It was a proper tussle throughout the 60 minutes between these high-powered sides.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
There might not be a more exciting race for finals spots in the region than the Goulburn Valley League A-grade division.
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Nothing could have made that a surer thing than Shepparton taking four points off league-leading Euroa on its home deck — and Bears boss Stacey Thompson had outlined their fierce motivations after a disappointing previous meeting.
It looked every bit the tantalising affair it promised all week long as two of the league’s premier goalers, Euroa’s Olivia Morris and Shepparton’s Kim Borger, got down to business early.
Shepparton's Kim Borger lines up a shot with poise.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
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The battle between Shepparton's Hannah Crawley and Euroa's Olivia Morris was appointment viewing.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
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All Shepparton's Caitlyn Tuohey and Euroa's Sophie Owen can do is watch and wait.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's Kim Borger gets a moment of respite to set and shoot.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Euroa's Hollie Reid is unbothered by the closure of one passing lane.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's Genevieve Ogier gets up the court as the sun makes one of its many brief appearances.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Euroa's Kellie Davidson gets the game underway in the centre.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's Erin Scott looks to move it out of the centre quickly.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's Mackenzie O'Dwyer gets things going again.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's support staff, led by coach Stacey Thompson, watches on.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's Hannah Crawley prepares for the restart after a goal.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Shepparton's Genevieve Ogier lets one fly with a bit of distance.
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Jesse Robertson-Torres
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Euroa's Mia Sudomirski was involved in innumerable forward patterns for the Magpies.
Photo by
Jesse Robertson-Torres
The game, deservedly for two teams of such quality, was deadlocked at the first change, but it didn’t take long for the visitors to find another gear.
In truth, the intensity amped up after the first change all the way around, but Shepparton got on top of the arm-wrestle through a handful of pivotal turnovers in defence, assuming a six-goal lead at half-time.
Of course, that number is never quite sufficient against a side as free-scoring as the Magpies, who seemed to hit their stride as play resumed in the third term.
Thompson, to her credit, was unafraid to run with new combinations and test the depth of her side in a near-certain finals preview, utilising everyone available to her as the margin plateaued.
The volume only increased around the court as Shepparton’s chances of slinking away with a huge set of points in the bag increased over time, with a rampant 20-goal final term proving the difference in a season-shaking 67-57 win.
Understandably, after handing the Magpies their third defeat of the season and seriously strengthening your own top-four credentials, it’s hard to pick out individuals who stood above the rest.
“Internally, we knew we’d played some big matches against teams like Echuca and Mooroopna where we didn’t pull it off,” Thompson said.
“We knew that if we stuck to our processes, with the right people on at the right time, we could do the job.
“Honestly, I’m proud of every single one of them for doing their roles; I don’t know how to pick the best on.”
Thompson did find time to praise her defensive tandem of Hannah Crawley and Keeley O’Dwyer for “playing a brilliant one-on-one style”, while another O’Dwyer sister in Mackenzie “really stood up in those pressure moments”.
It’s the team cohesion that best positions Shepparton for a serious crack in September, though.
“We were such a new team at the start of the year, with amazing athletes who perform at a high level,” Thompson said.
“It’s nice that the outside world is starting to see what we believe on the inside.
“The depth within our group is amazing and we’re so lucky we have it.
“Everyone did their job for the full 60 minutes, so that anytime (Euroa) made a move, we could make one back.”
The first half of the split round had a number of other contenders in action as the value of four points starts to climb with finals looming.
In fact, the Magpies found themselves unseated from the summit at which they found themselves so comfortable after Mooroopna did the job against Kyabram, powerfully prevailing 70-28 to move into first on percentage.
Echuca, sure enough, took full advantage as well by holding off the difficult challenge of Seymour to move within half a game of the top in a 49-40 win at Kings Park.
Tatura prevented the Bears from nabbing a top-four spot for now, but not before withstanding an almighty challenge from underdog Rochester en route to a 52-48 victory that was anything but pedestrian.
