One bad quarter can be the difference between winning and losing.
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On Saturday, Seymour discovered first-hand the effects of a disappointing opening term against Echuca.
Despite matching the Murray Bombers for the remaining three quarters, the Lions’ lacklustre first term efforts — one goal to Echuca’s six — almost single-handedly determined the outcome.
Echuca then took out the second and third terms, although not by much, before Seymour fought back to win the final quarter.
But it wasn’t enough to account for Echuca’s hot start, and Seymour fell to its fifth loss of the season, a 9.8 (62) to 15.11 (101) defeat.
The match-up with Echuca was always going to be a challenge for Seymour, with five wins separating the second and third-placed teams.
But the Lions did themselves no favours with their slow start, with the team failing to bring the effort required to challenge one of the league’s best teams.
‘‘Nothing was different,’’ Seymour coach Ben Clifton said.
‘‘It was just about bringing that effort. We didn’t show up in the first quarter and going down six goals to one makes it difficult.
‘‘We started playing around the 12 to 15-minute mark of the first and second quarters.’’
With Echuca and Kyabram sitting well above the rest of the top six, Clifton said it was their opponents’ experience that shone through on the day.
‘‘All over the ground they are really well drilled,’’ Clifton said of the Bombers.
‘‘They’re hard bodied, assert themselves on the contest and get a jump on teams.’’
Seymour also used the match as a chance to make some positional changes on field.
While most were minor changes, Lachlan Waite proved the biggest switch, with the full-back moved to full-forward, where he settled and kicked two goals for the Lions.
Clifton said the moves would give the team more flexibility in the later stages of the season.
Experienced onballers Zac Keogh and Jason Cole were again two of the Lions’ more important players in the clash, with James Wooster also impressing off half-back.
With a league-wide bye ahead, Seymour won’t return to the field until July 20, when it takes on Benalla at Kings Park.
Getting through the Echuca match unscathed will mean the Lions should have a healthy list after the bye, with a number of key players available for selection.
With five matches remaining in the home-and-away season, it will be all about consistency for Seymour ahead of finals.
‘‘We need to make sure we bring four quarters of effort,’’ Clifton said.
‘‘It’s not been the most consistent season.
‘‘It’s the time of year to do that and roll into finals.’’
●Seymour’s reserves team retained its spot at the top of the ladder, beating Echuca by 11 points on Saturday. The Lions got off to a bad start, kicking seven points to the Murray Bombers’ 1.3, but were able to get back on top by half-time to run out 8.13 (61) to 7.8 (50) winners. Seymour duo Seamus Feery and Max Jones kicked three goals apiece, while Keith Roche was named best on ground in the win.
Final score: Seymour 9.8 (62) lt Echuca 15.11 (101)
Goalkickers: L. Waite 2, J. Anderson 2, H. Wade, J. Wooster, B. LeCerf, B. Rigoni, M. Waite
Best: Z. Keogh, J. Cole, J. Wooster, T. Freeman, B. Rigoni, K. Bol.