Best Battles | All Blacks, Bats rivalry heats up

Benalla 14.15 (99) d Shepparton 11.9 (75)

This match was a serious case of winning the battle, but losing the war.

Putting their respective premiership credentials on the line in an early-season clash, Benalla held off a fast-finishing Shepparton to run out a 24-point winner.

But while the four points were handy for Benalla at the time - it gained a one-match buffer ahead of third-place - it was Shepparton that would eventually claim gold in the form of the premiership.

Benalla controlled the match for most of the day, using the 45 minutes after quarter-time to rally a strong lead, before Shepparton showed how quickly a game can turn, cutting a six-goal lead down to 10 points in 15 minutes.

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The Saints got the better of the Bears in the final term and held on for the win, with coach Luke Morgan happy with his team's effort.

“They’re (Shepparton) a competitive side and it was good to get a win against a side that’s towards the top end of the ladder,” Morgan said.

Saints spearheads Brody Webster and Nick Warnock finished with nine goals between them, while the Martyn brothers - James and Sam - starred.

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Shepparton’s Nik Rokahr was impressive in his 100th game, while Anthony Andronaco courted the Bears’ forward line with three.

And in added appeal, seeing Rokahr and Sam Martyn face off in the same match would have been a mouth-watering proposition for fans with both players tying for the Morrison Medal at season's end.

Merrigum v Violet Town

Elimination final, 2016 at Longwood Recreation Reserve

Merrigum 12.14 (86) d Violet Town 7.9 (51)

There was plenty on the line in this do-or-die final for Merrigum and Violet Town.

Coming into the clash Merrigum was the reigning premier, while Violet Town had fallen out of grand final contention at this stage a year earlier.

On the day experience won out, as the Bulldogs palmed off the Towners’ early surge with a dominant second quarter and built a lead they would hold on to for the rest of the match.

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Merrgium’s forward line fired, with Bryce Wellington kicking five majors, while Daniel Clarke was another who was hard to quell.

Violet Town’s Rob Staff - who kicked 100-plus goals that season - was well held with two, while Chris Bamford and Tim Ross were handy.

Goorambat v Benalla All Blacks

Round 13, 2014 at Goorambat Recreation Reserve

Goorambat 5.7 (37) lt Benalla All Blacks 7.8 (50)

The annual bouts between local rivals Benalla All Blacks and Goorambat have become a highlight on the Ovens and King league fixture.

And while the All Blacks maintain a winning 9-6 record head-to-head - as well as securing the more recent wins - the Bats have had their moments over the decade as well.

But it was this 2014 contest between the two sides which stood out for being a low-scoring, slog of a battle, with the up-and-coming All Blacks taking the chocolates.

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After Goorambat claimed victory in an earlier season contest against Benalla, the young All Blacks finally sung their team song for the first time in 2014 with a scrappy 13-point win over the Bats.

The home-side corralled an eight-point lead early, using the wind to their advantage, before the All Blacks shot back by kicking four goals to one in the second.

With the physicality of the contest ramping up in the third, it wasn’t until the final quarter were things got jittery for both sides.

Goorambat's Glenn Burnell - who finished with three goals - began to influence the contest more to retrieve his team's lead.

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With the Bats six points up at the 17-minute mark, Benalla’s Lewis Weatherby was moved to Burnell to keep the forward quiet, while teammates Matthew Trende and Jarrod Winzer (three goals) kicked straight to give the All Blacks the win with minutes remaining.

Winzer’s efforts were crucial to the win, with the forward a late inclusion for Benalla, while Cody Taylor and Sam McGregor were also influential for the winning side.