Season on the brink
Euroa welcomed their old foe Seymour to Memorial Oval on the weekend for their round 15 clash. After a impressive Welcome to Country as part of the GVLs Indigenous Recognition around both sides were ready to go. Coach Rowan had already impressed upon his charges the importance of a good showing and a win in the match to enable the momentum gathered overhead the previous two matches to continue.
The start of the match went quite evenly with ruckman Jacob Brereton getting his hands on the ball early on giving the likes of Marcus Varley and Jacob Gleeson first use of the ball, sending it into the forwards with reassuring regularity. Seymour replied in kind and were giving the Euroa defensive unit a few headaches with the likes of Bryce Frost, Matthew Ivill and Ben Harrison repelling attacks time and again.
The second quarter was certainly all Euroa’s as they moved three goals clear of Seymour by the half time break. JD Hayes took the game by the scruff of the neck in what was an outstanding individual quarter of football. His drive, poise and precision by foot was unparalleled - those there to see this now understood why he was named in the best players recently for the Victorian Country representative team.
The third quarter was an about face of the second however with the Seymour team getting hold of the Magpies and booting a bagful of goals, arresting the lead from the home side and heading in to the last quarter in charge of the match. Not many highlights at all for the home side for this quarter - much work to be done in the last!
In a very tense and thrilling last quarter Euroa threw everything at their opposition as fresh legs in the middle created further opportunity up forward with Adam Giobbi booting the third of his three goals for the match, Jet Trotter and Jayden Gleeson providing plenty of drive with Jack McKernan being a key target up forward as he had been all day. This effort unfortunately was unable to overcome the lead the Lions had at three quarter time.......a loss to theMagpies the result.
This now means with three matches to go the senior team will need to win at least two to have any chance of playing in September finals action - it is a task the team and coaching staff are up for and one they will continue to train hard and play hard in the hope of achieving - Kyabram at Kyabram this week is the best way to start this challenge.....Go Pies!!
U18 Footy report 27-7-19
EUROA v Seymour by Sally Redfern
Napisan was the talk around the ground at Memorial Oval on Saturday, with parental concerns being raised before the game as to whether there was enough Napisan in Euroa to counteract the mud of both goal squares.
Euroa found themselves in an unusual position for Saturday’s game against Seymour-they had a full team. But even with enough players, the Magpies were well aware of the enormity of the task they lay before them. Seymour’s U 18 side are currently sitting in third position on the ladder, and are finals bound. They have a tall, quick team that like to run, so on the wide, open spaces of Memorial Oval, they were going to be difficult to combat. With the odds stacked against them, the Magpies readied themselves for the opening bounce.
Euroa played a competitive first quarter, matching it with more fancied Lions. The defensive efforts of Zac Williams, Kodi Dunn, and James Herring were solid, as Seymour gathered steam and started entering their forward line with worrying regularity. Dan Mawson appeared to reignite his close rapport with the opposition, a relationship first established in Round Four. Dan was involved in a number of tussles and skirmishes from the opening siren, and pleasingly won them all.
Jack Frewen, Declan Redfern and Brandon Ebert were all influential throughout the game, their continued and collective good form sure to be catching the eyes of senior selection panels soon.
Darby Davidson was a live wire off the backline, tackling and chasing with intensity. Darby’s use of the ball was exquisite as he hit team mates on the chest as he ran the ball out of defence. William Patterson usually attacks each new football challenge with enthusiasm and determination, and his rucking efforts on Saturday reflected his growing confidence in the GVFNL competition.
To the discerning eye, it looked like Nic Spencer had grown half a metre in the 7 days since he last played. Either that or he was simply walking taller, more confident in his considerable abilities in the back line. Nic played a solid game for the Magpie defence, boasting an enviable leap that was a real thorn in the Lion’s side.
By the third quarter, the scoreboard was showing Seymour ‘s dominance over the game, and an insurmountable lead had emerged. Whilst Euroa did not stop trying, Seymour were in a different class altogether. And good on them- it simply wouldn’t be fair if the Euroa team had all the looks AND the win.
So next week the Magpies make an early morning trek to Kyabram, to meet yet another top six side, in yet another very difficult encounter. They may not have experienced many wins this season, but the U18 Magpie’s resilience has increased exponentially. Next Saturday’s game is already looking like another opportunity to develop this valuable life skill.
Euroa. 4.3.27 Seymour. 18.3.111
Last Modified on 29/07/2019 13:16