Riley Mason flies between two Echuca opponents. Photos: Wayne Herring.
That the round seven senior football clash between Seymour and Echuca was at Kings Park on Saturday seems fitting, as it could perhaps be the contest that solidifies the Lions’ claim as contenders for the Goulburn Valley League crown this season.
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Hosting an undefeated Murray Bombers in front of the heroes from the club’s 1966 and 1976 premierships, Seymour proved far too strong for Echuca, blowing the visitors out of the water in a supreme second half showing to notch a 13.14 (92) to 8.10 (58) victory.
The win ensures the Lions sit third with a 5-2 record through seven rounds, with the top two scalp also cementing their status as genuine force this season.
Facing the mighty Murray Bombers looked a tough task on paper, though, and so it proved early, as the visitors, who have enjoyed so much success in the past five or so seasons, raced to an early two-goal lead.
Young Lion Rory Kennedy lays a ferocious tackle.
But Seymour managed to level things up halfway through the opening term with goals to Riley Mason and Nathan Fowler, and while Echuca edged ahead once more, Mason gave the Lions a slender one-point advantage at the first break, ahead 3.3 (21) to 3.2 (20) after slotting his second.
He would add a third as play resumed in the second term, although the contest descended into more of a scrap as neither side managed to find the middle of the big sticks for an extended period.
Echuca added the only other goal for the term to snatch back the lead, though only just, as the Lions trailed 4.5 (29) to 4.7 (31) at the main break.
The scrappy nature of the first half completely disappeared in the second, however, as Seymour emerged from the rooms a different side, dominating the contest to firstly create some breathing room, before going in for the kill.
With the first two goals of the second half to stars Nic Quigg and Jaron Murphy, the Lions hit their biggest lead of the contest to that point, and while they peppered the goals, their next four scoring shots were behinds, as they were unable to take advantage of the momentum.
Echuca made them pay, too, slotting the next two goals to bring it back to a two-point margin, before Mason kicked a steadier, and with a few more behinds, the Lions entered the final break 11 points to the good.
It was a handy advantage in such a tight contest, but having kicked 3.8 to 2.1 for the term, Seymour have been much further in front, and seemed intent on proving their superiority as the fourth quarter began.
Jesse Brock wins a hitout in the ruck.
Echuca managed the first goal of the term to bring the margin back to four points, but the Lions replied with interest, booting the next six goals of the contest unanswered to race out to a massive 41-point lead at its peak, putting the game to bed while simultaneously making a compelling case to be considered amongst the handful of premiership hopefuls.
The victory was led by big man Tom Stapleton, who has proved to be another astute recruiting move by the Lions, with the former VFL Giant and North Adelaide SANFL player named best on ground in the win.
Jaron Murphy, another off-season addition at Seymour, is also pressing his case as the GVL recruit of the year, with the wingman booting multiple goals for the sixth time from seven games with another two at the weekend to be included in the best for the fifth time, while Huw Jones continues to star off the half back line, notching a sixth-straight mention amongst the most influential.
Mason snagged a game-high four goals as he asserts himself as the premier forward in the competition, taking his season tally to 30, while Quigg rounded out the best in another brilliant performance through the middle.
For Echuca, Curtis Townrow was named his side’s best in the loss, with Malik Gordon the only multiple goal kicker with two.
The win pushes the Lions ever closer to Echuca, now just a game behind but boasting a similar percentage, while the Murray Bombers drop their first contest of the year to sit at 6-1, losing touch with Shepp Bears, who remain unbeaten.
It is the Bears that Echuca will face in round eight as they look to bounce back with an away trip to Deakin Reserve on May 30 following a league-wide bye this weekend, while the Lions will also be on the road as they head to Mooroopna.
