Sport
GVL ǀ Mansfield welcomes Euroa for mouth-watering round nine showdown
As far as top-of-the-bill Goulburn Valley League clashes go, they don’t come much bigger than this.
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Euroa makes the trip to the High Country this weekend for what is sure to be an enthralling clash with Mansfield and Scott Rowan’s men will be intent on atoning for a round one defeat to the Eagles at Memorial Oval.
Since their shock 27-point loss in the season opener, the Magpies have gone 6-1, including a statement win over Kyabram in round seven.
On the back of a hard-fought win over Mooroopna, Mansfield coach Chad Owens is under no illusions of the mammoth task that awaits on Saturday.
“For us now it only gets harder again with Euroa up next,” Owens said.
“They’re a big, physical, strong side, we’ve got a big job to do.”
On the personnel-front, the Eagles welcome back forward ace Cameron Arnold after serving a six-week suspension, but will have to do without the services of last season’s best-and-fairest Tas Clingan, who went down with a shoulder injury against Mooroopna.
Eagles midfield operator Jimmy Herridge will tick off his 250th game when his side does battle with the Magpies.
Euroa mentor Rowan said the round nine clash carried just that little bit more weight for his charges.
“We’re pretty determined, we weren’t happy with how we played in round one, we’ve said the whole way through we’re looking at improving each week and that was one we let slip,” he said.
“We’ve improved since then and have had some pretty good wins along the way — Ky at Ky — we all thought we’re a good team when we play the style of footy we want to play.”
The Magpies will be bolstered by the return of Jack Hellier and Erishmiilan Uthayakumar for the Eagles clash.
Another blockbuster game will take place at Victoria Park, when top-of-the-table Echuca takes on Mooroopna.
The Murray Bombers welcome key defender Cam Valentine back into their back six, as the side looks to tighten its grip on top spot.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox told the Riverine Herald he expected a fiery Cats side to make the trip to Victoria Park, after being knocked off top spot by Mansfield last weekend.
“At the moment our form is pretty good, but on any given day anyone can beat anyone,” Maddox said.
“Cam Valentine came back through the twos; he’ll play this week.
“We’re expecting a pretty fierce contest against Mooroopna.”
Meanwhile, Kyabram’s injury woes continue ahead of a trip to Deakin Reserve to face Shepparton, with news key forward Brad Mangan has been ruled out for at least another season.
Mangan recently underwent ACL surgery on his left knee, little more than 12 months after sustaining the same injury to his right knee.
The Bombers’ forward sustained last year’s injury early on in the season against Echuca in his 100th game with his latest setback coming in the clash against Euroa on May 21.
Despite the latest setback, Mangan told the Kyabram Free Press he would give himself every chance to play again.
“I’ll be doing all the rehab and hopefully will get back playing early next year if everything goes okay. I’m not retired yet,’’ he said.
Seymour will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce as it travels to Rochester for a pivotal clash with the Tigers.
Cruelled by injuries in the first month of the season, the Lions have been bolstered by the return of a host of stars, as they continue to find the form that led them to a third-placed finish in 2021.
“The boys are all keen, once you win some games it is good for confidence, but we are completely aware Rochy is a completely different level to the two Shepp teams we’ve just played,” Seymour coach Ben Davey said.
“We’ve just got to keep working on the way we are playing our footy, but if we are going to play finals these are the games we need to win.”
Seen at Kings Park in a moon boot last weekend, Davey said star forward Michael Hartley was touch and go for this key clash.
While the likes of Kyle Winter-Irving, Todd Lawrence, Ben Cooney and Max McLean are all in line to return after featuring in the reserves last week.
Ben Clifton will have to make way after copping a three-week suspension for a collision with Shepparton’s Ted Lindon.
Rochester on the other hand will be hoping to bounce back on its home deck after a second-half fade-out against Echuca last week.
Lastly, Benalla welcomes Shepparton Swans to the showgrounds after a mauling at the hands of Euroa last weekend.
The Saints will have every intention of bouncing back and securing four points against a beleaguered Swans outfit, but Andrew Riordan’s young brigade proved it is no easy-beat after comfortably accounting for Tatura last weekend.