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Herald Sun
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Country Footy: Boort on track for finals for the first time in eight years in North Central league
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News. Inspired by falling short of finals last year Boort is intent on ending its North Central league drought. And despite a setback last weekend the Magpies are on track to do it. It has been eight years since Boort made the top-four with St Arnaud the only other side in the competition to suffer the same fate since 2017. This year, they're on track to end the run, starting the season with four straight wins including a win against the reigning premiers Sea Lake Nandaly two weeks ago. Last Saturday, they were smashed by Calder United by 125 points but Boort is currently two games and significant percentage ahead of fifth. Boort president Craig Scott said the rise had been through coach Dale Cameron. 'He has brought the list up over the last couple of years and slowly chipped away,' he said. 'We've had a big influx of recruits this year. They've certainly had an impact.' Boort's recruiting focus was about adding midfielders and forwards. Brothers Kayne and Tyson Rutley have joined with Carlos Egan and Peter Barbopoulos also signing on. The four players join former VFL player Jhye Baddeley-Kelly with the forward kicking 28 goals in five matches in his second year at the Magpies. Scott said after missing finals last year by two games the team knew it was close. 'It was a matter of thinking we've got a reasonable core of players,' he said. 'So the goal was to keep them together and add a little bit. They've (our recruits) bought a bit of extra polish to the forward midfield set up.' Scott said the rise in their youth, headlined by players from the under-17 premiership winning side in 2023, have also helped. But he's not getting excited just yet, there is still a long way to go. 'We've been favoured a bit by a draw that's seen us, with all due respect to the other teams, probably play the three lowers sides,' he said. 'But it seems to be going well so far. 'We've got a few more tough games coming up, so we'll see how it goes.' Boort takes on unbeaten Birchip Watchem this Saturday at home at 2.30pm in what will be another test of its finals aspirations.
Herald Sun
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Country Footy: Echuca starts season unbeaten despite injury ‘curse' in Goulburn Valley league
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News. Echuca is confident a 'cursed' injury toll won't impact its chances of winning a fourth straight premiership in the Goulburn Valley league. Instead, it has ramped up the chance to invest more games into juniors. The Murray Bombers take on the Shepparton Bears in a Goulburn Valley Football League grand final replay on Saturday at Deakin Reserve with both sides winning their opening four matches of the year. However, the unbeaten run has not come without challenges. At one stage the Bombers had 14 players on the injury list including ex-AFL player Ben Reid and Carlton VFL-lister player Aiden Mills who both have season-ending injuries. 'We're a bit cursed,' Echuca coach Simon Maddox said. 'In terms of players' health it hasn't been a good start. 'We knew we were going to be younger and there was going to be chances for kids. 'We've got a few more kids in than expected. 'It has created some great opportunities for some young kids who will now test themselves against the best in the competition on Saturday.' Last weekend against Benalla Echuca fielded a dozen players either under the age of 20 or with under 10 games of senior experience. Despite some nervous moments at the start they still won by 55 points. Maddox said the worst of the crisis was over with a host of players to return this weekend for the trip to Shepparton. Ex-AFL player Sam Reid comes in after missing the Benalla game with Kane Morris also returning. Last year's leading club goalkicker, Liam Tenace, also returns for his first game of the season. 'We're not complaining about Saturday's side, it's a pretty good side,' Maddox said. 'We get three big ins and Lachie Watson is back, he didn't play last week. 'But there'll be different faces to what played on grand final day.' Maddox said he expected a fired up Bears outfit after the 96-point smashing by Echuca in the grand final last year. 'It should be a ripping game of football,' he said. 'Your first point of redemption is when you play them again. 'I expect Shepparton to be red hot at the start of the game. 'It will be a territory battle. 'They are trying to right last year's wrong and we're still trying to make a statement we are one of the best teams in the competition.' The game starts at 2pm.
Herald Sun
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Country Footy: Shepparton Swans start 4-0 and get approval for change rooms in Goulburn Valley league
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Shepparton Swans are not getting ahead of themselves despite making a flying start on and off the field in the Goulburn Valley league. The Swans have had their best start to the league since winning the 2014 premiership, winning their first four matches. Shepparton defeated Tatura by 72 points on Anzac Day in wet conditions to move to the top of the ladder. Ex-AFL player Nathan Hrovat starred with 49 disposals to put the Swans on track to make the finals for the first time since 2016. The win came as a three-year battle to get new facilities at Princes Park came to an end after Greater Shepparton City Council approved contracts to build new facilities. After floods ravaged the ground in 2022 the club has been fighting for new changerooms and facilities, allowing them to play and host events, which would allow them to bring in much needed money to the club. Currently, the team is losing money by not hosting functions at Princes Park and have been in temporary change rooms, funded by the AFL, for the past two and a half seasons. Swans football director and vice-president Gerald Sabri said the plan was to have the construction during 2026, giving them a grand return home with new facilities in 2027. He added it would secure the club's future.. 'It's a good injection for the club,' he said. 'It's probably the best news for the club, even better than being 4-0.' Sabri said the start was down to a couple of years of rebuilding and getting the right people in to push the club forward. He added the off-season was all about building from last year where the club missed finals after losing a few close games. A new game plan and a few changes have seen the results spring to life in the right way. 'Last year it was disappointing,' he said. 'There were certain areas that needed tightening up. Things are a lot smoother than in previous years.' Sabri said while Hrovat was one of the key players this season, along with VFL listed player Oliver Warburton, who has played three games, the internal growth from the squad was a major part of the rise. 'There's a new leadership group for starters who have grown in stature,' he said. '(We are also) getting the most out of the group we've got. A lot of them have grown in development and mindset.' The Swans start will be put to the test on Saturday, taking on last year's preliminary finalists Rochester. Sabri said even if the team wins its next four matches the focus won't change. 'Our expectations are to play finals,' he said. 'Getting four wins in a row it boosts their confidence and that's been really important. If we end up being 8-0 it's not going to change our endeavour. 'We won't let the group get ahead of themselves.'
