Sport

Mansfield crushes Shepparton’s finals dreams, holding on in tight-lipped GVL elimination bout

By Liam Nash

Aug 31, 2025

Mansfield's Gus Van Der Heyden and Shepparton's Ashley Holland contest a ruck duel. Photo by Megan Fisher

Spirits will remain higher than ever in the High Country this week.

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Mansfield kept a tether on its finals lifeline while simultaneously shattering Shepparton’s dream of back-to-back Goulburn Valley League grand final appearances on Sunday.

The Eagles, back in the finals mix after missing the action last season, entered the elimination duel at Benalla Showgrounds with a slight edge over the Bears.

And after a tense two-and-a-half hours steeped in passion and intensity, Mansfield proved why it belongs in the final four.

The navy and yellow army battled against a wounded Bears to eventually claim a 12.12 (84) to 8.14 (62) triumph, setting up a date with Kyabram in the semi-finals this weekend.

Was Mansfield made to work for it? Yes.

Did the game threaten to swing the other way? Sure.

And less than 10 minutes in, it was crystal clear this was not going to be a cake-walk for either side.

Mansfield’s ace boot, Billy Hogan, kicked off the proceedings with a goal two minutes into the clash and, with blows being traded by both outfits, the score stood level at 12-all halfway through the first term.

A late Eagles barrage capped by Hogan had Mansfield ahead by 16 points at the first change of ends and a similarly see-sawing second term had Shepparton nudge closer to trail by two goals at the main break.

Then came the period that could’ve changed it all for the Bears.

Shepparton won the third quarter 20-14, yet a staggering 2.8 effort during that time let Mansfield off the hook and kept Xavier Stevenson and Ted Lindon’s boys just out of striking distance, nine points adrift at three-quarter time.

The Eagles needed little invitation to shut the door after that as Ben Christopher’s fourth quarter opener, paired with two off Hogan’s boot, was enough to quell the Bears.

Even though Jacob Watts, back in the side after serving a one-match suspension, slotted his second of the afternoon midway through the last, this was Mansfield’s day.

Hogan rounded out the match with five majors, taking his season tally to 59, while Christopher impressed with three goals in his sixth game of the year upon return from overseas.

For Shepparton, livewires Luke Smith and Watts stood out with two majors apiece in the season-ending defeat.