GVL | Mansfield puts on a show against Benalla

By Daniel Webb

Apr 24, 2022

Good game: Jack Hutchins was among Mansfield’s best. Photo by Zac Standish

Mansfield remains undefeated in the Goulburn Valley League, with the Eagles producing a goal-fest at home to Benalla.

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The ladder leaders turned it on against the Saints, with a 51-point-to-nothing second quarter the main difference between the two sides.

Benalla battled strongly throughout the game, however the visitors’ efforts did not translate to the scoreboard, with Mansfield winning 22.16 (148) to 5.5 (35).

Mansfield coach Chad Owens said he thought Benalla started the game strong.

“They moved the ball pretty well early and made me a little bit nervous at the start,” Owens said.

“We know that they’re going to get themselves up to play against Mansfield with the history and the clubs having a fair rivalry.

“They looked like they had really turned up to play and it just took us a little while to get going.”

Owens was full of praise for the way the Saints continued to battle throughout the contest and said it was the leaders in his side that stood up and helped get the game back on the Eagles’ terms.

“Jack Hutchins down back really led the way with our backmen, big Tom McDonagh, in the middle, I thought he did a great job, him and Ari Croxford-Demasi, their ruckman were deadset giants so I thought our two ruckman battled away really well,” he said.

Ben Christopher was a standout for the Eagles up front, with Owens saying Patrick Marks played his best game of the year so far in the middle.

“We had plenty of good players across the ground this week, it was a really nice, sort of even spread I thought,” he said.

Like many teams in the competition, Mansfield broke down the start of the season into a four-week block, and with three wins from three games so far a win next round would be the best possible start.

“Three of our first four games were against the teams that finished equal top last year and Benalla touched us up twice last year so we look at the first four games and then we worry about who we play after Echuca,” Owens said.

“I reckon every game you should be going in thinking you’re going to win, we go into every game confident that if we play to the best of our ability that we’re a good chance to win and should win.”

Mansfield has been taking a unique approach to its squad so far this year, with a focus on playing roles.

Owens said despite players in the development squad perhaps being more talented than some in the seniors, the seniors had been playing their roles well.

“It’s quite a simple message to sell to the group, you don’t need to do anything fancy, just do what we ask you to do, if you can do that you’ll play at 2 o’clock,” he said.