Everybody understands the importance of winning the footy at the coalface and it seems Euroa values the contested area as well.
The Magpies’ engine room was prolific in that space in the gritty 40-point triumph over Rochester on Saturday in a slog-fest at Memorial Oval.
Rochester was gallant in the Goulburn Valley League round 16 contest, with the visiting Tigers able to send a scare through the hosts in the early stages of the match.
Euroa may have led by a solitary point at the first break, but Rochester brought the heat early.
Rochester won the pressure acts (13-0), effective tackles (9-5) and was more clinical going forward with a 66 per cent scoring efficiency.
Yet it was Euroa’s ability to win the contested ball that caught the eye.
The Magpies had 33 contested possessions to 22, which flowed into 11 clearances to six for the quarter.
Euroa, a side ranked second in the competition for its contested ball work, finished with a staggering total of 150 to Rochester’s 112.
Key Stats
Disposals
Euroa: 388
Rochester: 299
Contested possessions
Euroa: 150
Rochester: 112
Loose ball gets
Euroa: 60
Rochester: 22
Clearances
Euroa: 40
Rochester: 26
Inside 50s
Euroa: 58
Rochester: 42
Tackles
Euroa: 58
Rochester: 49
In the second quarter Euroa gained ascendency, with the Tigers squandering their chances when going forward.
Rochester managed 12 inside 50 entries, compared to Euroa’s 16, but went at a miserly 16 per cent scoring efficiency and 55 per cent by foot.
The Tigers dialled up the pressure and managed a further 15 pressure acts and won the tackle count again (18-17).
Euroa coughed up 23 turnovers for the quarter, but Rochester failed to make the most of those chances — unlike the Magpies who kicked 3.3 off scores from turnovers.
Rochester turned that area of its game around after the main break and booted 3.1 (19) from direct turnovers as both sides posted 53 turnovers between them.
In the third quarter, Euroa’s Lachie Hill managed to collect 14 disposals, on his way to recording a season-high 36, in a blistering performance.
But it was in this term that Rochester’s midfield seemed to wrestle momentum back.
The Tigers won clearances (6-5) and centre clearances (4-0) yet struggled to capitalise in attack with 33 per cent scoring efficiency.
Euroa managed to break the shackles in the last quarter with a superb 84 per cent scoring efficiency and terrific tackling count (15-9).
Clearances went the way of the host (14-5) and contested possessions (36-25).