Gallery | Shepparton and Euroa battle it out in contested GVL classic

The game ebbed and flowed as one side would take control before their opponent would wrestle back momentum.

The match started in blistering fashion as Euroa kicked a goal within the first 40 seconds thanks to key forward Tristan Davies, before Shepparton returned serve with a goal of its own off the boot of gun midfielder Luke Smith in the next 40.

From there, the scoring dried up, and for the majority of the opening term the Magpies were on top, locking the ball in their forward half.

Euroa started the second quarter much like the first, kicking a goal in the opening few minutes to take the lead out to 14 points (7-21).

However, Shepparton arrested the momentum and took ascendancy in the contest, booting the next three — one from co-coach Ted Lindon in his first senior game back — to take the lead for the first time in the match.

A few costly turnovers from Shepparton’s defensive kick-ins — one of which led to a great snapping goal from a Lachlan Hill banana kick — allowed Euroa to regain control of the match heading into half-time.

Euroa forward Davies nearly took mark of the year during the second term as the Magpie soared above a pack of four or five before crashing to the ground, unfortunately without the ball.

At the start of the second half, Shepparton came out of the sheds roaring, led by an inspired performance from key forward Trent Herbert, who kicked back-to-back goals (and four for the match) as the Bears held a match-high 17-point lead with seven minutes to go in the third.

However, an end-to-end play from the Magpies, which ended in a running goal from Jett Trotter, re-lit the spark for Euroa.

The Magpies stormed home in the final few minutes of the third to take a one-point lead heading into the final change thanks to a goal on the siren.

In keeping with the rest of the match, the last quarter was full of ebbs and flows, as neither side could take complete control of the game.

With the scoreboard in Euroa’s favour at 69-70 20 minutes into the last, mid-sized Shepparton forward Lewis McShane was able to get out the back and run into an open goal square, booting the ball into the stratosphere to the rapture of the Bears’ home crowd.

Saturday’s match was one of the most contested and tight games of the year with two sides who look destined to go deep into September.

Ultimately, Shepparton walked away with the chocolates in this first encounter, winning 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71).

Shepparton co-coach Xavier Stevenson said winning close matches against top-quality sides such as Euroa helps his players believe they were on the right path.

“The main key learning is that it instils belief and faith in what we are doing and how we are playing is good enough,” he said.

“We know with Euroa they have been a top-three side for five years, and they are going to be again, so it just continues to reiterate that we are on the right track.

“We are big on this year that we have deep wins and shallow losses, so we are going to enjoy our wins and enjoy the ride, and then we will look to next week.”

In a game filled with momentum shifts, Stevenson said he was proud of how his side stood up in the critical moments to take control.

“Euroa’s pressure was first class around the football as it was super hot all day, so it just came down to pivotal moments,” he said.

“I thought they got the ascendancy with a few key moments and then we were able to towards the back end, and luckily enough, we were on the right end of it when the siren went.

“We talked before the game about how it was going to take just 22 individuals who were willing to compete for four quarters (to win) and I think we did that.

“We are just happy to get the win and long may it continue.”

For Euroa, coach Ryan Pendlebury wasn’t too disheartened after the match as the veteran Magpie acknowledged that Shepparton was very difficult to beat, especially at home.

“They have picked up a few good players and they are going to be around the mark when finals come,” he said.

“They are a lot better here. They tend to play a lot better at home, so we knew it would be a big test.

“They are really good around the ball with Ash Holland coming back.

“He is a bit older now, but you don’t lose your tap work, so we really honed in on that and I think we did really well and obviously our ruckman (Andrew Smith) wasn’t playing.

“The game opened up and we probably sat back rather than pressing up and the score probably reflected that in the second half, too.”

Next up for Shepparton is a round six rivalry clash against Shepparton Swans at Princess Park, while Euroa will be hoping to snap a two-match losing streak at home against Benalla.