Seymour captain Jack Murphy assesses his options. Photos: Wayne Herring.
Seymour has corrected course in the Goulburn Valley League senior football competition, bouncing back from a tough loss by grinding out a brilliant win at home over Rochester.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
It was a win that should have probably been bigger too, with the Lions kicking an inaccurate 11.16 (82) to Rochester’s 9.6 (60) at Kings Park on Saturday after controlling the majority of the contest in what was a positive response following last weekend’s defeat to Mooroopna.
Lewis Lubeck sends the ball deep into attack.
The Lions and Tigers had a cut-throat start to the contest, as 10 goals found their way on to the scoreboard between the two clubs in the first quarter, Seymour sniffing out a two-point lead at the first break, 5.3 (33) to 5.1 (31).
Rochester remained within touching distance at the main break despite Seymour dominating territory and control of the football throughout the second term, with both sides scoring just one goal each, despite Seymour enjoying a further six scoring shots, all of which were behinds, to lead by eight points heading into the rooms.
Lachlan Giles recovers a loose ball.
Following the half-time regroup, it was Seymour that was released from its shackles to open up a decisive advantage for the first time all afternoon, with Tome Stapleton, Rory Kennedy and Ricky Schraven all hitting the scoreboard amid a 3.5 return for the Lions, while limiting Rochester to one behind to enter the final break 30 points to the good.
The Tigers played with spark in the final quarter in an attempt to cause a late boilover, winning a term for the first time throughout the contest, but they were only able to eat into the margin by eight points, as Seymour ran out a 22-point winner.
Tom Jeffrey runs in for a set shot.
Nic Quigg led the way for the Lions, the gun onballer adding two goals to go with his elite work in the middle as Seymour’s best, closely followed by big man Stapleton, also with two goals, while Dylan Cook, Rielly Old and Huw Jones rounded out the most influential.
Young gun Kennedy also impacted the scoreboard with multiple goals, finishing another impressive afternoon with two majors, as did Schraven, while Tom Jeffrey, Nathan Fowler and skipper Jack Murphy all added one each.
Xavier Dimasi attempts a shot on goal.
The win ensures the Lions remain entrenched inside the top four at the halfway point of the season, half a game behind Shepparton Swans in third but four points clear of Shepparton United in fifth.
Nic Quigg delivered a best-on-ground performance against Rochester at the weekend.
It will be the Demons that Seymour comes up against this weekend in a huge round 10 clash that shapes as perhaps the most entertaining of the lot, where a win would go a long way for either side in shoring up a finals position as the second half of the season begins.