Best Battles is here again, with McPherson Media Group’s sports journalists taking a walk down memory lane once more.
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Benalla v Shepparton Swans
Grand final, 2014 at Deakin Reserve
Shepparton Swans 7.6 (48) d Benalla 5.15 (45)
The 2014 grand final will long be remembered as one of the most thrilling games in Goulburn Valley League history.
Although the match was not a high-scoring encounter – thanks to the swirling breeze that day – the romance surrounding the triumphant Shepparton Swans is what catapults this match to legendary status.
The Swans ended a 44-year premiership drought when they toppled that season’s previously undefeated outfit and minor premier Benalla by three points.
Looking back at the game, it was the one that got away for Benalla, with 20 scoring shots to 13 showcasing the Saints were close to achieving premiers and champions status.
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Swans’ Tyson Sidebottom was awarded the Wilf Cox Medal for his brilliant role in the second quarter and midfielder Jamason Daniels ended up with the VCFL Medal.
Many will remember the heroics of Swans defenders Dan Lovick and Tom Preece, while Jake Pallpratt and Brook Martyn were the standouts for Benalla.
“We saw an opportunity instead of a challenge,” Swans coach Brett Warburton said.
“I don’t mean that as a disrespect to Benalla, but we saw an opportunity to write our names in history.
“It’s been 44 years since we last lifted the cup and that’s what we spoke about before the game.”
Violet Town v Girgarre
Round 11, 2013 at Girgarre Recreation Reserve
Girgarre 13.6 (84) drew Violet Town 11.18 (84)
In 2012, Violet Town was unstoppable en route to claiming the KDL flag, while Girgarre went through yet another lean year.
In the middle of 2013, the gap had completely closed between the two sides, as the round 11 battle ended in a draw.
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Jade O’Dwyer kicked five goals and Ryan Jones kicked four for the Roos, stunning a Taygen Sage-led Violet Town by forcing the draw.
Violet Town would still play finals, but the result was a showing of just how far Violet Town had fallen from the year before.
Benalla All Blacks v King ValleyRound two, 2019 at Friendlies OvalBenalla All Blacks 9.7 (61) d King Valley 7.12 (54)
Benalla and King Valley’s fortunes have rarely aligned in recent years, with only a few close games among blow outs over the course of a decade.
In their past 18 match-ups only three were decided by under 30 points, so cast your mind to just over 12 months ago when the All Blacks came away with their most electrifying win yet - a seven-point sweep of the Kangaroos on home turf.
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Inaccurate kicking was the visitors’ kryptonite, with King Valley failing to make the most of its chances.
Gaining the advantage at every intermission, Benalla then held its nerve to record the club’s first win of the season.
Benalla skipper Alistair Jacka had a day out with the sherrin, kicking three majors, while teammate Sam Newton got his best and fairest winning season off to a fine start, starring in defence.
Goorambat v Bonnie DoonRound six, 2017 at Goorambat Recreation ReserveGoorambat 11.13 (79) d Bonnie Doon 8.9 (57)
Across four seasons in the Ovens and King League (2013-2016), Goorambat was dealt seven straight losses by longtime rivals Bonnie Doon.
Starting the 2017 season undefeated though, the Bats had their best chance to break the curse with the Bombers stagnating at the bottom of the ladder, yet to win a match.
But it was a harder task than initially thought, the thrilling contest seeing the lead switch at every change of ends.
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Up by eight points at half time, the Bats soon let the Bombers get the better of them through the middle and found themselves down 11 at the three-quarter mark.
What happened next though was a Bats’ supporters dream, the home side finally putting it all together in the fourth term - kicking 5.4 to the Bombers lone behind to run away with the match.
Goorambat’s Andrew Ramzy and James Dalton shone in attack and defence respectively, while Cam Symes kicked five late goals in front of the town’s fateful.
Reigning league medalist Kaine Herbert was the best of the Bombers.