Sport

Eagles crush Saints in milestone win for Herridge

By Cameron Burt

Jun 1, 2025

Mansfield’s Nathan Buchanan searches for a teammate inside 50. Photo by Megan Fisher

Mansfield stormed to its fifth win of the season with a commanding 88-point victory over Benalla at home in the Goulburn Valley League on Saturday.

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The Eagles led from start to finish in the 14.28 (112) to 3.6 (24) result, with a 27 to 1 opening term laying the platform for a dominant performance.

Will Foster and William Hogan were the standouts in front of goal with three majors apiece, supported by eight individual goal scoring Eagles.

The hosts applied scoreboard pressure in every quarter, putting a wayward 4.11 on the scoreboard in the final term alone.

They finished with a wildly inaccurate 14 goals and 28 behinds, leaving behind what could have been an even nastier final score.

Matthew King, Harry Mahoney — back from Collingwood VFL duties — and Gus van der Heyden were among those named in Mansfield’s best players, continuing a consistent month of football for the Eagles.

The win was made even more special with club stalwart Jimmy Herridge playing his 300th senior game.

The veteran added a goal of his own and was celebrated accordingly.

For Benalla, it was another tough afternoon, with the Saints unable to slow Mansfield’s ball movement or find consistent scoring opportunities. Ryley Ely, Mark Marriott and Christopher Welsh were listed among their best.

The win lifts Mansfield to 5-3 heading into a major round nine challenge against the 7-1 and super dangerous Shepparton Swans on Saturday.