Upper Murray, Goulburn Valley: Cudgewa and Seymour post impressive victories

The four-team Upper Murray league has seen an early upset, while the Goulburn Valley premiership looks to be a three-pronged race.

Cudgewa has stamped itself as early flag favourites in the Upper Murray league with a 78-point thrashing of reigning premiers Tumbarumba in the opening round on Saturday.

Former Ovens and Murray leading goalkicker Adam Prior has come out of retirement to further bolster Cudgewa’s premiership prospects.

Prior kicked eight goals in his first match since last playing for Culcairn in the Hume league two years ago.

The Upper Murray has been reduced to only four clubs after Federal folded in the off-season following a failed push for all clubs to join forces and play as a combined team in the Tallangatta and District league.

Reigning premiers Tumbarumba, Cudgewa, Bullioh and Corryong are the clubs left standing.

The league is playing a 12-round season with byes scheduled each time clubs have played everyone.

Every club is guaranteed to play finals with the finals series starting in the first week of August.

Tumbarumba captain Jim Waters, left, and teammate Jacob Read were joint winners of the Upper Murray league best and fairest last year. Picture: Supplied

The same four-team structure existed in the Omeo league until the late 1970s when Benambra, Omeo, Swifts Creek and Ensay were joined by Bruthen and Buchan.

“It’s what the league needs to do to survive,” Tumbarumba premiership captain Jim Waters said.

“One bye a month is pretty appealing for the blokes who are on the back end of their careers.”

Bullioh beat Corryong by 24 points in the other match played on Saturday.

GOULBURN VALLEY

Seymour has been added to the list of genuine Goulburn Valley premiership contenders with an impressive 36-point win against last year’s runner-up Euroa.

Inspired by a seven-goal, best-on-ground display by Riley Mason, Seymour totally outclassed Euroa which had won its first two matches including another win over the team it beat in the preliminary final last year, Mansfield.

Reigning Morrison Medal winner Ben Rigoni was another star for Seymour which had other good players in Nathan Beattie and Jack Murphy, the latter kicking three goals.

Will Hayes was again in Euroa’s best with his brother JD playing his first match at senior level this year.

Premier Echuca is on top of the ladder 3-0 with a thumping 93-point win against Rochester.

Former Central District midfielder Matthew Neagle, left, is playing with his brothers Jydon and Jaxon at Balranald this year. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

MARQUEE MATCHES

(Being played Saturday)

CENTRAL MURRAY

Balranald v Woorinen: Perfect match-up for Balranald which had the bye after an opening round win against Tyntynder.

SANFL recruits Ethan Gant and Matthew Neagle both fired in round one, but Woorinen had an even bigger win over Tyntynder on Saturday after beating Cohuna in round one.

Eaglehawk coach Travis Matheson. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

BENDIGO

Gisborne v Eaglehawk: Eaglehawk is living up to the pre-season promise of a much improved showing in 2023.

The Borough followed up a 10-point win against South Bendigo in the season opener with a predictable demolition of Maryborough on Saturday with Billy Evans, Ben Thompson and Noah Wheeler in red hot form at the start of the season.

A clash against reigning premiers Gisborne comes at the perfect time for Borough coach Travis Matheson.

Gisborne could be bolstered by the return of star midfielder Brad Bernacki from Essendon’s VFL team, which has the bye.

GIPPSLAND

Moe v Bairnsdale: Moe is ticking along nicely after a spate of injuries cost it a finals appearance last year.

The Lions are sitting on top of the ladder with their most recent win being against Wonthaggi, which went within three points of rolling reigning premier Leongatha the previous week.

Bairnsdale’s resurgence this season is real with a draw against Maffra and fighting wins against Sale and Drouin in the last two games.

The Redlegs should get ball magnet Will Mitchell back from a concussion he suffered against Sale.