Mansfield’s hot start to Goulburn Valley season continues on Anzac Day
All the big country footy leagues played marquee matches in the Anzac Day round. Find out the winners and losers.
Tom McDonagh is shaping as one of the top recruits of the Goulburn Valley league season with another dominant display for Mansfield in its 113-point trouncing of Benalla at Mansfield.
Tom McDonagh is shaping as one of the top recruits of the Goulburn Valley league season with another dominant display for Mansfield in its 113-point trouncing of Benalla at Mansfield.
The aggressive big man returned to Victoria this year after a year off and elected to bypass his former club Myrtleford where he last played in 2019 to join Mansfield where he has been in its best players for the club’s first three wins of the season.
“He did really well against two giants in Josh Marchbank and Tom Downie,” Mansfield coach Chad Owens said.
The Eagles and Mooroopna are the only two undefeated teams after three rounds, but could be joined by Echuca if successful with an appeal against playing an ineligible player in the first round against Rochester.
Mansfield plays Echuca this week.
Mansfield was rocked by a six-week suspension to full-forward Cam Arnold late for rough play last week with the Eagles having until today (Wednesday) to lodge an appeal.
Benalla forfeited its reserves team for the second time this season against Mansfield.
GIPPSLAND
Traralgon has overcome the loss of promising teenage ruckman Dave Brinker-Ritchie to VFL club Box Hill to beat arch rival Morwell by 48 points.
The former Yarram and Gippsland Power 201cm giant joined the Maroons in the off-season and came under notice from Box Hill with an impressive debut against flag contender Leongatha in round one.
Scores were level at halftime before Traralgon dominated after halftime with Tye Hourigan, Luis D’Angelo and Matthew Northe starring for the victors.
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OVENS AND MURRAY
Wodonga Bulldogs revived its faltering season with a rare Anzac Day win against cross-town rival Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray league.
The Bulldogs, who were tipped to be one of this season’s big improvers, stumbled to a 0-2 start with big losses to premiership fancies Albury and Wodonga before dominating against Raiders after quarter time to win by 46 points.
Former Sydney Swans Academy graduate Angus Baker, who missed out on a spot on the Essendon list last year to Alec Waterman, starred for the Bulldogs along with last year’s best and fairest, 18-year–old Josh Mathey.
Baker kicked three goals as did Ethan Redcliffe, who trained pre-season with VFL club Coburg and Tom Johnson.
Albury thrashed North Albury by 103 points in the other Anzac Day match.
THIS WEEK’S LEADING GOALKICKERS
E. Boxall (Chiltern Tallangatta) 20
D. Cupido (Girgarre, Kyabram and District) 16
P. McKenna (Gisborne, Bendigo) 14
B. Kearns (Churchill, North Gippsland) 14
B. Orval (Noradjuha-Quantong, Horsham) 13
L. Bambridge (Neerim South, Ellinbank) 13
C. Urie (Neerim South, Ellinbank) 12
C. Moore (Wangaratta, Ovens and Murray) 11
M. Donegan (Healesville, Outer East) 11
S. Dunstan (Mallee Eagles, Central Murray) 10
J. Burke (Golden Square, Bendigo) 10
J. Korewha (Koroit, Hampden) 10
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