The son of former Magpies skipper Gavin Brown was among the best for the Eagles in the 15.17 (107) to 10.3 (63) win over the Lions, as they keep their unbeaten start to the year intact.
It was a hot start to the Goulburn Valley League Easter Saturday contest at Mansfield Recreation Reserve, with the Eagles booting six goals to Seymour’s two in a frenzied first term, and arguably should have been further ahead too, having recorded six behinds also as they jumped out to a 6.6 (42) to 2.0 (12) lead at quarter time.
Ben Christopher dominated the second term with three of his sides four goals as Mansfield looked to push even further ahead, however, Seymour kept pace, with the margin remaining at just 32 points by half-time, with the Lions still a within a sniff of mounting a comeback.
But the Eagles snuffed out any hope the Lions may have had when they took to the field after the main break, pushing the margin out beyond 40 points despite kicking a rather inaccurate 2.6 for the quarter, taking a 12.15 (87) to 7.2 (44) lead into the three-quarter time break.
A stalemate in the last term saw each side add three goals, although Mansfield did push their advantage out one point further, as they ran out 44-point winners to claim their third win from as many starts.
Tom Dunstan was named Mansfield’s best in the win, finding good support from Brown, who contributed two majors in his first outing for the club, while Christopher finished with four next to his name for the afternoon to also be included among the more influential.
Cody George ended his day with two goals to join skipper Jayden Howes in rounding out the best, while Nick Gray and Jack Hutchins each added two goals, and Benjamin Reardon one, in what was a solid all-round performance by Mansfield.
The win also continues an unbelievable trend of six teams remaining unbeaten and three winless through the first three rounds, with the Eagles joining Shepparton, Echuca, Kyabram, Shepparton Swans and Rochester inside the top six, already establishing a three-game buffer between themselves and seventh place.
Seymour on the other hand will be left to rue a slow start to the contest, with the first term accounting for a large chunk of the eventual deficit, which has seen them slump to a 0-3 start to the season.
Seamus Feery bagged a goal and was named the Lions best in his 150th game for the club, joined by James Wooster (one goal), Nathan Fowler and Lachlan Giles.
Co-coach Jack Murphy booted three goals to continue an impressive run of form, while Sam Thomson and Lachlan Waite each booted one.
A shining light for Seymour was Rory Kennedy, playing his first senior game for the club having been relieved of his Murray Bushrangers duties over the Easter weekend, booting three goals to be named in the best in what was a nice taste of what he has been providing at Coates Talent League level this season.
Mansfield will come up against Rochester next weekend in what looms as their biggest test to date, with a perfect record at stake for both sides, while Seymour will travel to Euroa, where both sides remain in search of their first win.
