KYABRAM V SHEPPARTON
Kyabram will be looking to test itself against one of the teams it could cross paths with in the finals.
The Bombers have shored up their place in September with two really good wins against Mooroopna and Seymour in round 16 and 17 amongst a string of four straight wins, last losing to Euroa in mid-July.
The Bears are gunning for the minor premier and it showed its premiership credentials with a ruthless display against cross-town rival the Shepparton Swans last round, including an eight-goal last quarter.
Marcus Khoo, Brad Whitford, Anthony DePasquale (6 for a total of 67 goals), the returning Jason Morgan and Jackson Griffiths were important as the Bombers staved off a fast-finishing Seymour last round to win by 3 goals.
In a further positive, the Bombers are seemingly peaking at the right time and getting some key players back that will make a difference come finals.
They will be desperate to get a few more back that could help them have a real impact in September.
But for now, the focus will be on curbing the influence of Trent Herbert (7 goals and his best return in a game for 2024), Mitchell Brett, Xavier Stevenson, Adam Decicco and Connor Fleming.
I think they can give a good account of themselves, but the Bears depth is likely to tip the scales in their favour.
Tip: Shepparton.
MANSFIELD V EUROA
Euroa will be looking to fine tune its preparations for its elimination final opponent after it booked its place in September with a big win at Benalla last round.
The Magpies had to win to avoid heading into the round 18 trip to Mansfield needing to win.
And, it made a big statement early.
The game was over by half-time.
Jett Trotter (7 goals and best return for 2024 in a single game), Jacob Gleeson, Jack Hellier, Jayden Gleeson, Ryan Hill and Jack McKernan (four goals) were important in the win and they will want to come away from the High Country with a victory and ready for whoever their first week opponent in the finals is.
Mansfield will be looking to finish the season off with a win and start the planning towards 2025.
Ben Les, William Christopher, Benjamin Reardon, James Herridge, Adam Boshevski and playing coach Jack Hutchings will be the ones leading the way in what should be a good contest.
The last meeting between the teams went in the favour of the Eagles, so the Pies will be looking to turn the tables and go into the finals on a high.
Tip: Euroa.
SEYMOUR V MOOROOPNA
Seymour will be looking to finish the season on a high after it failed to qualify for the 2024 finals.
Mooroopna is gunning for third spot on the ladder if it can overcome the Lions at Kings Park and other results fall in their favour.
The Lions will look to Nathan Beattie, Tom Maloney, Riley Mason, Thomas Martin and Ben Cooney to try and lead the Lions to victory and send the Cats into the finals off the back of a loss.
The Cats were able to pull a rabbit out of a hat late against Rochester last round.
Having not score a goal from roughly the 26th minute mark of the second quarter until about the 22nd minute mark of the last, the Cats then stormed home, kicking the last four goals from the boot of Daniel Johnston, including the last of those goals after the siren.
Up until that point, Johnston hadn’t influenced the contest, but then he came alive, booting the last four goals to finish with five the match and 52 for the home and away season.
MacKenzie Calleja, Ben Hicks, Bryce Rutherford and Jed Woods were outstanding contributors across the four quarters, especially in the last term when the Cats needed a spark.
They will look to continue that form against the Lions to ensure the Cats go into September with a win.
Tip: Mooroopna.
SHEPPARTON SWANS V ECHUCA
Echuca will be looking to stitch up the minor premier when it comes to Shepparton to take on the Shepparton Swans.
The Swans are playing for pride when their slim finals chances with extinguished by the ruthless Shepparton Football Club last round.
Despite that heavy loss, the likes of Nathan Hrovat, Luke Davies, Mark Kovacevic, Steele Simpson and James Auld will be desperate to put their best foot forward against the league’s favourite to claim the 2024 title and a third straight flag.
Benjamin Reid, Samuel Reid, Kane Morris, Sam Willoughby and Jack McHale were the standouts in the statement win at Rochester in the second part of the split round.
And, they were able to sit out round 17 with a bye, making them fresh to launch into this game and September, noting they are four good performances away from creating a slice of GVL history for the club.
I think they win comfortably to set up what will be a mouth-watering qualifying final with Shepparton in the first week of the finals.
Tip: Echuca.
SHEPPARTON UNITED V ROCHESTER
Rochester will be looking to bounce back and take some winning form into the finals after suffering back-to-back losses.
The Tigers were well beaten by Echuca in the second half of the split round and then they suffered a heart-breaking after-the-siren loss to Mooroopna last round.
The Tigers have lost three of their past four games and they need to get back to what they did well during that period where they won 10 games in a row.
United was officially confirmed it would avoid the wooden spoon after it accounted for Tatura comfortably.
Joel Serra, Jesse Cucinotta (four goals, Kyle Clarke (five goals), Liam Serra and under-18 skipper Kye Jeffery (three goals) were important in the win for the Demons.
They will be important if the Demons are to finish the season with a fourth win.
The Tigers will come to Deakin Reserve, hoping to put their best foot forward.
Leading the way will be Ryan O’Keefe, Wil Hamilton, Mitchell Trewhella, Shaun Atley and Mitch Cricelli to ensure they win and lock down third spot and take winning form into September.
Tip: Rochester.
TATURA V BENALLA
Both of these teams will be looking to finish 2024 on a high.
The Saints have won 3 ½ games while the Dogs are rock bottom, having only won once in 2024, which was on the opening day of the season.
Tatura lost last round to 10th placed Shepparton United and they will look to Mitchell Elliott, Jacob Simpson, Sean McAllister, Andrew Ciavarella and Kitt McCamley to lead the way and to victory in what has been a tough year at the kennel.
The Saints had one their worst games of the year last round.
It undone all the good work of last round where they pushed Seymour all the way.
Colby Mathieson, Christopher Welsh, James Martiniello, Patrick Warner and Mark Marriott will be trying to lead the Saints to a fourth win of 2024.
Tip: Benalla.
