Interleague: Ovens & Murray destroys Goulburn Valley by 77 points in interleague whitewash

All the action from the O&M demolition job on Goulburn Valley. Plus match details.

Ovens & Murray wrestled back the Ash-Wilson Trophy from Goulburn Valley with a crushing 77-point victory at Wangaratta on Saturday.

A brilliant six-goal haul from North Albury’s Josh Murphy, a dominant midfield led by Noah Bradshaw and a watertight defence ensured O&M made amends for a dismal fade out last year against GV.

Murphy, who has played one match for Collingwood’s VFL team this season, proved too elusive for the GV defenders, who also had their hands full with another OM forward, Kaelen Bradtke.

Noah Bradshaw and Nathan Beattie battle for the ball. Pictures: Yuri Kouzmin

The former Richmond player booted three goals and also had stints in the ruck where Will Christie went head-to-head with GV reigning best and fairest winner, Ash Holland.

The O&M took control early to lead 6.7 to 1.2 at quarter time with a 6-1 centre clearance advantage before having the match in total control at halftime with a 64-point break.

Holland was sent forward in the second quarter and brought down some strong marks, but conversion let him down.

Goulburn Valley was no match for Ovens & Murray in the Ash-Wilson Trophy clash on Saturday.

GV failed to score in the third term and was staring down a 100-point defeat before salvaging something from the wreck with six goals in the final term.

GV suffered a setback when key forward Nathan Wright strained his hamstring in the first half.

O&M defenders Simon Curtis and Zac Pethybridge outnumber their GV opponent Lewis McShane. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

O&M midfielders Bradshaw, Ben Rigoni, Archer Gardiner, Jaxon East and Liam McCarthy ran amok for most of the match and Ned Pendergast starred in defence.

“I thought our team selection was spot on and our kids were super,” O&M coach Jake Sharp said.

“We played the way we wanted to play and controlled the contest all day.

“We wanted to defend the ground really well and put pressure on the ball carrier.”

Ovens & Murray’s Shaun Driscoll marks in front of Nick Warnock.

GV coach Dale Osborne said his team was outclassed and better prepared.

“Their ball use and their want was outstanding and we couldn’t stem the bleeding,” he said.

“They’ve been training for 10 weeks and know their structure very well.

“We had some players who were still playing their (club) style of footy and didn’t lock in and gel.”

GV ruckman Ash Hollands leaps over O&M opponent Will Christie.

O&M’s Harrison Hewitt tackles GV opponent Nathan Beattie.

GV onballer Jed Woods prepares to weave around O&M opponent Archer Gardiner.

GV player Cohen Paul has a tight grip on O&M debutant Shaun Driscoll.

GV player Nathan Beattie fires off a handball.

GV defender Nick Warnock marks over O&M opponent Kaelan Bradtke.

O&M pair Simon Curtis and Zac Pethybridge outnumber GV forward Lewis McShane.

MATCH DETAILS

OVENS & MURRAY 6.7 10.12 14.17 18.19 (127)

GOULBURN VALLEY 1.2 1.7 1.7 7.8 (50)

Goals: OVENS & MURRAY: J. Murphy 6, K. Bradtke 3, A. Swinnerton 2, J. Conlan 2, C. Rich, L. McCarthy, H. Hewitt, X. Laverty. GOULBURN VALLEY: C. Paul 2, N. Wright, N. Rachele, L. McShane, K. Chalcraft, A. Holland.

Best: OVENS & MURRAY: J. Murphy, N. Bradshaw, N. Pendergast, W. Christie, A. Gardiner, J. East, X. Laverty, T. Cappellari. GOULBURN VALLEY: N. Warnock, K. Chalcraft, J. Woods, B. Hicks, A. Watt, A. Holland.

Injuries: Ovens & Murray: Nil. Goulburn Valley: N. Wright (hamstring)

GV defender Nick Warnock marks in front of O&M’s Josh Murphy.

O&M first gamer Shaun Driscoll eludes GV opponent Nathan Beattie.

Ovens & Murray thrashed Goulburn Valley b7 77 points on Saturday.

MATCH PREVIEW

Ovens & Murray will unleash another wave of young talent including two in-form Lavington ball magnets against arch rival Goulburn Valley at Wangaratta on Saturday.

Post-Covid clashes between the two country footy powerhouses for the Ash-Wilson Trophy have helped unearth Sydney Swans rookie Riley Bice and Port Adelaide’s Joe Richards.

The O&M’s latest line-up includes Tom Capellarri, Josh Murphy and Noah Bradshaw, who have played at VFL level this season.

Part of the next crop to be exposed on the interleague stage are Lavington pair Jack Costello and Alex Swinnerton and Wangaratta duo Harrison Hewitt and Xavier Laverty.

Goulburn Valley’s Bryce Stephenson, right, has been picked to play again. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Costello and Swinnerton play under former Sydney and St Kilda player Adam Schneider at Lavington with Costello ranked in the league’s top-10 for disposals, tackles and marks.

GV has also headed down the youth path with Kyabram’s Archie Watt, Shepparton Swans’ Oliver Warburton and Shepparton United pair Caiden Phillips and Kade Chalcraft among more than 10 debutants.

“We feel we’ve got a good mix of youth and experience,” O&M coach Jake Sharp said.

“We started with a list of 40 and by the end of it our list of available players was 34.

“Across a three-week period considering injuries and unavailabilities we had a really good squad to pick from.

“We just wanted to reward blokes who have been playing some really good football at local level.”

Former GV best and fairest Ben Rigoni has also been picked to make his O&M debut after joining North Albury this season.

GV star Hugh Byrne has been ruled out with injury. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

GV suffered a major blow in the lead-up with Echuca key forward Hugh Byrne ruled out with a shoulder injury, leaving the winner of the last three flags without a representative.

In his absence the goalkicking load will fall on Shepparton’s Lewis McShane and Benalla’s Nathan Wright.

McShane has kicked 25 goals this season and Wright booted eight against finals contender Rochester a fortnight ago.

O&M leads GV 2-1 in the last three encounters played the two leagues.

O&M coach Jake Sharp, left. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

THE TEAMS

OVENS & MURRAY

B: Jack Costello (Lavington), Charlie Morrison (Wodonga), Zac Pethybridge (Myrtleford)

HB: Cody Schutt (Corowa-Rutherglen), Ned Pendergast (Yarrawonga), Liam McCarthy (Corowa-Rutherglen)

C: Harrison Hewitt (Wangaratta), Noah Bradshaw (Wodonga), Tom O’Sullivan (Wodonga)

HF: Jaxon East (Myrtleford), Xavier Laverty (Wangaratta), Shaun Driscoll (Lavington)

F: Corey Rich (Wodonga Raiders), Kaelen Bradtke (Corowa-Rutherglen), Alex Swinnerton (Lavington)

FOLL: Will Christie (Wangaratta Rovers), Ben Rigoni (North Albury), Tom Capellarri (Myrtleford)

INTER: Simon Curtis (Myrtleford), Archer Gardiner (North Albury), Josh Murphy (North Albury), Jacob Conlan (Albury)

EMERG: Bowen Calogero (Myrtleford), Alex McCarthy (Wangaratta Rovers), Foster Gardiner (North Albury), Nick Bracher (Wodonga Raiders), Ben Coghill (Yarrawonga)

Coach: Jake Sharp

Myrtleford’s Simon Curtis has been selected to represent O&M. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

GOULBURN VALLEY

B: Nick Warnock (Benalla), Aidan Robinson (Kyabram), Caiden Phillips (Shepparton United)

HB: Cohen Paul (Euroa), Bryce Stephenson (Shepparton), Ben Hicks (Mooroopna)

C: Oliver Warburton (Shepparton Swans), Archie Watt (Kyabram), Kade Chalcraft (Shepparton United)

HF: Ned Byrne (Shepparton), Nathan Wright (Benalla), Nathan Beattie (Seymour)

F: Nathan Rachele (Shepparton Swans), Lewis McShane (Shepparton), Zac Norris (Kyabram)

FOLL: Ash Holland (Shepparton), Nic Quigg (Seymour), Mitchell Trewhella (Rochester)

INTER: Jed Woods (Mooroopna), Jacob Watts (Shepparton), Jesse Cucinotta (Shepparton United), Charlie Barnett (Kyabram)

EMERG: Dom Gugliotti (Mooroopna), Mark Marriott (Benalla)

Coach: Dale Osborne