacob Atley, James McPhee, Nathan Kay, and Daniel Russell continue their strong form, they will be in good stead to win.
On another positive, the Tigers had nine different goal-kickers in the big win over the Demons which may stretch the young Swan defenders.
Bryden Squire, Isaiah Jones, Mason Pedretti, Will Dwyer and Kurtis Dixon will be looking to lead the way for the Swans but in the end, I think the Tigers have too much on the line to drop the four points. Tip: Rochester.
SEYMOUR V TATURA
Seymour know what’s ahead when it welcomes Tatura to Kings Park. The Dogs produced arguably their best win of the season in front of the 1972 and 2012 premiership winning teams to get past the Shepparton Swans for their third win.
Chris Ryan, Mitchell Elliott, Billy Cooper, Tom Sullivan and Comanche Walls lead the way in the win.
Michael Hartley, Joshua Alford, Dylan Scopel, Jack Murphy and Jordan Angus were outstanding in the win over archrival Euroa in the first half of the split round.
If they can continue that good form, the Lions should have a strong win and they may only be percentage outside the top six heading into R18. Tip: Seymour.
EUROA V MOOROOPNA
This is going to be an intriguing match-up for a variety of reasons. Both are looking to bounce back from losses in R16.
The Pies suffered a narrow loss to Seymour, meaning they dropped out of the top two while the Cats fell by 14 points to Mansfield.
The Cats are not safe yet – they need to win one of their last two games to be assured of their first finals appearance since 2013.
Andrew Smith, William McIntosh, Jayden Gleeson, Jack Hellier and Max Gleeson will be doing their best to ensure the Cats don’t get the win they need to secure a spot in September.
Ben Hicks, Oscar Lear-Camci, Christopher Nield, Ethan Hunt and Liam Betson will be doing their best to try and lift the visitors into the finals.
If they can match the Pies around the stoppages and contest, then they are a chance, but my fear is the bigger bodies of the home team could prove decisive. Tip: Mooroopna.
SHEPPARTON V BENALLA
Shepparton and Benalla are looking to end their seasons on a high when they clash in the final Sunday home and away match of the season.
The Bears are four points and percentage clear of the Saints. That said, the Saints will come to Deakin Reserve knowing they have already beaten Shepparton this year.
But it will need the likes of Christopher Welsh, Chris Bamford, Jake Pallpratt, Will O’Donoghue and Jarrod Waite to get going for the visitors to get the chocolates in this contest.
Jordan McGregor, Rhiley Lau, Jed Warrin, Miles Rowlands and Tyler Larkin will be doing their best to guide the Bears to the win. Tip: Shepparton.
