Under 18's :- A brilliant game played by the exciting Seymour Under 18's to defeat the gallant Echuca team for the Lions to take on the Saints next Sunday. And; take no notice of where these two sides finished on the ladder after the home and away series with Benalla on top with 15 wins/3 losses and Seymour in 5th possie with 12 wins/6 losses. Make no mistake about it; the young Lions have been bolstered magnificently by several of their Assumption College Kilmore mates;- for example Xavier DEMASI is outstanding - in his seven games for the Lions he has been named in their best players 6 times with two best on's and three second-best on's. In the Prelim in perfect conditions in perfect weather at Deakin on Sunday, Seymour virtually had control of the game from the first bounce - they lead all day to win by 7 goals 3 behinds - 10.13 (73) to the Murray Bombers 3.10 (28). Seymour's goal-kickers were :- Jordon HOCKLEY with 3, Jake O'BRIEN with 2 and singles to Jake GALLAGHER, Christopher JACKSON, Jack MURPHY, Max JONES and Luke McALEER. The Lions named their best players to be Christopher JACKSON, Xavier DEMASI, Jordon HOCKLEY, Jack MURPHY, Jake GALLAGHER and Bailey GREGSON. Echuca had a pretty good year to finish 3rd on the ladder with 13 wins/5 losses. Their three goals in the Prelim Final were kicked by Jack MONIGATTI, Mitchell HORE and Layton McCANN. Coach Phil EVANS and his crew have named the Murray Bombers best players as Patrick HANNAN, Patrick CONNALLY, Jack MONIGATTI, Nick DENAHY, Zac COCHAYNE and Tyler SMALL.
Next weeks Under 18 Grand Final promises to be one of the best in many a long day. Benalla were runners-up last year to Kyabram and have at least 14 of these boys still in this team who are now 12 months older and stronger and probably 12 months more determined. When you go through last years list and still see the names of Charlie MORRISON, David MENNEN, Brodie WEBSTER etc., etc., then you know Seymour will have to be at their very best. Seymour's only Under 18 flag in the GVFL was in 2007 when Jason COLE was a major player and won the Lions Under 18's B & F that year. The Saints have won 3 flags since coming back into our League in 1998 - they won the Ovens & Murray F.L. Under 18 flag in 1997 and then in their first year back with us they won it in 1998 and again in 2002 and 2004. Huss's mate up in Darwin, Bookmaker Tom WATERGATE would probably be offering even money for both. South of Deakin Reserve the Lions would be favourites whereas East of Shepparton the Saints would be favourites to win. Me ? Benalla by not much.
Reserves :- Benalla have survived Kyabram's wayward kicking to get the tri-fecta in on Grand Final Day which really is a fantastic achievement. Ky will be kicking themselves having lost the Seniors as well after this game for both teams now to head into a Mad Monday rather than Grand Final preparation. Ky's first quarter was heart-breaking - they could'nt buy a goal. They had 1 goal 8 behinds on the scoreboard at 1/4 time to the Saints 4 goals 1 behind. With a little bit of luck and by rights, Ky should have been at least 5 goals 4 if not 6 goals 3 instead of 1 goal 8. Down by 11 points at 1/4 time to be defeated at the final siren by 9 points. Final score Benalla 9.10 (64) to Kyabram 7.13 (55). Damn & blast!! Ky will certainly rue this first 20 minutes - bloody hell, it would break your heart. But; congratulations to the Saints - they were very determined; no doubt a major part to get their three sides into the Big Dance. Benalla's Goals were kicked by :- Jacob WELSH and Sam KUNKEL who both kicked 2 and singles to the keg on legs Jared BRENNAN from a terrific contested mark, Michael DONEHUE, Peter SYMES, Brodie JONES and the evergreen Brendan STEVENS. The Saints best players were without doubt the man from the mines Jamie SMITH, Chris BAMFORD, Shaun CROXFORD,Chris O'CONNOR, Brodie JONES and Ian RAWLINGS. Ky's goals were kicked by Scott McCORMACK with 2, Jarryd PERTZEL also 2 and singles to Troy MITCHELL, Sean McDONELL and Besim BESIM. The Bombers better players were Scottie McCORMACK, Brodie THOMPSON, Aaron HAYES, Thomas CURNOW, Riley BACON and Stephen DRAKE. A very good game of high quality. This Grand Final like the Under 18's and Seniors, also promies to be a great game with some exciting youngsters and a fair sprinkling of real good experienced Senior players from both sides.
Seniors :- Perfect conditions at Deakin - perfect weather - there was real excitement in the air as the reigning Premiers took on the determined Swans who have a real glint in their eye. The centre ball-up, game underway - Jake REEVES for Ky goes high - so does Mitch BELL for the Swans, the ball hits the deck, Tyson SIDEBOTTOM stays on the ground - it looks like he is in strife - it looks serious - perhaps a knee injury or ankle or achilles as he gets up and tries to shake the pain off but has to come off. Holy hell! What a start as Sidey is limping off Sam SHELDON for Ky is having a set shot at the Harold Street goals from only about 40 out but he kicks it into the fingers of the Swan on his mark for the first score, touched - a point and then 40 seconds later Paul NEWMAN snaps truly on his left boot to register the first goal. Dan LOVICK is playing on Paulo - this promises to be a great contest. A hugh sigh by all the Swans as Tyson SIDEBOTTOM runs back onto the ground at the 4:45 mark - Brodie A'VARD takes a strong mark in the Skene Street goal mouth from an Andrew RIORDAN kick and goals. Ky 1.1 - the Swans 1 goal. Ky then kicked 3 points from set shots and then as so often happens the Swans took the ball forward into their 50 and got a goal from a terrific roving snap by Jessie FINNEN from a boundary throw-in. The Swans are looking o.k., but are catching the Ky bug as Andrew RIORDAN misses from a set shot and then big Mitch BELL kicked it out on the full from being only 30 metres out and dead in front. Kaiden ANTONOWICZ showed how to do it with a goal from a great SIDEBOTTOM bullet pass. Justin MADDERN still has the yips with a point from a very gettable set-shot but then his Bendigo mate Brady CHILDS snapped a goal from the goal square after a big kick from Brodie A'VARD. Quarter time Swans 4.2 (26) to Kyabram 1.5 (11)
A slight breeze was wafting down to the Skene Street goal where Ky were kicking to in the 2nd Q. Jamason DANIELS was becoming noticeable but sprayed the footy out on the full from 50 metres out - Rhys CLARK from Ky responded with a point and then a good goal at the 5:40 mark and followed up by another at the 7:30 mark from a terrific diving mark just 35 m out dead in front. Kaiden ANTONOWICZ got his second from a very smart bit of roving from a stoppage ruck contest. Jamo DANIELS was really becoming an influence for the Swans. Justin MADDERN took a terrific one-handed juggling mark at the 11:31 mark and should have goaled to reward the great mark but like he can do, he kicked another point from 45 out. Brady CHILDS a point at the 12:50 mark then another excellent goal from out of heavy traffic by Jessie FINNEN - Mitch BELL was winning in the ruck when Jake REEVES was resting. Then at the 15:30 mark Andrew RIORDAN kicked a goal. Ky got the next two scores, both points before Paul NEWMAN got his second goal from a free kick in the goal square against Dan LOVICK. Michael TINKLER is a very good player, a terrific running half back and kicked a long point from a set shot on the run but then in the space of a minute late in this second quarter Liam OGDEN and then Paul NEWMAN goaled to bring Ky just three points in arrears to the Swans at half time - Swans 7.5 (47) to Kyabram 6.8 (44)
Half a minute in to the third quarter excitement machine Kaiden ANOTNOWICZ kicked his 3rd from a SIDEBOTTOM low hard pass from the free kick he earned in the centre at the ball-up. Sidey was becoming dangerous as he speared another pass to Andrew RIORDAN at the 9:30 mark for Riordo to kick his second. Then Brodie A'VARD his second goal from a SIDEBOTTOM pass then two minutes later Brady CHILDS a goal. The Swans were starting to break away a bit - they lead 11.5 (71) to Ky 6.8 (44 but then Ky get two goals courtesty of Liam BARRETT and Jordon WILLIAMS at the 15:30 and 17:42 mark. Ball back in the centre - players from the edge of the centre square go charging in - Ky's Brad EDWARDS laid prostrate on the ground, not moving - thankly we see him moving. Play is held up while a stretcher goes out - thankfully Ky's Doctor and Doctor Paul O'DWYER were present and went out to Brad as he was assisted from the ground by the trainers - the stretcher was not required but Eddie did seem a bit wobbly on his pins. Play resumed with Jamason DANIELS kicking a lovley goal at the 23:05 mark followed by a Paul NEWMAN point from a set shot but then Tom HOLMAN goaled after an accidental 50 metre penalty against Andrew RIORDAN who knocked the footy out of Toms' hands. Then Liam BARRETT kicked a point for Ky. Three quarter time after nearly 30 minutes - the Swans are up by 13 points - 12.5 (77) to 9.10 (64) - Can Ky come back in the final quarter?
Fourth Quarter - 2:30 in the quarter Justin MADDERN for the Swans kicked his first after his early misses - Swans now up by 19 points. At the 5 minute mark the Swans were running the ball from the backline across the grandstand wing and running hard. Sam SHELDON was going in fast to put pressure on the ball carrier when he was heavilly shephered off by Brady CHILDS and knocked to the ground which caused a fair bit of push and shove. Sam was stretchered from the ground with a bad concussion and a sore neck - fingers crossed he will be o.k., same as Brad EDWARDS who later came on in this last quarter. Play was held up for 4.20 minutes with Tom SHELDON receiving a free kick. At 10:10 Justin MADDERN kicked another point for the Swans and a minute or two latrer Kaiden ANTONOWICZ kicked his 4th - a lovely long kick from outside the 50. The Swans leading 14.6 (90) to Ky 9.10 (64) - Brodie A'VARD another goal at the 13 minute mark - BJ SQUIRE a point to the Swans and then Ky a point. Brodie A'VARD slotted his 4th from another very strong mark 40 metres out. Jamason DANIELS kicked a long point and then Justin MADDERN was awarded a free kick in the goal square to kick his unmissaable 2nd goal. Alex OVERS kicked out on the full at the 20 minute mark - it was all the Swans now as some of the Ky players seemed to sense that their season was all but over. Paul FRY for the Swans kicked 2 points in quick succession and then a goal at the 27:20 mark - 18 seconds before the final siren Ky kicked a point. Final score :- Shepparton Swans 18.9 (117) to Kyabram 9.13 (67).
A terrific determined win by the Swans - they really want another crack at Benalla - they certainly are committed. They have their Senior footy team and A Grade netballers into the Grand Final which they can be very proud of to cap of their great year which got them the George HUNTER Champion Club award.
The Swans goal-kickers were :- Kaiden ANTONOWICZ 4, likewise Brodie A'VARD; - two each to Andrew RIORDAN, Justin MADDERN, Brady CHILDS and Jessie FINNEN; singles to Jamason DANIELS and Paul FRY. The Swans heirarchy have named Dan LOVICK as their best player along with Jamo DANIELS, Bryden SQUIRE, Brady CHILDS, Tommy PREECE and Andrew RIORDAN.
Paul NEWMAN kicked 3 for the Bombers, two to Rhys CLARK and singles to Jordon WILLIAMS, Tom HOLMAN, Liam BARRETT and Liam OGDEN. Ky's best players were recorded as Chris ATKINS, Jordon WILLIAMS, Josh VICK, Xavier LINTON, Liam BARRETT and Brad EDWARDS.
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 19:40