A real fair-dinkum Phyllis DILLER at Deakin Reserve - a draw between Shepparton United and the Shepparton Swans who were leading the Demons by 25 points at 1/4 time. The Demons got to be only 9 points in arrears at the long break and were then up by a goal at 3/4 time - 8.7 to 7.7. The Swans were kicking to the Skene Street end goals in front of a huge crowd who were gathered in front of the United clubrooms. The Swans got the lead back early in the quarter and then she was topsy/turvey for the next 25 minutes with the lead changing back and forth. The Swans kicked 3 goals 4 in that exciting time, goals to Michael TINKLER, Justin MADDERN and Brodie A'VARD. Tim LOOBY kicked his 6th goal in this last quarter and then Sam MUGGLETON booted his first to put the Demons 2 points up with only minutes left on the clock. Time Keepers Phil SQUIRE for the Swans and Murray BURLS for United who both had sons out on the ground were on the edge of their seats. Big Brodie A'VARD took a very strong mark between the goal post and point post on the Guide Hall side. From point blank range but on a tight angle he kicked a point - it could have been a goal but not to be. The Demon defender went for a long bomb out wide towards the Demons crowd and clubrooms. It went too wide - out on the full! Free kick to the Swans Brady CHILDS who had not at this stage kicked a goal. Brady bent over the footy, concentrating to the max - a lot of goals have been kicked from this spot by United players over the years at the end of a training session. Hearts in mouths - Time Keepers fingers getting itchy. Brady CHILDS steadies on his walk / run into kick. Kerthump!! a good kick but it faded just to the left of the big stick. A point! Scores level 10.11 each. The Demon defender this time went straight up the guts with a good roost, the Demons got the footy and were going over the wicket section but then all over red rover. The siren - game over. A draw - the first for the season in the Seniors. A terrific entertaining game. If an independent person was there they would be very impressed. There were a lot of "Damn's" and "Phews" by Swans and Demons. Tim LOOBY the co-coach of the Demons was outstanding - he kicked 6 goals 4 of the Demons score and by some it is thought he may have played his best game ever. This performance highlights just how good Tim is - he was brilliant. His co-coach Geoff HALL reported he was very proud of his team's effort and took plenty of positives away from the contest. Swans Coach Brett WARBURTON was pretty blunt and has been quoted as saying he was critical of his players after the game. Warby also reported that he thought the Swans had robbed the Demons of the 4 points by (other than the first quarter) being the better side all day, they were hungry and desperate and played a team brand of football.
For the Demons to claim 6th spot on the ladder and play finals they have to now defeat Shepparton this week and then Mooroopna the following week (both games at Deakin). At the same time of course they will be barracking for the Shepparton Swans to knock Mooroopna off over at Mooroopna on Sunday. Very interesting!!
Down at Kings Park the home team Seymour accounted for Euroa by 55 points - the Lions lead all day to win 19.10 (124) to the Magpies 10.9 (69). Saad SAAD kicked 6 to take his season total to 73 - Jason COLE and Hughie ROBERTON kicked 3 each and were named as the Lions best along with Brett MEREDITH. Euroa's Coach Nathan GILLILAND was again his teams best and kicked 3 goals. He was well supported by Nick SNOWDON and Gus VARLEY. Probably the surpirse for those who were not at Kings Park was the result in the Under 18 game where the 6th placed Lions (9 wins/6 losses) defeated the 2nd placed Magpies (13 wins/2 losses) and defeated them quite comprehensively 16.16 (111) to 1.8 (14) - that is a big win, big loss - 97 points. We are told that Seymour had their complement of Assumption College boys back with them which sort of means that if they can keep these boys over the next few weeks, then the Lions Under 18's could take a bit of beating!
There must have been a bit of tooing and froing between the Senior coaches of Mansfield (Simon DOLLING) and Luke MORGAN at Benalla. The Saints defence has been questioned by a few with the debate hotting up to Saturday up in the beautiful High Country where Mansfield officially opened the wonderful improvements at their ground. Benalla dispelled any doubting Thomases by only allowing the Eagles 11 scoring shots (7.4) while they themselves kicked 22.16 which adds up to 38 scoring shots. And to reinforce the Saints strength Lachie SMITH took 20 marks down back and was very ably supported by Jordon WOLFF, PALPRATT, POLWORTH, COLBERT and Co. And; have a look at the top of the table Benalla who have had the least amount of points kicked against them after 16 rounds. 919 points equals 153.16 goals which equates to an average of just 9.57 goals kicked against them per game. The next best defence is the Swans who have had 20 more points kicked against them that the Saints. And Benalla's forwards are not bad either; Nick WARNOCK kicked 8, Josh MELLINGTON who must be loving being home from the West kicked 6 and young Under 18 player Brodie WEBSTER kicked 2.
Mooroopna defeated Shepparton and probably got the 4 points from their strong 2nd quarter where they kicked 5 goals 5 behinds to Shepp's one goal one behind. Final score Mooroopna 11.18 (84) to Shepparton 7.10 (52). Most recent Rising Star nominee Clayton OLIVER played a blinder to be named the Cats second best player after big fella Joe SULLIVAN. Clayton's performance really pleased his coach Blake CAMPBELL who rated his game as "outstanding." Shepp were again well served by their reliable Rhys O'SULLIVAN, Braedon PULLEN and Nick ALLAN. The Cats host the Shepparton Swans on Sunday in a must win game for them as they have Shepparton United at Deakin Reserve on Saturdsy 30th August.
Rochester guttsed out a good win over Tatura on the Bulldogs home ground. The Tigers were down by 5 points at 1/4 time, 8 points at 1/2 time. In the 3rd Q Rochy kicked an accurate 3 goals 2 points whereas the Bullies squandered opportunities by kicking just 6 points. The Tige's kicked 3 goals 3 in the crucial last quarter to Tatura's 3 goals one behind. Final score Rochester 11.10 (76) to Tatura 9.14 (68). Grant WEEKS kicked 3 for the Tigers to take his season total to 83 - 17 shy of the magical ton. Rochy have Josh VICK and Kyabram this week at home and are then away to Echuca in the final round.
On Sunday up on the banks of the mighty Murray River the visitors Kyabram accounted for Echuca - 15.16 (106) to 6.10 (46). Paul NEWMAN kicked 6 to take his tally to 59 goals despite missing quite a few games. Unfortunately the best players for both Ky and Echuca have not been recorded. Echuca must have got away to a reasonable start as they in fact lead Ky by 5 points at 1/4 time 3.2 (20) to 2.3 (15) but from then on Ky kicked 13 goals 13 to the Murray Bombers just 3 goals 8.
No doubt Rochester and Tatura and the Shepparton Swans will reckon they can win the flag - but really, can anyone see anything but a Kyabram / Benalla grand final?
Very interesting is'nt it?
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 19:21