Seymour overcomes slow start to beat Euroa

The Lions dominated the second half to cruise to a 21.9 (135) to 12.14 (86) victory and move a game clear of fourth on the ladder. But it wasn’t completely one-way traffic like the final score suggests, as initially it was Euroa that found the ascendancy.

The Magpies led by 11 points at quarter-time after blazing away to record 11 scoring shots in the first term, although inaccuracy saw the visitors kick 5.6 (36) while Seymour made the most of its chances in front of goal to ensure the Magpies didn’t escape with the game early.

There was evidently a scoring end, though, as the second quarter saw Seymour rebound, and do so in style.

Ricky Schraven kicked his second and third goals for the half in a term where the Lions punished the winless Euroa, piling on seven goals to two to shift the margin 23 points in their favour at the main break.

With the Magpies set to kick towards the end which had seen 12 goals scored in the first half, as opposed to six at the other, Seymour’s defence knuckled down and quelled Euroa’s advances for the most part as the second half got under way, conceding 3.4 while the home side scored 3.1 to maintain a 20-point advantage heading into the last term.

Euroa’s Nate Trotter struck first, but from then on it was all Seymour with the breeze, recording another seven-goal term to put away the plucky Pies by an eventual 49 points.

Schraven (four goals) led the scoring in a game where Seymour had seven multiple goal-scorers, with Riley Mason and Jaron Murphy also contributed with a handy three majors each to both be named in the best.

Nathan Beattie and Huw Jones rounded out the most influential, finding plenty of the footy in the big win, while Nic Quigg, Lewis Lubeck and Nathan Fowler each booted two majors and Darcy Giles and Ben McCarthy snagged one.

But it was Seymour skipper Jack Murphy who was named best afield in the Anzac Day blockbuster, kicking three goals and racking up plenty of possessions in a classy display that has become the norm for the reigning Gary Brown medallist.

The Lions now sit third with a 3-1 record following the first month of football, a game clear of Mansfield in fourth and one back from the undefeated Shepparton and Echuca, while Euroa has slumped to 0-4 and is placed 11th ahead of only Tatura.

It is the Bulldogs that Seymour will host this Saturday in its round five clash at Kings Park, as the Lions look to improve to 4-1 for the season.