Shepparton News

Uphill battle for improving Bears

- By Lauren Bordin

Shepparton might rate itself a sneaky chance to knock off Rochester at Deakin Reserve tomorrow.

Getting the four points would go a long way to securing a Goulburn Valley Football League finals appearance for the Bears, as they need at least two wins from their final four matches to finish in the top six.

But while Brad Campbell thinks his team can take it up to the Tigers, he is willing to concede victory might be beyond reach.

‘‘We’re positive, we’ll back ourselves in although it’s a tough ask,’’ Campbell said.

‘‘We want to stay in the game longer and if we stay in the game until the final minutes I’d be happy.

‘‘But they’re competitiv­e, it’s tough to beat a team like Rochy who are second-placed and not far off Kyabram.’’

The Tigers kept Shepparton goalless for two quarters the last time the sides met in round four, as the Bears could not force the ball through their stoic defence.

With Rochester having kept the Shepparton Swans to a goal last round and Mansfield to just one major in the first half a week before, Campbell is wary of how tough it will be to score.

‘‘That’s the challenge, James Flaherty leads a tight defence and they’ve got maturity all over the ground, so we’ll have to have multiple avenues to get the ball in,’’ he said.

The Bears have only won three of their eight games at home this year, but Campbell is still glad his side does not have to face the Tigers at Moon Oval.

‘‘We tend to play Deakin a bit better, but it doesn’t matter where you play as long as the efforts are up and our attitudes are right,’’ he said.

‘‘We were slow to get out of the blocks against Mooroopna and were average with our skills to start. We’ll get smashed if we do that against a In hot form: team like Rochester.’’

But Tigers coach James Flaherty does not see the venue as any hinderance and said he was keen to have a run on Deakin for the first, and only time, this home-and-away season.

Going up against a midfield that includes experience­d heads of an in-form Dave Gallagher combined with the youth of Luke Smith, Rochester is confident of getting on top in the midfield.

‘‘They’ve got quality in there, but we’ve got Nick O’Connor and Mitch Bright and we are going to need to match their delivery,’’ Flaherty said.

‘‘They’re obviously fighting for a finals spot as well, so we expect them to be raring to go, so we’ll need to play our best.’’

Both sides got through last week unscathed and are expected to take unchanged line ups into the match.

 ?? Picture: Bruce Povey ?? Mitch Bright is enjoying a purple patch of form and will play a vital role in Rochester’s midfield when the Tigers take on Shepparton tomorrow.
Picture: Bruce Povey Mitch Bright is enjoying a purple patch of form and will play a vital role in Rochester’s midfield when the Tigers take on Shepparton tomorrow.

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