FOOTBALL
THE NUMBERS GAME TALEOFTHETAPE GAME LIVESTREAM
Archie Watt’s 38 disposals and three goals were the stand out for Kyabram last week and the former Xavier College star has signalled his intentions to dominate the competition in 2025
He had 12 inside 50s, took nine marks and finished just four shy of 200 ranking points.
The Bombers celebrated the return of ruckman and co-captain Zac Norris, along with 2019 Morrison Medallist Michael Mattingly Norris had 17 disposals and 33 hit outs, while Mattingly had 147 ranking points (32 disposals, 10 clearances and seven tackles).
Norris hadn’t played a game since the 2023 grand final loss to Echuca, while Mattingly managed only two games last season Norris rucked for 75 per cent of the game and Aiden Robinson was his support network.
Coach Corey Carver expects Brad Whitford to return this weekend against Tatura Liam Adams played his first game for Tatura.
Michael Archer, who missed all of 2024 while playing cricket in England, returned fresh from playing in a district cricket final with Carlton He had 36 disposals and 11 rebound 50s in the 94 point loss He had support from Mitchell Elliott, who had 30 disposals and 11 tackles.
Tatura unveiled Ben Darrou, Adam Enever and Jack Sinclar, the big frame of Darrou offering a target in attack, while Enever was the pick of the recruits at full back
Gun recruit Jack Lefroy, who is now a Coburg listed player after last year being with Carlton in the VFL,
2pm Saturday at Tatura Park, Tatura
LASTTIMETHEYMET STATSTHATMATTER
-Kyabramtookalmostdoublethe amountofmarksthanTaturain theirRoundsevenmeetinglast year(122-65,103ofthoseBombers markswereuncontested).
-Despitelosingby21pointsTatura wontheclearancecountbyseven andhadfivemoreInside50entries -BadkickingcostTatura,which finishedthegamewith37percent goalaccuracy,kicking5.12after halftime.
-Kyabramledbyfivepointsat quartertime,by29athalftimeand wonthegameby21pointsafter beingoutscoredbyaninaccurate Taturainthesecondhalf.
-TyleWilliams,whoisnowplaying NorthernLeaguefootballwith Reservoir,hadagamehigh167 rankingpoints(30disposals,12 clearances,8inside50s).
-AnthonyDePasqualekickedseven goals,tookeightmarksinside50 andhadanequalgamehigh14 scoreinvolvements(withTatura’s MitchellElliott).
will play two of the next three weeks with Tatura.
Lefroy won Kangaroo Flat’s best and fairest last year, despite playing just 10 games with the Bendigo league club
Kyabram’s Anthony Depasquale kicked only one goal after bagging seven against Tatura last year, but it was Watt who stole the show after playing just two senior games last season due to Bendigo Pioneers duties He had to convince selectors he was fit to play after suffering a hamstring injury a fortnight earlier. His three goals came despite
-Kyabramhadsixlessdisposals thanEuroa,butstillwonthegameby 37points.
-TheBombershad21moreinside50 entriesandwonthehitouts62-36. Thatdidn’tmakeadifferencetothe clearancecount,whichwas39 apiecefortheroundonecontest.
-ArchieWattscored54ranking pointsinthefirstquarterwhenhe had12disposalsandthenkickedtwo goalsinhis56pointfinalquarter tally(196forthegame)ashewas theonlyplayertoscore50-plus pointsinasinglequarter.
-IfMichaelArcher’s36disposal gamewasnotimpressiveenough, considertheweekendbeforehehad bowled49oversforCarltoninthe PremierLeaguecricketgrandfinal andtaken2-114. StKildamadea massive628runsinthegame.
-AdamEneverwillhaveplentyof worktodothisweekendindefence, aftera10-markgameand118 rankingpoints.Hehadsupportfrom AndrewCiavarella(eightrebound 50s)andCurtisRyan(sixR50s).
spending only five minutes a quarter in attack, alongside returning star Tom Holman and Moama’s Jack Russell (29 disposals) Together with another former Bomber Jack Sheldon, also returning to Kyabram from the Murray league club, they all had an impact.
My prediction is for Kyabram to win by 63 points
They will have the ball 400 times for the afternoon and I expect four or five Bombers to finish with 30 plus touches in taking the victory. Watch out for Lefroy’s statistical output.
DEBUTANTES, MILESTONES & INJURIES
There were a number of debutantes on the weekend and in coming weeks we will feature their statistical data in these preview pages.
Tobie Woodfine was a star for Rochester in his first game and finished the game with three goals.
Reece Evans, the son of former KDL premiership player Michael, made his debut for Mooroopna and Oliver Warburton was outstanding in his first game for Shepparton Swans, judged best on ground by many good judges.
Jess Brock and Lucas Cavigan (Seymour, Jai Milligan (Echuca), Jensen Dowling (Shepp United) and Liam Adams (Tatura) were others who played their first game of senior GVL football on the weekend. Watch this space for more.
GAME LIVESTREAM FOOTBALL
Oliver Warburton’s first senior game for Shepparton Swans was a long time in the making, but well worth the wait.
A best on ground display came after he had played for everyone bar the Swans senior team in the last three seasons, including Collingwood’s VFL team, Vic Country (at both Under 16 and Under 18 level), the Murray Bushrangers, in an AFL Futures game and for the Swans Under 18 team
He had 30 disposals, took 10 marks, laid five tackles and even kicked a goal.
Adam Fichera and Jono Moore both impacted the Swans opening round win, Moore having 20 hit outs against the highly rated Mark Marriot
Four goals from Andrew Riordan, in a new role in attack, was a feature of the game. He had 20 disposals and will cause opposition clubs plenty of headached in attack
Seymour’s Lucas Cavigan was another round one debutante, for the Lions, as was Jesse Brock (son of former regional basketball champion Christian). Cavigan had 15 disposals, laid six tackles and kicked a goal in his first game, while Brock had 19 hit outs
Darcy and Lachlan Giles from Lancefield appeared for the first time, as did Sam House, Tom Jeffrey and Lachlan Beattie, older brother of star Lion Nathan
The Lions gave away four free kicks which resulted in goals last week, which took the wind out of their sales after they trailed by just four points at quarter time. Rochester kicked seven goals to one in the
THE NUMBERS GAME TALEOFTHETAP
2pm Saturday at King’s Park, Seymour
LIVE STREAM - Seymour FM
LASTTIMETHEYMET
ItwasRound12andwasalmosta repeatoftheRound3,2024match, whichwasalsowonbytheSwans. -NotsurehowSeymourlostthis game.Theywonthestatistical counthandsomely,butstilllostby 11points-havinglostinRound threeby18points.
-TheLionshad66moredisposals, 14moreclearances,and21more inside50s.Theyevenlaidmore tackles
-Seymourledbyeightpointsathalf time,buttheSwanskickedsix goalstothreeafterhalftime.Inthe thirdtermtheykickedfivegoals fromjust14inside50s.
-TomMaloney,DylanScopel,Jack MurphyandNathanBeattie(all Lions)werethehighestranked playersontheground.
-ZacAldertonhad27disposalsfor theSwans,whileEnriqueGoggin had23touches,ninetacklesand fiveclearances.NathanHrovat kickedthreegoals.
-MarkKovacevicdominatedthe ruckwith66hitouts
second term
Encouraging signs from Dylan Cook, a former Richmond VFL starting mid-fielder not that long ago. He has had concussion issues, but had 27 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances to start the season Seymour still has half a dozen players missing, with star forward Riley Mason a chance to return next week, along with former St Kilda listed player Jack Peris. Mason kicked five goals with Collingwood’s VFL team on the weekend
Coates Talent league players Josh Porter, Rory Kennedy and Cooper
STATSTHATMATTER
-SheppSwanshadamassive83 moreuncontestedpossessions thanBenallaonSaturdayinthe seasonopener.
-Asexpectedtheuncontested markcountreflectedthis difference,withBenallataking96 lessuncontestedmarks.
-NathanRacheletook13marksto gowithhis30disposalsandfive inside50s.
-AndrewRiordannotonlykicked fourstraightgoalsinhisnewrole, butitwasonthebackofonegoalin season2024(from17games),a goalless15game2023seasonand onegoalfrom16gamesin2022.He didkick15goalsfrom14games backin2019.
-Seymourhadonlytwolessinside 50sthanRochesterlastweek,but had14lessscoringshots.
-Seymour’sNathanBeattieand JackMurphyweredoinggoodwork ateitherendofthegroundon Saturday,bothhavingseveninside 50sandfiverebound50sinthe openingroundloss.
Holdsworth-Rose, will also be available at different stages. Still a way off are James Wooster and another accomplished senior player, Huw Jones
My prediction is for the Swans to take the win by 19 points.
Keep an eye out for the high flying Jonno Moore, whose uncle Tony played as a teenager for the Swans before playing in premiership teams with Avenel in the Kyabram league His grandfather Dick was a champion GVL goalkicker who many of our older readers will remember for his physicality and skills.
DEBUTANTES, MILESTONES & INJURIES
Milestones are a big part of every football season and we will be endeavouring to bring you all the details of players who have notched impressive milestones during the season.
There are a number of those coming
up, with some of the league most experienced netballers soon to have their names up in lights. Among them are Kate Betson, who will play her 300 game for the Shepparton Swans in Round three and teammate Ella Cirillo (150 games in th round eight).
At Mooroopna, Bree Hanslow is closing in on an extraordinary 400 GVL games, while Georgia Gattuso will soon notch 200 Mooroopna club games and Ashley Lancaster hits 200 games in coming weeks
FOOTBALL
Saturday at Benalla
Showgrounds
THE NUMBERS GAME
Saturday at Memorial Oval, Euroa
BENALLA v BEARS
SheppartonBearshad16ofits grandfinalteamintheline-up forroundoneandstartedwith a100-pointwintoerasethe disappointmentoflast season’sgrandfinal.
TherewasnoLukeSmith,but LewisMcShanematchedhis bestoutputof2024withfive goals.The101pointwin againstTaturacamedespite theBearskickingonly18goals from41scoringshots.
EUROA v ECHUCA
Echucastarteditspremiership defencelikeacarthathadn’t beenstartedforanextended period,coughingand splutteringthroughthefirst threequartersofitsgamewith SheppartonUnitedbefore explodingintoactioninthefinal term.
McShanekicked41goalsfrom 22gameslastseasonandhad supportfromJacobWattsand ZaydenLeocata.Leocata, straightoutoftheUnder18 competitionaftertwosenior gamesin2024,kickedthree goalstostarttheyear.
XavierStevensonledtheway with38disposalsfortheBears, whileAdamDeciccohad31 touches,eighttacklesand nineclearances.
NathanWright,Benalla’s Queenslandrecruit,wasthe pickofthenewandreturning
facesfortheSaints.Hekicked fouroftheteam’ssevengoals andlookstohavebroughthis 2023QAFLformtotheSaints (hekicked23goalsin126 gamesforLabradoratthetop Queenslandlevel). FormerstarNickWarnock kickedonegoalinhisreturnto theSaints.
Mypredictionisforabigwin byShepparton,another20 plusgoalsanda 111pointwin. The119to18scorelinefromthe roundonecontest
LASTTIMETHEYMET
-Benallakickedjustthree goalsinRoundsevenlastyear. -AdamDeciccohad41 disposalsand10clearances, whileTrentHerberttooksix marksinside50andkicked threegoals.
-JarradWaiteworkedatboth ends,having24disposals,10 marks,fiverebound50sanda goal.
-Despitethe68pointwin, BearsplayersTylerLarkinand NedByrnebothlaidadozen tackles.JamesMartinellodid thesameforBenallaandalso had31touches.
-TheBearshad94more disposalsand44moremarks. Theyalsohad a15-4inside50 markcountandkicked9goals fromturnovers
STATSTHATMATTER
-ZaydanLeocatatookfour marksinside50andkicked threegoalsstraight,butLewis McShanewasalittlemore inaccurate–kicking5.4to opentheseason.
-NedByrne’sthreeshotson goalallmissed,buthedid havethebiggestquarterofthe game,his12disposal,six tackleandfourclearancelast quarterearninghim66points. -Theonlyplayertotop200 rankingpointsfortheround wasXavierStevenson,the Bearsstarhaving38dispoasls, 13tackllesand10clearances–settingthetonefortheseason with207points..
-MarkMarriotthad48hitouts fortheSaintslastweek,but willthisweekcomeupagainst theMorrisonMedallistAsh Holland.Hollandhad48hit outsinhisseasonopener
-NathanWrighttookeight marks(fouroftheminside50) andkicked4.1forthegame.
-Benalla’s89pointlosscame asaresultofhaving68less disposals,92lessmarks(only seveninside50,comparedto theSwans33)and27less inside50s
-TheSaintsdidwinthefree kickcountbytwo,butwas decimatedinthetacklecount. TheSwanswonthat80-46.
Echucahad14premiership playersfrom2024initsranks, withdebutanteJaiMilliganin theteamandJaxsonMcMinn playingjusthissecondgameof seniorGVLfootball. Sixteen-year-oldArchieWilson, whokicked38goalsin12Under 16gameslastyear,debutedfor Euroalastweekend. CohenPaulwasimpressive afterjusttwogamesin2024 duetoMurrayBushrangers duties,collecting33disposals, fiverebound50sandsix tackles ThomasBourkewasplayinghis firstgamefortheclubsince 2019andNickAsquithreturned aftertwoseasonsinthe KyabramDistrictLeagueand kickedtwogoals.
TheMagpieshadgreatplayers inNicBurke,whohadnine rebound50sand30disposals. WillCreeveyhad29disposals andeightclearancesintheloss toKyabram.
BenReidhad28disposalsfor Echuca,fiverebound50sand threeinside50s,alongwith eightmarksandKaneMorris spentmostofhistimeinattack withthreegoals. Morrismayspentmoretimein attack,hedidkick10goalsina singlegamelastyear,with LachieWatsonandLeoO’Brien sharingruckingduties. Bothruckshad12possessions andO’Brienalsomanagedfive clearances Morristoppedtheteamfor scoreassistsinattack,havinga handin11scores(SamReidwas nextbestwithnine) CaptainJackMcHalehad26 disposalsand10clearancesto starttheseason.
MypredictionisforEchucato takethewinby35points. WatchoutforMagpietackling machinesLachieHillandJacob Gleeson,whotoppedthetackle countlastwitheightandseven respectively.
-Euroahadsevenmore disposalsthanKyabramin Roundoneandhadthe exactsamenumberof clearances.Thebig differencecameinthefact theywentinside50a massive21lesstimesthan theBombers.
-Euroahadsevenmorefree kicksthantheBombersin thegameanddespite winningthetacklecountby six,hadfivelessforward50 tacklesthanKyabram. -NicBurkehadthebiggest singlequarterofany Magpiesplayer,histhird termfeaturingnine disposalsandfourmarks. -Echucaturneditoninthe lastterm,takingsixinside 50marks,thesameasit hadtakenforthefirstthree quarters.Theywere+10for clearancesandinside50s, andevenhadninemore tackles.
-SamReid’slastquarter sawhimrackup58ranking points,thebiggestquarter ofanyplayer,with10 disposals,threeinside50s, fiveclearancesandagoal.
LASTTIMETHEYMET
-Echucakicked15goalsto threeinthefirstthree quartersofRound15last years,beatingtheMagpies by73points.LiamTenace wasbestonground,whilefor Euroaitwasathreegoal gamefromcaptainJett Trotterwhowastheirbest player.
-JackMcHalewasbeston groundwhentheMurray BombersbeatEuroaby45 pointsinroundfour,with fourofthefiveMagpiesgoals cominginthethirdquarter -FromthatgameEchucais missingtheWilloughby brothers,LiamTenaceand DanielWillis.
-Euroaiswithoutruckman SmithandWilHayes,
FOOTBALL
Saturday at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton
THE NUMBERS GAME
M A N S F I E L D v U N I T E D
Atthreequartertimeoflast weekend’sopeninground fixturetherewouldhavebeen someexcitedShepparton Unitedsupportersinthe VictoriaParkgrandstandat Echuca.
Unitedtrailedbyjustthree pointsandhad,infact,ledthe reigningpremierofthelast threeseasonsbyapointat halftime.
Asitturnedouta13-scoring shotlastterm(albeitan inaccurate5.8)byEchucasaw themwinthegameby39 points.
Mansfieldwonitsgameby38 pointsonthebackofa triumphantstartfromstar recruitsMatthewKing(37 disposals,12marks,sixinside 50sandfiverebound50s).
Anotherrecruit,NickGray,had eightclearances,seven tacklesand28disposals.
JeseCucinottatoppedthe disposalcountwith34,along witheighttacklesand11 clearances.
JoelSerrasupportedhimwith
30disposals,15tacklesand eighttackles,ensuringUnited brokeevenoutofthecentrein theopeningthreequarters. BenReidhad28disposals,five rebound50sandthreeinside 50s,witheightmarks. BlakeFothergillhad20 disposals.
SheppSwansrecruitCaidan Phillipswasalsogreatfor United,alongside2024 KyabramDistrictLeaguebest andfairestwinnerBlake Fothergill(20disposals).The formerNagambiestarplayed fourgamesatseniorlevelwith theDemonswaybackin2018 asateenager.
Unitedwasalsowithout KaeydenNapierandSheldon Bogdanforthegame. FormerSheppartonunderage starJensenDowlingdebuted fortheteam,whileJaeydon Hexter,newvicecaptainKade ChalcraftandQueenslander SamBarbutowerealso unveiled. MypredictionisforMansfield totakethewinby14points.
LASTTIMETHEYMET
-Mansfieldtook64more marksthanUnitedforthe game,60ofthose uncontested,andwonthe inside50markcount17-8.
-JackHutchinshad23touches andtook15marks,whileDirk Koenenwentonebetterwith16 marksand28disposals
(toppingtherankingswith149 points,70ofthoseina dominantfinalterm).
-JesseCucinottoledall comers,with29disposals, whilehisUnitedteammate KaedynNapierkickedfour goalsfromninetouches.He started2025with34touches.\
STATSTHATMATTER
-ZaydanLeocatatookfour marksinside50andkicked threegoalsstraight,butLewis McShanewasalittlemore inaccurate–kicking5.4to opentheseason.
-NedByrne’sthreeshotson goalallmissed,buthedid havethebiggestquarterofthe game,his12disposal,six tackleandfourclearancelast quarterearninghim66points. -Theonlyplayertotop200 rankingpointsfortheround wasXavierStevenson,the Bearsstarhaving38disposals, 13tacklesand10clearances–settingthetonefortheseason with207points..
Saturday at Mooroopna Reserve
STER v MOOROOPNA
Therewasnottoomuch differentabouttheRochester teamthathandsomelywon itsfirstgame,19playersfrom lastyear’sfinalsteamtaking tothefieldtoopenthe season.
MitchTrewhella’sgamewas alsoamirrorimageof several2024performances. Hehad33disposals,laid11 tackles,hadeightclearances andkickedtwogoals(fora gamehighreturnof160 rankingpoints)
TherewasnoCooper Hamilton(servingthelast weekofasuspension),but debutanteTobieWoodfine hadeveryonetalkingwitha threegoalperformanceand playedalongsideanother coupleofnewcomersinNash RamageandLincolnSieben. Woodfinekicked81goalsin18 gameslastyearatUnder18 level,includingan extraordinary22against Taturainroundfourand12 againstBenalla. Woodfinewasalongside HughHamilton,wholaidsix inside50tackles,had11 disposalsandkickedfour goals.
-Euroahadsevenmore disposalsthanKyabramin Roundoneandhadthe exactsamenumberof clearances.Thebig differencecameinthefact theywentinside50a massive21lesstimesthan theBombers.
-Euroahadsevenmorefree kicksthantheBombersin thegameanddespite winningthetacklecountby six,hadfivelessforward50 tacklesthanKyabram.
-NicBurkehadthebiggest singlequarterofany Magpiesplayer,histhird termfeaturingnine disposalsandfourmarks. -Echucaturneditoninthe lastterm,takingsixinside 50marks,thesameasit hadtakenforthefirstthree quarters.Theywere+10for clearancesandinside50s, andevenhadninemore tackles.
-MarkMarriotthad48hitouts fortheSaintslastweek,but willthisweekcomeupagainst theMorrisonMedallistAsh Holland.Hollandhad48hit outsinhisseasonopener
-NathanWrighttookeight marks(fouroftheminside50) andkicked4.1forthegame.
-Benalla’s89pointlosscame asaresultofhaving68less disposals,92lessmarks(only seveninside50,comparedto theSwans33)and27less inside50s
-TheSaintsdidwinthefree kickcountbytwo,butwas decimatedinthetacklecount. TheSwanswonthat80-46.
Mooroopnaalsohadaround onedebutantein17-year-old ReeceEvansandBenWoods wasplayinghisfirstgame sincethe2023finals. KaiMadgwickwastheCats best,collectingagamehigh 39disposalsdespitethe38 pointloss.Hehad12 clearancesandworkedhard intodefencewithfive rebound50s.
JackJohnston,whoplayed onlyfourseniorgamesfor Mooroopnawhilesharinghis seasonVFLclubPort Melbourne,wasamongthe bestinanunfamiliarrucking roleandwithabyeinVFL footballthisweektheCats couldseeEthanHuntamong itsranksagain. MypredictionisforRochester totakethewinby36points. FromthelastRound17game theCatsaremissing McCarthy,Betson,andDan Johnston,whiletheTigersare almostunchanged.
-SamReid’slastquarter sawhimrackup58ranking points,thebiggestquarter ofanyplayer,with10 disposals,threeinside50s, fiveclearancesandagoal.
LASTTIMETHEYMET
-KeelinBetsondominated thegame,189rankingpoints -26disposals,14tackles, sevenclearances59hitouts. -Mooroopnacamefrom22 pointsdownat3/4timeto kickfourgoalstononeinthe final1/4andwinby3points -DanJohnstonkickedall fourgoals(fiveintotal). rCobyMcCarthy(whohad hadabiglastquarterand31 touchesforthegame).
-Theteamswereseparated byjusttwodisposals(310308)andthreeinside50s, butunusuallyRochesterwon thefreekickcountbyseven. -TigerskeydefenderDylan Gordonhad17disposalsand eightrebound50s,working intandemwithRyanO’Keefe (whohad12onepercenters.
NETBALL
T
Kyabramrolledoutthreenew playersinitsline-upagainst reigningpremierEuroaon Saturday,butcamefacetoface withinformshooterOliviaMorris andmid-courtlivewireSophie Owen.
NatashaDodosworkedin tandemwithexperienced recruitTamSkinner,butthe BombersalsoswungIslaCarver intogoalsatdifferentstagesof thegame
KyabramcaptainJemmaHall andanotheroftherecruits, EmmaQuinn,whoplayedthree quartersofthegameinthe centre,weretheBombersbest. Taturalostgoalshooter
MypredictionisforTaturato takethewinby23goals.
LASTTIMETHEYMET
THE NUMBERS GAME 6
MOUR v SWAN
A16goalroundoneSeymour wincameonthebackofcoach CaseyAdamsonguidingamidcourtofRosieO’Sullivanand EleishaSaundersthrougha challengingafternoonagainst Rochester.
JasmineFraserinthesecond quarteroftheirgamewith SheppartonBearsonSaturday afterFraserhadlookedcapable ofkeepingtheBulldogsinthe contest Taturatrailedbysixat halftimeanddespite24second halfgoalsfromCharlotteGray lostby12totheBears CaptainMollyBoylebattled manfullyagainsttheodds,while ElsieBoyerwasherusualbusy selfandrecruitZoeHayes impressedinthreequarterson thecourt
-TaturabeatthebraveBombers byonlysixgoalslastyear, despitetheBombersfinishing11 andTaturafourth.
Rochesterused10playersinits gameagainstSeymouron Saturdayandlookscapableof challengingMooroopnaon SaturdayaftertheCatsdidn’t havethingsalltheirownway againstlastyear’s10 ranked teamMansfield th Rochesterwasoutscoredbyjust eightinthesecondhalfby Seymour,withco-coachLinda Rasmussencomingontothe courttoworkwithBridgette McCartyinthesecondhalf. TiaWebbshot19ofherteam’s 43goals,withAvaNihillandElla Kerlinalsospendingtimein goals.
MyaJespersonandJacquiBall workedwithClaudiaPlatfussin goalsforMooroopnainround one,withJespersonsittingout thelastquarterafterscoring24 goalsforthegame
LASTTIMETHEYMET
AllyBlackshoteightgoalsinthe firsttermagainstRochesterand thenturnedfeedertocaptain ElleFuhrmeister,who40ofthe team’s59goals SheppartonSwanswaseven moreimpressiveinits38goal winagainstBenalla,butthis weekwillshowwhetherornotit isreadyforareturntofinals afterfinishingjustoutsidethe play-offsthisweek RubyBridewellandBridie Cantwellspentallbuthalfa quartertogetherindefenceon Saturdayandwillbeaimingto keeptheSwansunderthe59 goaltallytheycompiledagainst BenallaonSaturday MypredictionisforSeymourto takethewinbyfivegoals.
LASTTIMETHEYMET -Seymourwasan11goalwinner intheirR12meetinglastyear, havingwontheR3gameby11 goals.TheSwansdidwinonly
twolesshomeandaway gamesthantheLionsand finishedonerungbelowthem, justoutsidethefinals
Mypredictionisforthestrong Mooroopnateamtotakethe winby18goals.
-InR6Mooroopnawasa 53-26winner,whileinR17it wasa69-41resulttothe Cats TheTigersfinished ninthlastyearand Mooroopnasecond(losing justthreegamesleading intothefinals
MANSFIELD v SHEPP UNITED
MansfielddefendersAmelia CharltonandEmilyHutchins willbelookingtorepeatthe firstquarteroftheirroundone gameagainstMooroopna, whentheylimitedthehighly toutedCatsoutfittojusteight goals
Theresultmayhaveblownout toa25goalwinfor Mooroopna,onthebackof RhaniHendyandShelby Britten’smid-court dominancefortheCats,but theEagleswillbehopingfora repeatofthatform Theyareupagainstit, however,giventhe performanceofShepparton Unitedagainstlastyear’s grandfinalistEchuca The Unitedteamwentdownby justthreegoalsintheseason opener
MypredictionisforUnitedto takethewinby19goals.
LASTTIMETHEYMET -Mansfieldwasextremely
competitiveandUnitedjust managedtogethome4542 Onlythreegames separatedtheteamslast year,United’sdefensiveunit rankedfifthinthe competitiondespitethem finishingeighth. IfUnitedcanbeaseffective inattackastheyarein defencetheywillopentheir accountwithaneasywin againsttheEagleson Saturday
ROCHESTER v MOOROOPNA
NETBALL
BENALLA v SHEPP BEARS
FiftytwogoalsfromBearsgoal shooterKimBorgergaveher teamanopeningroundwin againstabraveShepparton Bears
BenalladefendersMegMorrison, coachChloeHillandGemma Mathiesonhaveabig assignmentaftertheBears scoreda12goalwininthehigh scoringaffairagainstanother finalistfromlastyear-Tatura. Borgerhadaconstantsupply fromcaptainSophieHarmer andSimonaDiFilippo,while RubyHigginswasanable goalingassistantforthree quarters
BenallawillbehopingthatmidcourtersNikitaHansonandLiv DaltoncansupplygoalerChloe Elliottwithenoughoftheballto producebetterthanthe21goals theyscoredinroundone.
MypredictionisforShepparton totakethewinby39goals.
LASTTIMETHEYMET
-Benallascored68goalsina21goalvictory Despitefinishing
THE NUMBERS GAME
fifththeBearswerethethird bestoffensiveteam,while Benallawastheonlyteamto giveupmorethan1000goalsfor theseason
-AspecialmilestoneforTess Simkin(below),whoplaysher 250thclubgamethisweekend Tessbeganhernetballjourney withtheSheppartonFootball NetballClubin2008asajunior inthe17&underteam
Sincethen,shehasbecomeaB ReserveCaptainandBest& Fairestwinner,aBGrade Premiershipplayer,Captainand Best&FairestWinneranda SFNCnetball‘ClubCaptain’!
GRAND FINAL REPLAY
EUROA v ECHUCA
Areplayoflastseason’s grandfinal,whichthe Magpieswonby12goals,will seeagreatattackfacean equallyastalenteddefence FleetfootedEuroamid-court trioHollieReid,SophieOwen andElizaHoareprovided goalerOliviaMorriswith enoughballtoput61goalsin thebackofthenetasthe reigningpremierscoreda massive75goalsagainst Kyabram Morrishadassistancefrom MiaSudomirski,whowillface upagainstanexperienced EchucaledbycoachBelinda Lees.
Kyabram’s17afterhalftime onSaturday,makingonly threepositionalchangesin ashowofconfidenceand strengthtoopentheseason MypredictionisforEuroato takethewinby9goals.
LASTTIMETHEYMET
Euroascored39goalsto
-InR4Euroawasoneshyof notching50goalsina19goalwin,whileinR15itwas an18goalwintoEchucaina late-seasonupset Euroa’s goalingunitscored300 moregoalsthanEchuca,but theMurrayBombershada superiordefence Euroa,in fact,wasonlythesixthbest defensiveteamintheGVL during2024
On Saturday Seymour A grade netball captain Ellie Fuhrmeister will receive GVL Life Membership, having qualified for the amazing recognition at the end of 2024 with 200 A Grade games
Ellie’s A Grade journey began back in 2013, straight from the juniors ranks During this time she has had 8 final appearances, including 3 premierships in 2015, 2019 and 2022. In 2022, Ellie both played and coached the A Grade to success. She has also represented the GVL in Interleague competition on three occasions Her experience and dedication to junior development saw her appointed the coach of the junior GVL squad on two occasions Ellie took on her biggest challenge in 2021 and was appointed A Grade player/coach and held this role until the end of the 2024 season Ellie continues to be a key player in the A Grade side She is a role model for our junior players.
Ellie’s passion for netball is obvious, her dedication to the SFNC is unwavering and she has cemented herself as a legend of our club
Pearson learned her netball craft in Echuca and joined EFNC as a 14-year-old in 2010 in the Under 17’s. Her talent and dedication quickly saw her rise through the ranks, earning a spot in A Grade by 2012 and taking out the Karen Monahan Rising Star Award that same year The only time Greta spent away from EFNC was during her university years, when she played four seasons with Lake Wendouree.
DEBUTANTES, MILESTONES & INJURIES
Greta
EllieFuhrmeister
GretaPearson
BelindaLees