Always a highlight of the GVL season, a strong crowd is expected to pack in to the Mansfield Recreation Reserve for the club’s annual Easter Saturday clash and will be treated to two of the competition’s strongest sides going head-to-head.
“The boys are pretty excited to get back out in front of the home crowd. They are saying there will be over 5000 people at the game,” Mansfield coach Chad Owens said.
“A lot of people in town are pretty excited to get back and watch local footy again and last week’s win gave the local crowd a lot of excitement.”
But while excitement is high on the streets of Mansfield, Owens said there was still a lot of room for improvement from last week’s performance.
“The players were obviously pretty happy with the result, but they have now gone back, looked at the tape and identified the areas we need to get better at,” he said.
“We probably still need to get better at our stoppage work and being more consistent through the game. We lapsed for about 15 minutes (against Euroa) and it cost us three goals, so we need to shore that up.”
The task doesn’t get any easier for Owens and his Eagles this week, as they welcome a Seymour side fresh off belting Benalla by 123 points in its season-opener at Kings Park.
Highlighted by a 10-goal performance from former AFL product Michael Hartley on debut (who’s availability for this weekend’s match is unknown at time of print), Owens is confident his defence can rise to the challenge.
“Stopping Hartley will be very important. He’s played AFL and come to the GVL and kicked 10 goals, so right now you’d say he’s the best forward in the competition,” he said.
“Jack Hutchins will get the job on him, so I don’t think he will be kicking 10 this week. I’d like to think we are going to put a lot more pressure on them than Benalla were able to and not give him that good delivery.
“They do also have a really good midfield, so it will be more than just our back line that wins us this game, I think it will be a case of whichever team can create the most pressure will win this game.”
For Seymour coach Ben Davey, this weekend’s clash offers his team a chance at redemption, after a 10-goal onslaught by Mansfield’s Will Foster saw it leave the High Country with its tail between its legs in 2021.
“That was a tough day for us (last year). We were pretty depleted, but they played fantastically that day,” Davey said.
“Our coaching group thought the way Chad had them playing was just superb and they were the most organised team going around.
“They are a tough team to beat, especially at home, they play that ground so well. They are young and quick and love the contest, so it will be a great test for us.”
He said to be able to get out to Mansfield on its marquee day and spoil the party would be as satisfying as it got.
“It is always a bonus to be able to play in front of big crowds. It was a bit quiet last weekend with Benalla’s following, but with the Easter weekend there is going to be a huge attendance,” Davey said.
“We are really looking forward to the opportunity and hopefully coming back home with the four points.”
