It’s looking like a mighty good time to be Mansfield.
The Eagles have notched a fourth consecutive victory, thoroughly digging out of its 0-2 hole and further asserting its legitimacy with a 29-point Goulburn Valley League win over Kyabram at Wilf Cox Complex.
Don’t be fooled, though — the 16.15 (111) to 12.10 (82) result for Jack Hutchins’ men had a fair few twists along the way.
The home side drew first blood early but, as has almost become custom in recent weeks, Mansfield duly answered one strike with an incapacitating flurry of its own.
Already down by the eventual winning margin at the first change, the Bombers admirably stood back up and duked it out throughout the second term in a goal-for-goal second term that felt like a prize fight.
The only issue at that stage? The 35-point buffer at the long break.
As is Kyabram’s nature, though, that simply could not go on, with a furious frenzy around the goals in the ‘premiership quarter’ which set the stage for another classic Bomber nail-biter with a half-hour to play.
So one would have thought at the time, at least.
The visitors certainly had enough in the tank to snuff out those ambitions, as a side that came in having played six straight quarters of virtually unabated football bookended this clash in much the same fashion with a six-goal final stanza.
Hutchins was, of course, happy to see things out his side’s own way.
“At the start of the year, a lot of things weren’t clicking right, and now that’s turned around,” Hutchins said.
“Our pressure was really pleasing for the first half, but they utilised their foot skills, and their fast forward movement was hard to defend in the third term.
“I was hoping we’d continue the momentum with how good our third quarters have been, but it’s good to know our game plan is holding up against good sides.
“To grind it out and come away with the win was really pleasing.”
The accounts of what sits next in line for these two clubs could hardly be more different.
In overcoming their torrid start to 2024, the third-placed Eagles have an opportunity at revenge against the side who kicked off their early tailspin in Echuca.
Not just that, but a Murray Bomber outfit which arguably looked more vulnerable than it has in some years following an enormous boilover defeat at home to Rochester.
Hutchins doesn’t approach this rematch expecting vulnerable opposition, though.
“Echuca is Echuca. They’ve been dominant for a long time for good reason,” Hutchins said.
“They took control quite easily in round one, but we’ve built a lot of momentum since then and can hopefully put it to them.
“It’s a hard task, but speaking to the players after the game yesterday, they’re really looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
There is another interesting battle shaping up for Kyabram, having again fallen to a negative win-loss record (2-3), but no such luck in terms of poor opposing form.
Seymour will prove ever-challenging at Kings Park next Saturday after its maiden win, with all eyes expected to descend down south as Lions favourite David Mundy comes in to add another dimension to the battle.