Gallery | Shepparton Gators take on Bendigo Braves in hotly contested pre-season clash

By Jay Bryce

Feb 26, 2025

Shepparton Gators’ Josh Kooiman contests a rebound against a Bendigo opponent. Photo by Megan Fisher

On Saturday, the Shepparton Gators welcomed the Bendigo Braves to the Swamp for a preseason clash.

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Bendigo plays in NBL1 South, a league above Shepparton’s division in the Big V championship and just below the NBL.

It was a chance for Shepparton’s local core to dust the rust off with a new crop of imported players set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Vice-captain Sam Beks, defensive menace Tom Frame and Kiwi Josh Kooiman all played, along with some of the younger development players getting an opportunity to impress.

Bendigo put Shepparton to the sword early, looking like they were going to run them out the gym before the Gators showed real fight in the last quarter to keep the scoreline respectable; however, the Braves eventually came away with a win.

The Gators’ first game of the Big V championship season is on Saturday, March 29, at 7pm at the Shepparton Sports Stadium against Blackburn.

News photographer Megan Fisher was court side to snap all the action from the Gators-Braves hit out.