What is the best way to bounce back from a difficult loss on the road?
Turn in a fantastic performance back at home.
That is exactly what Euroa did on Saturday, putting the 36-point loss to Seymour behind it to earn a comprehensive 71-point victory over Shepparton United.
Erishmiilan Uthayakumar and Jett Trotter each booted five goals for the Magpies, while down back Euroa held United goalless in two of the four quarters to prevail 15.20 (110) to 5.9 (39).
“Having a loss in round three isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Euroa coach Scott Rowan said.
“So just to go over the Seymour game and see where we let ourselves down a little bit and to be able to rectify that the following week is really pleasing.
“We tried to set up or defensive structure a little bit better than what it was a week before. Kings Park is a tricky park to defend on and Seymour play it so well.
“We were pretty keen to get back home and set things up and hopefully we can take that to the away games from now on as well.”
Only four points separated the two sides at quarter-time as the Pies held a slight advantage at Euroa Memorial Oval, but the home side cracked the game open in the second term.
Euroa piled on 6.8 while restricting the Dees to three behinds, taking a 45-point lead to the sheds.
The contest tightened up in the second half, but Euroa’s six second-half goals to United’s two – which came in the third quarter – had the Pies earn win number three for the year.
“We were probably a little bit too manic with the football in the first quarter, we turned the ball over a little bit just by going too fast and we lacked a little bit of composure,” Rowan said.
“Once we corrected that, I thought we improved. I thought it was a pretty good overall performance after that.
“They have a couple of really dangerous forwards. I thought Max Gleeson did a really good job on Jayden Magro and Jack McKernan was pretty solid being the deepest back manning up. I was really pleased with the whole back seven, they all played their role really well.”
Uthayakumar made a big impact in his first game in the black and white for 2023 as he slotted home five majors, with Trotter too having a good day in front of the big sticks.
“He (Uthayakumar) is tremendously important to us. He always gets a good defender and allows Tristan Davies to work up the ground a little more and put his defensive work in, and Jett Trotter gets off the chain a little bit.
“To have our three forwards playing for the first time this year is really pleasing.”
Will Hayes was at it again as he put in a best-on-ground performance, while Max Gleeson, JD Hayes, Adam Giobbi and youngster Darby Wilson were excellent for the Pies as well.
“I thought JD really worked into the game well for his second run in the seniors of the year,” Rowan said.
“With Will we know what we are going to get and it is solid as ever, he is a fantastic player for us and having a great start to the season.
“To have JD pitch in and play when he can and put in those performances is really good for us.
“I thought Darby Wilson was fantastic back from Bushies as a bottom-age Bushranger playing senior football. He and Ryan Hill have both only just turned 17 and are really performing well for us on the park. We are happy with our young kids coming through.”
Euroa (3-1) is third on the ladder following Saturday’s victory, while Shepparton United (1-3) is eighth.