Seymour faced the toughest of challenges in the first week of a split round 16 in the Goulburn Valley League.
At Kings Park, against the top-of-the-table Echuca, the Lions had a day to forget, as Echuca cruised to a commanding 104-point victory, finishing with a scoreline of 23.14 (152) to Seymour's 7.6 (48).
From the opening bounce, it was clear that Echuca meant business. It exploded out of the blocks with a blistering 6.2 (38) in the first quarter, leaving Seymour trailing with just 1.2 (8). The Lions struggled to find their rhythm and couldn’t match Echuca's pace and precision.
Despite a better showing in the second quarter, where Seymour managed to score 2.2 (14), Echuca’s relentless attack added another 4.4 (28) to its tally, extending its lead to 54 points by half-time.
Seymour's Riley Mason and Jack Murphy were among the standout performers for the home team, with Mason kicking three goals and Murphy racking up a whopping 44 disposals and six tackles of his own. However, their efforts were not enough to stem the tide.
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Seymour's Cooper Lubeck clears in defence.Image 2 of 7
Echuca's Kane Morris takes an overhead mark.Image 3 of 7
Seymour's Lachlan Waite with Seamus Feery ready to assist.Image 4 of 7
The match between Seymour and Echuca was filled with plenty of crunching tackles.Image 5 of 7
Seymour's Riley Mason kicks for goal.Image 6 of 7
Seymour's Max McLean gets his kick as Echuca's Baxter Slater tries to block.Image 7 of 7
Seymour's Jack Davey punches the ball clear of Echuca's Cooper Barber.Echuca's Hugh Byrne and Kane Morris were in scintillating form, each contributing four goals to their team’s massive total.
The third quarter was the Lions’ best offensively, kicking three goals straight, but unfortunately it was their worst defensive quarter. Seymour conceded 7.1 (43) to an efficient Echuca counterattack, kicking 5.0 (30) directly from turnover.
The final quarter was similar story to the previous ones, with Echuca adding another 6.7 (43) while Seymour could only reply with 1.2 (8) of its own. It was a day where a top-of-the-table side simply flexed its muscles, and there wasn’t much that Seymour could do about.
Echuca's victory solidifies its position at the top of the ladder, maintaining its spot alongside Shepparton. For Seymour, currently sitting in ninth place, the focus now shifts to regrouping and preparing for its next match against Benalla, in what promises to be a nailbiter.