Saturday’s Goulburn Valley League clash in the High Country had all of those hallmarks, and for host side Mansfield, the three components proved to be the perfect combination to beating Shepparton Swans.
The sluggish conditions were ideal for slowing down the slick and speedy Swans, yet at three-quarter time, the game was anyone’s as Mansfield only led 33-22.
Though the stringent scoring was slightly liberated in the final term, the Eagles did just enough to squeeze out a 7.12 (54) to 5.5 (35) triumph on home soil.
Mansfield playing co-coach Jack Hutchins said his side read into the Swans’ first loss of the season and replicated the formula to create a formidable environment for Jedd Wright’s charges to walk into.
“We saw what Echuca was able to do to the Swans the week prior in terms of their pressure and being able to force turnovers, and that was the focus heading into the game — keeping the ball in the contest and backing ourselves in to be strong around the ball,” he said.
“We were fortunate enough to come away with it in the last quarter and it was really pleasing.
“The conditions probably played into our hands a little bit.
“If our pressure was on, it forces a turnover and stops their ability to run and carry in numbers which is what they’re so good at.”
After the Swans’ scoring woes against Echuca, Wright and co would’ve been pleased to get on the board in the first 10 minutes as Andrew Riordan cancelled out Jack Christopher’s earlier effort.
The arm wrestle was locked at 12 o’clock for the rest of the first quarter before Mansfield broke out with two majors in the second, yet Riordan was there again to keep his side close at the half.
At the main break, it was clear this was not going to be a shoot out.
Rather, the game was going to be won by the side that could clobber its way to the line first.
One goal apiece in the third quarter kept Mansfield’s leading line at 11 points, and when Callum Brown and Christopher piled on another two majors, the wind was slowly disappearing from the Swans’ sails.
Nathan Rachele and Riordan provided some late resistance but ultimately it was Nathan Buchanan’s dagger at the death that sealed it for Mansfield on a day where the Eagles’ defence stood tough.
Hutchins praised his “fantastic” half-back line as Dirk Koenen, Adam Boshevski and Matt King impressed, while ruckman Gus van der Heyden provided Mansfield’s mids with superb service.
For the Swans, Luke Davies was an ever-present force, while Riordan booted four of his side’s five goals.
It doesn’t get any easier for Wright’s outfit, which takes on Kyabram next, while Mansfield treks to Euroa with a spring in its step at the halfway mark of the competition.
“We’re certainly excited by where we’re sitting and there’s a real belief in the group that’s starting to form coming into the back end of the year,” Hutchins said.
“We had a four-week period where we played those top four teams ... we got the win over Shepp Bears, but we felt we were right there with Echuca and Kyabram as well.
“We know we can match it with the top teams and yesterday was a real turning point, setting that belief in the group going, ‘Hey we’re in a good position, we can really do something here and let’s work towards it’.”
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