GVL | Magpies on the board after clinical Anzac eve victory over Seymour

Euroa coach Scott Rowan said it was a massive relief to finally have a win on the board after an underwhelming start to the season.

“It is a great feeling (to get a win). We knew it was going to come, it was just a matter of when we would get it all together,” Rowan said.

“We changed the way we played a bit this week and the boys adapted to it well which was very pleasing.”

It was a hot start for Seymour and star recruit Michael Hartley, with the former Essendon and Hawthorn product kicking the first two goals of the game to have the crowd at Memorial Oval restless.

Inaccurate kicking cost Euroa dearly in the opening term, with a return of 2.5 having it four points adrift at the first change.

Needing a spark, it was livewire Jett Trotter who produced for the Magpies in the second term, with his elite speed, crafty skills and innate goal sense seeing him hit the scoreboard with ease and set up countless opportunities for his teammates.

Supported by Ben Giobbi, Jacob Gleeson and Ben Bath through the midfield, the Magpies could not put a foot wrong in a period of football that reminded the GVL fraternity of their premiership credentials.

“After being down three goals to one after the first 15 minutes, I think we kicked nine-straight goals, so it was fantastic to see the response,” Rowan said of his team’s efforts in the second term.

“We just got back to playing that attacking style of footy and it was great to watch the boys really pile it on there and go into half-time with their heads held a little bit higher than previous weeks.”

Carrying a 32-point lead into the second half, Euroa continued to dominate general play, with key forwards Erishmiilan Uthayakumar and Tristan Davies starting to get off the chain.

But just as it looked like Euroa would run away with a crushing victory, the Lions roared back into the contest, with a pair of goals in the shadows of three-quarter time having them within 25 points at the final change.

With a raucous home crowd behind the Magpies, it was once again Trotter who rose to the occasion in the last, nailing a tough set shot from the boundary to end the Lions’ hopes of a miraculous comeback.

Late goals to Hartley and Alick Nai wallpapered over some cracks for Seymour, but all in all it was Euroa’s day with the final margin 28 points.

Rowan made special mention of Trotter, whose X-factor up forward turned the game for the Magpies.

“Jetty (Trotter) has had a tough 12 months with injury, but credit to him with the way he’s gone about his rehab. He’s made trips down to physios and done everything to get right for this year,” he said.

“He wasn’t supposed to be playing footy this year, so to be back for round one is a testament to him.

“He’s got an amazing X-factor to him because he’s so polished and well skilled. He is just going to get better and better all year. He was super today but I think he’s got another gear to go.”

While it was a disappointing result for Seymour, coach Ben Davey said there were still plenty of positives to take away from the loss.

“Once again we are giving some young guys an opportunity at senior level and we played a really good team today,” Davey said.

“It hurts to lose, our young boys don’t like it, but probably the most pleasing thing about today is what we will take out of playing against the really good footballers Euroa had out there on the park.”

It was a much better outcome for the Lions in the reserves clash, running away 11.5 (71) to 6.8 (44) victors in an entertaining clash at Memorial Oval.

With the scores level at three-quarter-time, Seymour roared in the final quarter, piling on six unanswered goals to come away with the 37-point triumph.

Phillip Solomon was the man for Seymour, kicking five goals and coming away with best-on-ground honours, while Oliver Lubeck, Jay Eager and Julian Morgan were also prolific.

In the thirds, Seymour enjoyed a dominant day out, recording a 19.14 (128) to 3.2 (20) win over the Magpies.

Jack Davey, Alexander Elliott, Angus Murray and Regan Gardner were excellent for the Lions, while Jardine Nai was the focal point up forward, kicking four goals.