Kyabram District: Murchison-Toolamba rises to latest challenge against Shepparton East

Reigning premiers Murchison-Toolamba was forced to dig deep against another Kyabram District flag contender. See other big moves across state as finals draw closer.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Dylan Baker kicked the match-sealing goal against Shepparton East in the Kyabram District league on Saturday in his first senior appearance since 2022.

Baker was promoted to the senior line-up for the crucial clash in the run home to finals and delivered on the faith placed him by Murchison-Toolamba coach Brett Foley.

Shepparton East hit the front at the 21-minute mark of the final term when Jordan Gattuso booted his second goal of the match.

But the league’s leading goalkicker, James Lloyd, put the Grasshoppers back in front with only his third goal after being well held by Shepparton East defender Tim Karolidis.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Andrew Ralph takes possession of the ball in heavy traffic. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Baker, who won the reserves goalkicking award last year with 64 goals, then sealed a hard-fought 10-point win by the reigning premiers, who will be hard to dislodge from top spot in the four remaining matches before finals.

Murchison-Toolamba was missing twin brothers Aidan and Andrew Lloyd due to injury and Alex Tattersall was out suspended.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Lachy Seddon tangles with Shepparton East captain Ryan Pfieffer. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Shepparton East cashed in with the breeze in the first term to lead by 26 points at quarter time before Murchison-Toolamba responded with six of its own in the second term to level the scores at half time.

James Milne, Ashton Cashion and Lachie Devine all played starring roles for Murchison-Toolamba and Jayden Dhosi was named Shepparton East’s best player.

Murchison-Toolamba also beat Shepparton East early in the season by 26 points in its first clash since last year’s grand final.

James Lloyd has 78 goals for the season with another century of goals a live chance.

Violet Town dropped out of finals contention with a shock loss to 12th-placed Tallygaroopna.

Shepparton East’s Jayden Dhosi just gets his kick away. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Murchison-Toolamba booted the last two goals of the match to beat Shepparton East. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

CENTRAL MURRAY

Mallee Eagles brought Woorinen unbeaten start to the season to a crushing end with a 42-point at Lalbert on Saturday.

The ladder leaders paid the price for not taking advantage of the scoring end in the opening term by kicking wasteful 1.5.

The Eagles tightened their grip on the match when they booted four goals to one in the second term to lead by 21 points at halftime.

Woorinen lifted in the third term to only trail by 13 points at the last change before the Eagles put the result beyond doubt with seven goals in the final term.

Andrew Mead-Harding finished with five goals for the Eagles in his best return since booting seven against Koondrook-Barham in round 3.

His Mallee Eagles teammate Darcy Hourigan, who leads the Central Murray goalkicking race was held to one goal by the Woorinen defence led by Taylor Cameron.

But Zac O’Meara and Darcy McGregor put their stamp on the match for the Mallee Eagles, who are one win behind Woorinen.

Cohuna Kangas recorded one of their best wins of the season with a 34-point win against reigning premiers Nyah Nyah West United.

The Kangas broke the game open in the third term when they banged on six goals to one as star midfielders Tom Toma, Rick Monti and Joel Helman ran amok.

They kicked eight goals between them with Toma and Helman booting three each as did Jacob Mitchell.

The Kangas were bolstered by the return of Corbin Anderson for his first match since round 7 due to injury.

Joel Walsh missed for Nyah Nyah West United with a thigh injury that also kept him out of last week’s interleague match.

HORSHAM DISTRICT

Kaniva-Leeor moved into the top five for the first time this season with a 31-point win against bottom-placed Edenhope-Apsley on Saturday.

The Cougars, who finished tenth last season with four wins, have won their last four matches with the winning streak starting with a one-point win against ladder leaders, Noradjuha-Quantong.

The turnaround in fortunes has also coincided with the recruitment of Josh Clayton and Tyler Roos, who began the season playing for Ovens & Murray club Corowa-Rutherglen.

The duo didn’t feature in the best players in the latest win as Billy King, Blake Dodson, Hamish Bennett and Riley Vivian played starring roles.

Forward Jacob Eats booted four goals for Kaniva-Leeor as he took his season tally to 66.

Kaniva-Leeor has drawn level on eight wins with sixth-placed Swifts who had the bye on Saturday.

Kaniva-Leeor has winnable games against Taylors Lake and Kalkee in the run home, but faces reigning premier Harrow-Balmoral in the final round.