GVL | Gallery | Seymour continues GVL resurgence with gritty win at Rochester

By Zac Standish

Jun 13, 2022

Freeing the arms: Fraser Cleary gets a handball away. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

Strong hands: Seymour’s Lachlan Waite marks in front of Mitch Cricelli. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

It was the win Seymour needed to officially launch itself back into Goulburn Valley League finals contention.

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Coming to Rochester on the back of a pair of dominant victories against Shepparton-based teams Bears and United, Seymour coach Ben Davey still needed to see whether his team could take it to a top-six side on the road.

And based on his team’s performance at Moon Oval, the answer to that question was a firm yes.

Leading at every change, the Lions got their contested ball game going from the outset, with 10 individual goal-kickers signifying an incredibly well-rounded performance by the boys in maroon and blue.

The result brings Seymour within two wins of a prized top-six spot and Davey explained how important the victory was in the context of the Lions’ season.

“Because our boys are so young and inexperienced, they don’t understand how hard it is to go to Rochester and win. Good teams go over there and lose all the time,” Davey said.

Hard at it: Rochester’s Adam McPhee is tackled by Seymour’s Dylan Scopel. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

“Being a nice day, the conditions suited our attacking style of play and we moved the ball very well throughout the day.

“Having won a few games in a row now, you can see the boys are starting to play with more confidence and, to now have beaten a top-six side on the road, it will give us a lot of belief.”

Taking the game on: Rochester’s Kyle Waters breaks free. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

It was a genuine eight-point game and both teams were up for the fight early, with the perfect conditions making for a free-flowing start.

Booting five goals in the opening stanza to the Tigers’ four, Seymour put its foot down in the second term, adding another four majors to open up a comfortable 21-point margin at the main change.

Dominating the game around the contest, the likes of Ben Rigoni, Jack Murphy and Joshua Alford were the prime movers for the Lions as they consolidated their lead in a tight third term.

The big men fly: Seymour’s Todd Lawence outmuscles Dan Russell. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

With the door slightly ajar for Rochester coming out of the final change, the visitors ensured there would be no late charge, defending hard to secure a 31-point victory.

Davey praised the work of his midfield and particularly ruckman Seamus Feery, who dominated the match throughout.

On the charge: Seymour’s Dylan Scopel runs away with ball in hand. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

“I thought Seamus was excellent for us and was just dominant all day for us,” he said.

“Josh Alford in his third game back you could see is just starting to get his touch back. You could tell he wasn’t happy with his first couple of games, so it was pleasing to see him play well.

“Nathan Beattie is another young guy who is doing really well for us, while Jack Murphy was just superb with his leadership on the ground having a big impact.”

Big collision: Seymour’s Tom Martin and Rochester’s Mitch Crecelli come together. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

While the GVL fraternity will begin to talk up Seymour’s chances of a finals surge, Davey said internally the mindset was taking it one week at a time.

“They are all important games from now on. We are in a position now where we can’t afford to be giving any more games away,” he said.