If a week is a long time in football, what does that make a fortnight?

Seymour hung on for a gritty win over Shepparton United on Saturday at Kings Park to record a second successive senior football victory, just two weeks after recording a third loss in as many games to start the Goulburn Valley League season.

The Lions claimed a brilliantly fought 13.7 (85) to 11.13 (79) win over the Demons at the weekend to improve to 2-3 for the year, escaping with the win despite not putting their best football on the field.

“Yeah, very happy to get the four points, it was a tough day,” Seymour co-coach Ben Davey said.

“They’re a pretty good team, United, when they’ve got their players in, so yeah I was very happy with the win.

“We definitely didn’t play well, we didn’t play as well as last week, but just to be able to win and not play your best, sometimes that’s good for a young group as well.”

Riding high off the back of a demolition of Euroa in round four, the Lions looked to be well on their way to yet another big victory on Saturday, replying with four consecutive majors after the visitors kicked the opening goal of the game and racing out to a 17-point advantage at the first break.

But the scoreboard dominance was brought to an abrupt halt after quarter-time, as the Demons kicked into gear, finding the goals with regularity while Seymour struggled, kicking just one goal through Cameron Osmond, while the visitors booted four, and a handy lead became a deficit of four points at the long break.

While both sides had enjoyed a quarter of dominance each in the first half, it became a proper fight in the third term as they traded goals, with five lead changes in what was a captivating quarter of football, which the Lions emerged from ahead, snaring the final two goals of the term to enter the three-quarter time huddle with a six-point advantage.

Having built a solid advantage only to allow the Demons back into the contest, it would have been a jittery final term for the home side, but they held their nerve, extending the lead at one point back out to 19 points with consecutive goals, before weathering a late charge from United to emerge victorious by a single kick.

It was a win that showed a great deal of resolve from the Lions, who proved their resilience when challenged and limited the opposition scoring despite periods of dominance, something that is spoken about internally.

“We talk about that a bit, and that’s part of maturing as a footballer and as a group,” Davey said.

“It’s very rare that you get the whole four quarters and the whole 120 minutes on your own terms. Every time you play, you’re going to play well for sections but the other team is going to play well also.

“It’s just about (during) those periods of momentum, trying to make the most of your momentum and get some score on the board, but then also when the other team gets their go, it (becomes) about being able to just hold them, just trying to get the game back on your terms and don’t let them get runs of goals.

They had long periods of the ball on their terms yesterday, United, and we were able to not really let them score like three, four, five goals in a row.

“Whereas, our first game against Rochester, where we played really well, matched them for the first quarter and thought we were going okay, and then Rochester lifted a little bit and get the ball on their terms and kick six goals in a row on a young group and they go into the shell a bit.

“So it’s all about trying to limit the damage when those good teams get a go.”

Still a relatively young group, and with plenty of players added over the off season, it has taken a bit of time for the Lions to gel, and while they are definitely starting to click, there is plenty of improvement to come out of the group yet.

“It’s coming along, but it’s nowhere near the finished product,” Davey said of his side.

“We’ve had so many guys out of the team and injuries, so over the next month there is going to be some real pressure for spots, so that also lifts everyone’s work rate up a bit and makes everyone try and maybe perform a bit better, so that’s going to be really interesting as well.

“I would expect this group would get better as the year goes on, that’s probably the exciting bit for us with these young guys, and that’s the best part of coaching a lot of time.

“Winning is fantastic, but seeing real growth and development in the players you’re coaching is terrific.”

Seymour remain in seventh spot following the win, but move to within a game of Mansfield in sixth, and will look to improve to 3-3 for the season when they take on Tatura at Kings Park next weekend.

Shepparton United on the other hand remain winless through five games so far this season, and will be looking to get off the mark when they take on a fellow winless side in Mooroopna at Deakin Reserve on Saturday.

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Sunday, 20th July 2025

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