Alex Elliott competes against Kyabram’s Brenton Brasier in the ruck. Photos: Wayne Herring.
Having finished fourth on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season, Seymour’s reserves found themselves playing for a Goulburn Valley League grand final spot against top-of-the-table Kyabram on Saturday.
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A wild first week of finals in the reserves competition saw sixth-placed Mansfield defeat third-placed Shepparton, handing Seymour the right to take on Kyabram in the second semi-final.
However, it was an opportunity the Lions were unable to capitalise on. Despite pushing the Bombers all the way, they went down 9.6 (60) to 11.9 (75) at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Julian Morgan snaps one of his three goals for the match.
Seymour made a bright start to the contest, booting the opening goal of the game to take an early lead. However, the Bombers, who were beaten only once during the regular season, replied with the next three of the term to enjoy an 11-point advantage at the first break.
Far from being dismayed, the Lions dug in, booting the only two goals of the second term via Tyler Clarke and Jack Radford to briefly take the lead, before a pair of Kyabram behinds late saw the two sides enter the sheds all square at 3.2 (20).
It was in the third term that all the damage was done on the scoreboard.
Kyabram burst out of the blacks to record the first three goals after half-time, establishing a game-high 22-point lead, and while Seymour managed to pull back some of the margin, the Lions needed to overcome a 16-point deficit in the final term.
Seymour players huddle up for final instructions before the contest against Kyabram.
They made a positive start with the opening goal, however the Bombers were able to counter with the next three to reach a new game-high lead of 28 points, which proved insurmountable even with the final two goals of the game going Seymour’s way, and the Lions suffered a 15-point loss.
Sam Fuhrmeister was the Lions’ best in the loss, proving pivotal down back, while young gun Dylan Davis and Curtis Powell were among the votes for their work in the middle and Jack Davey (one goal) and Alexander Elliott were solid at opposite ends of the ground.
Julian Morgan booted a game-high three goals, while Taiten Thomas (two goals) and Nicholas Davey (one goal) rounded out the goal-kickers.
Seymour will have a second chance at securing a grand final berth this weekend when it takes on Mansfield in a preliminary final, with the sixth-placed Eagles coming from behind at three-quarter time to deliver a shock one-point win over second-placed Shepparton Swans, who bowed out of finals in straight sets.
