Shepparton's Ashley Holland and Benalla's Mark Marriott contest the ruck.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton has flexed its premiership credentials with a devastating second-half blitz - piling on 11 goals after the main break to overwhelm Benalla by 68 points in the Goulburn Valley League split round clash at Deakin Reserve.
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The Bears eventually ran out emphatic 18.17 (125) to 8.9 (57) winners on August 1, but the final margin belied what had been a competitive opening half, with Benalla having started strong before Shepparton's class shone through after the interval.
The Saints matched the ladder leaders early, trailing by just two points at the first break after Tom Riley booted two opening-quarter goals to keep his side in touch.
Trent Herbert was lively at the other end with two majors for the Bears, while Lachlan Ludeman also found the scoreboard as Shepparton edged ahead 3.5 (23) to 3.3 (21).
The home side, who were without leaders Mitch Brett and Xavier Stephenson out on the park, began to gain the upper hand in the second term, stretching the margin to 15 points by half-time.
Anthony Andronaco, Jayden Gagliardi and Sam O'Brien all kicked goals for the Bears, while Benalla responded through Tyler McGregor and Sam Begley to remain within striking distance at 8.9 (57) to 5.6 (36).
Bears co-coach Jason Wells explained how the game-plan changed at the break, as he looked to gain control in the battle.
“I think early on, we kicked the first four shots and kicked one goal and three behinds so we missed a couple of easy ones - we probably should’ve scored three goals,” he said.
“Sides like Benalla, when they get an opportunity and a sniff, kick straight and keep themselves in the game.
“I thought they did that up until halfway through that second quarter.
“We obviously changed a few things structurally at half-time to try and control the footy a little bit more - we don’t need to be a side that has to kick long down the line, so we just changed our style.”
Any hopes of a Saints upset were extinguished in a one-sided third quarter. as the uncompromising Shepparton slammed on 4.6 to 1.1, restricting Benalla to just seven points for the term, while adding 30 of its own.
Herbert continued his strong afternoon with his third major, Andronaco kicked his second, Liam Broom and Liam Teague got in on the act, as the lead ballooned to 38 points at the final change.
The Bears saved their biggest statement for the final quarter.
Benalla managed just two goals as Shepparton exploded with 7.2, putting the result well beyond doubt.
Broom, Connor Fleming and Herbert each kicked late majors, while Kade Odwyer, Kaleb Gilmour and Tanner Madigan also hit the scoreboard as the Bears finished with 44 points in the final stanza.
Sitting four points clear on top of the ladder at 15-1, the Bears now head into a bye before their final two matches with the minor premiership firmly in their sights and a top-two finish guaranteed.
“We’re locked in that top two now and hopefully we’ll start to get a few (players) back towards the end of the year and get some game time into them,” Wells added.
