Talking Points | Young Laker set to eclipse ton, GVL finals race boils down to six
Talking Points is the midweek chat and scrupulous uncovering of the storylines, quirks, and highlights that have caught the attention once the final siren – and whistle – has been blown.
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In this edition, the Goulburn Valley League run home is assessed, local goal-kickers are eyeing off the ton, and Longwood had three special guests watching its KDL clash against Avenel.
The run home for GVL’s finals contenders
Heading into the competition bye, it’s getting to separating wheat from chaff territory in the Goulburn Valley League.
Echuca and Shepparton have separated from third-placed Seymour by three games, while the Lions themselves are two games clear of the chasing pack.
It’s from fourth to ninth where the race to finals gets interesting.
With five games to go, there looks to be three spots to fill with six clubs vying for August action.
A draw has the fourth-placed Swans half a game safe, but without a few personnel, Linc Sullivan’s men will need to be wary.
They host a hungry Shepparton United side (eighth) hunting their first finals appearance in more than a decade before a danger game against Shepparton, who they lost to by 86 points earlier in the season.
Rochester, Seymour, and Benalla await in the remaining rounds, though the Swans have accounted for all three.
Nothing is certain here, but you would tip the Swans with a few to return to hold their spot in the six – though if it comes down to premiership points, a percentage of just 88 could trouble them.
Reigning grand finalist Rochester is tied on 28 points with Mooroopna, and it’s a double-edged sword for the Tigers on the run home.
They play both bottom-placed sides, Euroa and Tatura, but also face ladder leaders Echuca and Shepparton on their home decks, the latter they play at Deakin Reserve in the final round.
The round 16 clash against the Swans could be pivotal, but with finals experience, a coterie of stars, and the potential inclusion of former AFL man Marty Hore, I’m picking Rochester to stay in the flag hunt.
Meanwhile, sheer momentum could spur Mooroopna.
At one stage 2-5, Mooroopna has soared into the top six after winning five of their past six games.
If they want to stay there, they need to beat Shepparton (first), United (eighth), Euroa (11th), Mansfield (ninth), and Echuca (second) in the final round.
In John Lamont’s last season at the helm, is there one more finals campaign for one of the GVL’s longest tenured coaches?
It seems strange to see reigning premier Kyabram sitting in seventh at this stage of the season, but they’ve also been dealt a cruel hand on the injury front.
They share similar fixturing to Rochy; games against Euroa and Tatura but showdowns against Echuca and Shepparton leading into a final-round clash against the Pies.
If anyone looks poised to pip sixth at the death, it’ll be the Bombers, but I doubt they’ll allow it to get to that stage.
A final-round showdown could await for Mansfield as well.
The draw against the Swans has the Eagles only a game-and-a-half out, but any stumble from here could be fatal.
They’ll need to exact revenge against Seymour and Benalla in successive weeks, and then it’s eight-point games all the way to the end: Kyabram, Mooroopna, and a decisive round 18 game against Shepparton United.
Laker leading region’s goalkickers to the century crown
In the race to triple digits, a Nagambie youngster stands on the cusp of breaking the century barrier.
Lakers teen Flynn Bush leads the region in the race for a 100th goal, perched on 99 heading into this round’s Kyabram District League clash against Violet Town.
The young gun, having also crossed the 1000-run mark for Nagambie Cricket Club earlier this year, has five hauls of 10-plus majors, under-15 aged but spending the majority of the year firing off goals in the under-18s.
His senior compatriot, Tom Barnes, also has a chance at the feat with 42 goals required from the remaining six home-and-away games.
Though with the ladder-leading Lakers looking more assured of a double chance by the week, he’ll have ample opportunity.
In the Murray League, Nathalia’s Liam Evans is winning the race for the Les Mogg Trophy, and the runner-up in last year’s shootout is well clear with 57 goals from 12 games, 18 clear of Congupna’s Dan Schaper.
The Goulburn Valley League goal-kicking, for the majority of the season led by Seymour’s Riley Mason, has welcomed a new leader.
Shepparton United recruit Matt Casey’s haul of three goals against Shepparton at the weekend saw him overtake the towering Lion, boasting 39 from his 13 games.
Horsing around at Longwood
The Melbourne Cup and two of its former winners made a stop by the Kyabram District League at the weekend.
2020 winner Twilight Payment made an appearance at Longwood Reserve as the 2026 Melbourne Cup Tour passed through the area, watching on as the Redlegs and Avenel did battle in round 12.
Michelle Payne, 2015 winning jockey of the Race That Stops A Nation, also took in a thriller between the two Battle for Locksley contenders, with Avenel pipping the home side by nine points.
Swans skipper Jack Myers, Ben Gillet, and Zac Hill helped Avenel move a game clear in fifth against a Longwood side spurred on by Jordan Formosa (four goals), Rabih Rachrache, and Michael Celestin.