As the old saying goes — a week is a long time in football.
After trudging off Mooroopna Recreation Reserve in despair just seven days earlier following a disappointing loss to the Cats, there was a renewed sense of hope among the Seymour players on Saturday afternoon as they marched off Kings Park triumphantly after a stunning win over arch-rival Euroa.
Needing to win to keep their Goulburn Valley League finals hopes alive, the Lions produced their best performance of the season, with the 9.9 (63) to 7.10 (52) victory well and truly putting them back in the hunt for that prized sixth spot come September.
And while many will look to the return of star Michael Hartley as the inspiration for this upset victory — who kicked three goals in a best-on-ground performance — it was the pressure and determination the entire Seymour 22 brought for four quarters that spearheaded the triumph.
“It feels really good to know that the past 10 months or so hasn’t been a waste, and I think today showed that the group really does care about what they have done,” Lions coach Ben Davey said.
“There was a will and want to win from our boys and that is what it came down to in the end — we live to fight another day.”
Greeted with gloomy skies and scattered showers at Kings Park, Euroa came bursting out of the blocks to kick the first two majors of the day and dominate field position.
But it wouldn’t take long for Seymour to get the game on its terms, with Dylan Scopel standing up through the midfield and Hartley cashing in up forward to help it boot four unanswered goals and take an eight-point lead into the first change.
“The original message was if we don’t put pressure on their midfield, they will cut us up and give their excellent forwards great opportunities, and that is exactly what happened in that first 10 minutes,” Davey said.
“Once we adjusted to that, upped our pressure and managed to win some ball, we began to settle into the game and get on top.”
The Lions continued their wave of momentum early into the second term, booting the first two majors to extend the lead beyond 20, with their pressure around the ball making life incredibly tough for the Magpies midfielders.
But as all good sides do, Euroa responded, with three quick goals in the shadows of half-time levelling the scores at the main break.
With its season on the line, the third term was make or break for Seymour.
And it was Hartley and returning skipper Ben Clifton that stood up.
Clunking everything that came in his direction, the long-sleeved Lion spearhead took over the game in that crucial 10-minute period after half-time, kicking a crucial goal and passing off another to his captain to give his team the break it needed.
Adding much-needed experience and poise to the group, Clifton was always at the feet of his big full forward, and provided the forward pressure and smarts around the sticks Seymour desperately lacked in his absence.
“Benny Clifton is the heart and soul of our group, and having him back today just gave us a massive lift,” Davey said of the influence his returning skipper had on the game.
“Harts and Benny are great mates and you could see that connection on field and I think that rubbed off on the group.
“Having Harts up forward just makes us such a better side, if he doesn’t mark it he brings it to ground, and with so much attention on him it frees up others — his game today was just outstanding.”
Keeping Euroa goalless in the third term, Seymour turned for home with a 19-point advantage.
But as forecasted by Davey at three-quarter time, his team would need to absorb a late charge by the second-placed Magpies.
With the ball being fired into its defence at will, the Seymour back six would stand up, limiting Euroa to just one goal for the quarter and cementing the 11-point win.
Still sitting in seventh spot, Seymour will enjoy a bye next weekend before rounding out the home-and-away season with games against Tatura and Shepparton United.
Davey said the mindset of his team would remain the same as it had for the past two months.
“We have to win if we want to play finals — simple as that,” he said.
“We can’t afford to drop our intensity against teams lower than us on the ladder, because in this competition you’ll get found out real quick.”
Euroa on the other hand will be desperate to bounce back following its bye, with a tantalising clash against Mooroopna at Memorial Oval awaiting in a fortnight’s time.