A classy fourth-quarter outing from star Jett Trotter and a stirring captain’s performance from Jacob Gleeson guided Euroa past a gallant Mansfield on Saturday in front of a jam-packed Memorial Oval.
Euroa fended off the travelling Eagles 11.7 (73) to 8.7 (55) in the Goulburn Valley League round 18 encounter to set the Magpies up with a date against Mooroopna this weekend, while Mansfield faces Kyabram in the remaining elimination final.
Trotter was the hero for the home side with two crucial goals in the final quarter as the Magpies ― bolstered by six key inclusions ― were forced to dig deep in a contest that acted as a precursor to what fans of both sides will expect in the first week of finals.
The Magpies’ forward and on-ball maestro finished the match with three majors, 23 disposals, 15 contested and eight score involvements.
Mansfield led at the main break following a low-scoring first half, one that was highlighted by the Eagles’ pressure.
The Eagles posted 34-16 pressure acts for the half and entered the rooms with a slim four-point buffer.
In the second quarter should have Mansfield capitalised on its 13-5 inside 50 dominance, but the visitors struggled to grasp their opportunities when they presented.
Meanwhile, it felt like Euroa snatched its chances in the third term ― Trotter slotted a difficult set shot on the Seven Creeks side of the ground ― and the host posted a 77 per cent scoring efficiency for the quarter.
An early goal by gun Eagles forward Cam Arnold (three) in the fourth brought the match back to five points.
However, Trotter would rise to the occasion minutes later with an eye-catching chase-down tackle before he coolly slotted the first of his two last-quarter majors.
“We felt like we were a bit fumbly I guess, more than anything. Mansfield’s pressure was top notch,” Euroa coach Scott Rowan said of the contest.
“To be honest with the weather it’s pretty hard to be consistent with that sort of pressure all day. I was hoping that they would drop off a little bit and I think they did to our benefit.
“With six or so not having played in a while I’m pretty sure they were aware that we might drop off ... so to overrun them to an extent was really pleasing.
“They were really happy with how they were defending and they were doing a fantastic job.
“We played small for so long that we probably still had that in our system a little bit where we could have afforded to hit a longer target and reset at a stoppage.
“We sort of adjusted that to an extent (at half-time).”
Euroa’s class ruck Andrew Smith provided first-use to his on-ballers and was crucial with his 51 hit-outs, while Mansfield’s Mahoney duo, Brett and Harry, were standouts in the defeat.
Adam Giobbi was a welcome addition to the line-up, after spending more than a month out with injury, and booted two important majors, the first coming after the quarter-time siren from 45m out.
Fellow inclusion Erish Uthayakumar kicked a classy running goal, but he exited the match after he split the webbing between his fingers.
Jake Penman was another who finished the match under an injury cloud with a quad complaint.
Rowan expected both those players to front up for this week’s clash against Mooroopna.
The Magpies mentor was thrilled to walk away from the encounter without a serious injury.
“Just pleased to get that game into those boys (six inclusions), they’ll be much better for it,” Rowan said.
“Yes, it was a risk to play them, but we felt it was a bit more upside to play them today.”
Rowan applauded his skipper’s performance.
Gleeson was lively through the midfield, while his brother Max, chalked up a team-high 30 disposals.
“Jacob’s had a fantastic year. He really drives the work-rate and he leads by example,” Rowan said.
“It was just another super effort from him. He’s hard at it, you know we talk about Will (Hayes) a lot, Jetty a lot, but he’s been good for a number of years and him and his brother Maxy just do the job every single week.”