Shepparton Swans stave off Seymour for first Goulburn Valley League win

Suddenly, a flash of light appears and the red and white are galvanised into action during the final half-hour, scurrying back into the contest, but dropping just short of time to get over the line.

Thankfully for Jedd Wright’s men, there was no need to do the homework at the last minute this time at Princess Park — and what an opponent to turn up against.

The Swans and Seymour embarked on a proper arm-wrestle early on, already representing a competitive lift from the prior fortnight for the home side.

The Lions pulling narrowly ahead at the first change appeared an indication that the Swans would again play from behind the eight-ball through the middle stages.

The twice-shy Swans emphatically subverted those expectations with a dizzyingly efficient second term that left Seymour all at sea.

Simply put, you don’t see Seymour concede six goals in a term very often at all.

Contributors appeared from everywhere with Matt Perry making waves in the contest once again, while two of the three Racheles — Liam and captain Nathan — popped up at pivotal times with a pair of goals each.

“Game on” was the call when Nathan Fowler sunk a sensational long-range set shot after the three-quarter time siren to bring the Lions within three goals, but the momentum wasn’t there going forward in the final term.

Riley Mason produced his game-high fourth major in that last stanza, but blew multiple other chances as the Swans went about locking it inside their forward half.

Repeat entries led to little in terms of goals to kill the contest, but it didn’t matter — retaining the territory served just as healthy a purpose.

It would be four points to savour for the Swans, getting on the board with a 12.12 (84) to 9.12 (66) win.

Jedd Wright was delighted to see the reward for effort.

“We’ve worked really hard and we could have pinched those first two games, so the boys are glad to be on the other side of it and get a win,” Wright said.

“I thought our on-ball brigade was pretty good; Enrique Goggin was sensational and it was one of the better games he’s played for us.

“I think we benefitted from a few structural things down back in the second quarter, where we picked up a fair few turnovers from them and could hurt them by running into space.

“We could certainly have made it easier, but playing with 17 for the majority of the last term, we were just able to hang on and get the job done in the end.”

The job won’t immediately get easier, however, with a Mooroopna outfit that almost took Echuca all the way up next.

“Mooroopna’s a quality team, but we’re confident our best footy is good enough to compete with anyone,” Wright said.

“We’ll have to be at our best to give them a real run for their money.”

Seymour coach Ben Davey lamented the frenzied second-quarter attack that took the heart out of his side.

“In the second quarter, we went away from everything we were meant to do, and in the second half, if was like trying to flick a switch and the switch not coming on,” Davey said.

“We worked really hard and didn’t get the reward in the third term and, by that stage, we were down to one rotation with a three-goal buffer, but that’s football.

“It’s a learning curve with a lot of young blokes, but it’s just about building.”

Goggin and VFL-listed James Auld received recognition among the best for the victorious Swans, while Riley Mason and Nathan Fowler got their due acknowledgment after combining for seven of Seymour’s nine goals.