Perhaps to highlight the strength of the Goulburn Valley Football League is to point out that the Seymour Football Club Senior team has been bundled out of this years battle for the Premiership. For a team like Seymour to have played in the last 4 Premierships, winning three on the trot and then runners-up to Rochester last year, to exit in the first Elimination Final is a bit sad. Seymour have no doubt been leaders over the last 4 years and for them to have such good quality players, Coach and staff and to go out in the first week of finals, really highlights the strength of their opponents Kyabram and the teams who are still fighting for the flag. The Lions really gave it a good shot at the Memorial Oval at Euroa on Saturday but were really bombed by the Bombers in the second half. Their was only 11 points in it at half time with the Bombers leading 10.9 to 9.4 but in the second half Ky. were able to kick 11 goals 13 behinds to the Lions 6 goals 2. The final score was :- Kyabram 21.22 (148) to Seymour 15.6 (96). Paul NEWMAN kicked 6, brother David kicked 5. Best for the Bombers were the kids Nathan BECK, Michael PRYDE and Josh LINTON, very well supported by the seasoned Linc WITHERS, Ryan EDWARDS and Chris ATKINS. Saad SAAD kicked 4 for the game to take his tally to 500 goals for Seymour over the 5 years he has been with the Lions. That effort really is fantastic. Lets hope Saad can remain with the Lions and kick another couple of hundred. A top effort! The Bombers now go into the 2nd Semi Final at Mooroopna on Sunday against Mansfield. The Bombers are pretty much at full strength with the 3 Bushranger lads PRYDE, Brad MANGAN and Liam OGDEN back in the red and black but will certainly miss Scott BEATTIE who has opted to take the One Week Set Penalty Suspension after he was reported for striking Jeff ANDERSON. No doubt this gun will be raring to fire upon his return either in the Prelim. or if the Bombers can knock off the Eagles then in the Big One on the 27th. If the Bombers defeat Mansfield Scott BEATTIE will really be champing at the bit and when he is on song he can really play.
The performance by Mansfield at Deakin Reserve on Saturday has many GV supporters thinking that perhaps the Eagles can win the Big One - they really had control of Rochester all day and their win places them into the Second Semi Final against Ky. at Mooroopna on Sunday. Final score was :- Mansfield 15.12 (102) to Rochester 14.4 (88) - the 15.12 could & should have been something like 20 goals 7 - the final score margin of 14 points sort of flatters Rochy. Big David MENSCH was very strong from the start and throughout the game to set the Eagles on their way by kicking two goals. Simon HART then came alive and got into the act and finished an excellent performance with 7 goals. The Eagles would not have had a passenger all day whereas it was difficult to find a winner for the reigning Premiers. Daniel SCHMIDT was pretty disappointed with his boys and certainly let them know about it at 3/4 time and apparently again after the game. With some injuries and still a big cloud over Ash WATSON, perhaps the tipsters will install the Bulldogs as favourites over at Benalla on Saturday in the cut throat 1st Semi Final.
For the first 40 minutes of the game at Rochester, Mooroopna were very gallant and with big Joe SULLIVAN battling his guts out the Cats were right with the Dogs but he was up against two very skilled big men in Paul KIRBY and Tim LITTLE. Joe was named the Cats best in their final game for the season. Tatura won 14.21 (105) to Mooroopna 9.16 (70) with Linc WELLINGTON and Jarrod POLLARD being named the Bulldogs best. A mention should go to Tatura Coach Paul SERRA who kept Chris RYAN in defence into the wind in the first quarter and then placed him forward in the 2nd quarter and kick two very important goals. Tatura have got some excellent experienced players with a terrific blend of exciting and very capable younger players. From what was seen of Rochy and Tat on the week-end, the tipsters will no doubt select the Bulldogs to defeat the Tigers - but beware the wounded Tiger!
In the Reserves Elimination Finals the scores were :- Shepparton 13.9 (87) defeated Mansfield 7.8 (50) - Tatura 12.4 (76) defeated Mooroopna 11.3 (69) - the Qualifying Final Seymour advance to the 2nd Semi final with their win over Rochester 19.10 (124) to 7.11 (53).
In the Under 18's Elimination Finals the scores were :- Rochester 17.11 (113) to Mansfield 7.10 (52) - Echuca 15.18 (108) to Shepparton 13.8 (86) - Kyabram advance to the 2nd Semi Final with their 13 point win over the Shepparton Swans - Kyabram kicked 10.10 (70) to the Swans 8.9 (57) - perhaps we may see these two exciting teams go at it again before the season ends!
Last Modified on 10/06/2010 15:16