Best Battles | Rochester's miss is Saints’ gain

Round 12, 2016 at Moon Oval

Rochester 10.12 (72) lt Benalla 11.9 (75)

This mid-2016 clash went down to the wire.

An after-the-siren shot from Rochester’s Steven Stroobants could have sealed the win for the Tigers in front of a vocal home crowd.

But alas, it wasn’t to be as the Sherrin sailed to the right, and Benalla celebrated the save.

In a game between second and third, the Tigers got off to a flying start over the reigning premiers, garnering a lead of 20 by the first break.

The Saints responded in the second, cutting the lead to eight, before charging ahead by six at three-quarter time – a feat particularly remarkable as piling injuries left the Saints without a bench.

And while Stroobants secured the final goal of the game for Rochester to get within an inch of the Saints late in the game, it wasn’t enough without that second – albeit missed – shot at goal.

Benalla’s Farran Priest was a force down forward, kicking four, while first-year player Lachlan Thompson also snagged three.

Brody Webster, starring in defence, was named the Saints’ best performer, while Nick O’Connor and Jacob Perry shared duties for Rochester, kicking three apiece.

Dookie United v Violet Town

Round 12, 2019 at Violet Town Recreation Reserve

Violet Town 9.17 (71) lt Dookie United 14.14 (98)

With only two matches to choose from, the most obvious choice is this match-up.

Though Dookie and Violet Town missed finals last season, the two teams put on a solid show when they faced off mid-season.

And while the result was largely determined in the first quarter - Dookie running to a 31-point lead - the Towners responded enough to make it a contest for the remaining three quarters.

Inaccurate kicking hurt both teams early, especially Violet Town which kicked 2.11 in the opening half.

But a calmer second half had both sides rectify this and finishing with a combined 23 goals for the day.

Luke O’Sullivan was Dookie’s best for the day, while teammate Bradley Ridings snagged three.

Down the opposite end, Jack Cripps kept Violet Town in it with three goals.

Benalla All Blacks v North Wangaratta

Round 16, 2013 at Friendlies Oval

Benalla All Blacks 10.7 (67) lt North Wangaratta 12.16 (88)

Following a 176-point loss to North Wangaratta earlier in the season, Benalla All Blacks may not have got payback in this late-2013 clash.

But they did restore some honour by taking it right up to a team on the cusp of finals.

Sitting on the bottom of the ladder, the All Blacks made the Hawks work for their win by keeping the margin below 22 points for three quarters.

Wangaratta’s start was the better of the two teams, with the visitors racing to a 30 point lead by quarter time.

Benalla responded strongly to cut into Wangaratta’s lead by 16 points before the Hawks steadied in the third to maintain a match-winning lead.

Inaccuracy was clearly an issue for the Hawks, with the side finding 13 more shots at goal than their opponents.

Benalla’s Jack Curphey managed four goals to finish as his side’s best, while Wangaratta’s Matt Smith also kicked four.

Goorambat v Tarrawingee

Round nine, 2016 at Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve

Tarrawingee 5.11 (41) d Goorambat 5.5 (35)

Tarrawingee holds an enviable record over Goorambat, winning every match the two clubs have contested in the last 10 seasons.

But it was in their sole 2016 clash where the Bats came the closest it ever had to toppling the Bulldogs.

Though Tarrawingee started its season undefeated, 8-0, it wouldn’t have expected the Bats to come as they did.

Playing in the wet meant scores remained low, though Goorambat kept itself within reach of the home side for most of the match.

And while the Bulldogs could have run away with it, peppering the goals for just six behinds, a Cam Kennedy goal put the side 12 points up with 10 minutes to go.

Goorambat’s Cam Symes slotted a goal to make it a one-goal game, though Tarrawingee eventually held off their opponents.

Symes finished with three for Goorambat, while Tom Skilbeck and Ben Reaburn were superb in defence.

Jordan Solimo and Sam Peters were Tarrawingee’s best, the midfield duo driving their side forward.