Seymour’s Jesse Brock goes toe-to-toe with Shepparton’s Ash Holland in the ruck. Photos: Megan Fisher.
Seymour’s second consecutive away game to start its 2026 Goulburn Valley League senior football campaign at the weekend also resulted in the Lions’ first blow, after they were unable to overcome a strong Shepparton side at Deakin Reserve.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Despite having the Bears’ measure on both occasions the two sides met last season, the Lions were unable to repeat the feat on Saturday, going down 7.10 (52) to 13.14 (92) after giving up plenty of ground early.
Both sides entered the clash off strong round one performances, but it was Shepparton that settled quicker, controlling territory and possession early.
Cooper Holdsworth-Rose corrals Shepparton’s Trent Herbert.
Shepparton’s Luke Smith looked lively from the outset and opened the scoring inside four minutes, before adding two more goals in a commanding opening term.
Riley Mason, who started the year on fire with a bag of eight against Benalla in round one, notched his first of the afternoon to get the Lions on the board late in the term, however it was the Bears that held a 3.4 (22) to 1.0 (6) lead at quarter-time, looking the more polished outfit around the contest.
Seymour showed greater intent in the second quarter, applying more pressure and generating repeat forward entries, as Dylan Cook hit the scoreboard to help narrow the margin, with the Lions closing to within six points midway through the term.
Seamus Feery gets rid of his opponent before winning the loose ball.
However, just as momentum threatened to swing, Shepparton responded.
Kade O’Dwyer kicked a crucial goal to steady the ship, before Trent Herbert followed up soon after to increase the deficit, while a Noah Muir major just before half-time ensured the Bears’ advantage grew to 6.5 (41) to 2.4 (16) at the main break.
Seymour again challenged in the third term, producing its best quarter of the match to apply pressure nearing three-quarter time, booting three of the last four goals to counter the Bears’ dominance earlier in the term and cut the margin back to 19 points, keeping itself within a sniff at the final break.
But the Bears responded strongly when it mattered most, dominating the final term with four goals to one to put the result beyond doubt.
Seymour’s Nic Quigg applies pressure but is unable to stop Liam Broom getting his kick away.
Jaron Murphy was the only scoreboard contributor in the fourth term for Seymour, as the Lions slumped to a 40-point loss.
Huw Jones was the Lions’ best in the loss, with the vice-captain continuing his hot start to the season upon return from injury, while Darcy Giles, Mason, Murphy and Nathan Fowler were among the more influential contributors for Seymour.
Mason’s haul of three goals brings his tally to 11 for the year through two rounds, sitting second on the GVL goalkicking leaderboard, while Murphy was the only other multiple goal-kicker with two.
The Lions will look to regroup this weekend when they face a red-hot Mansfield at Mansfield Recreation Reserve, with the Eagles sitting undefeated atop the ladder following a 92-point demolition of 2025 grand finalist Rochester at the weekend.
