The Eagles may have to come from a fair way back and face a tough stretch of eight-point games between now and the end of the Goulburn Valley League senior football home and away campaign, but a brilliant win over Benalla on Saturday ensured there is a healthy pulse in their finals push still.
Travelling to Benalla Showgrounds to take on the Saints, the Eagles scored a big percentage boost that could prove vital in their quest for September, breaking the contest open after quarter time to win 20.15 (135) to Benalla’s 9.10 (64).
Despite the Saints booting the opening major of the contest via skipper Chris Welsh, Mansfield continued to look threatening throughout the first term, kicking the next three unanswered goals to leap out to a 13-point margin, though a late goal to the home side cut the Eagles’ lead to 3.3 (21) to 2.2 (14) at the first break.
But the floodgates opened as the second term got underway, and Benalla’s brave defence was no match for the Mansfield onslaught.
With six straight goals to start the second quarter, and seven of the first eight in the term, the Eagles swiftly put the contest to bed, opening up a 45-point lead just before half time, and though Benalla yet again booted a late major, Mansfield’s 10.7 (67) to 4.4 (28) lead seemed almost enough.
If there was any doubt lingering at half time, the Eagles extinguished it promptly in the third quarter, adding five of the first six goals to crack the ton and lead by a game-high 65 points, and while the Saints again pegged a few back late to trail by 52 heading into the final change, a five-goal-to-two final term saw Mansfield claim a dominant win by an eventual 71 points.
Matthew King (one goal) was named the Eagles’ best in the win, closely followed by William Dunstan (three goals), while William Hogan led all-comers with four majors.
The big win could prove vital for Mansfield come finals, with the Eagles (6-8-1) currently placed ninth with three games to go, a game and a half behind sixth-placed Mooroopna (8-7), although with the best percentage of any side outside the top four.
It is a massive final three weeks for the Eagles, too, as while they are coming from a long way back, they can still scrape into finals with a series of big wins over higher-ranked opponents that are all fighting for a spot in the top six to round out the year.
With a week off to regroup next weekend due to the split round, the Eagles will face fourth-placed Kyabram on Saturday, August 8, sixth-placed Mooroopna on August 15, before hosting Shepparton United in the final round of the season on August 22 in what could be a finals-shaping contest.
Benalla, meanwhile, is already ruled out of finals contention, but will look to end the year on a positive note, facing ladder leader Shepparton next weekend before clashes against Tatura and Shepparton Swans.
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