With Tim O’Keefe leading the way from the back, ably assisted by Robbie Douglas and Trent Fisher, the Lions owned the corridor and showed at times sublime skills on a day better suited to a scrap, kicking 7.3 to one behind.

The highlights were two goals and a near miss. Gerard Liddell, who was built for a day like this, showed just how skilful he is with surely what must already just about be the goal of the year, dribbling the ball in 20m through traffic from the right pocket boundary line.

It followed Saad just minutes earlier producing yet another of those goals you won’t see from anyone else. With a kick from Dylan Scopel looking headed between the sticks, Saad made sure by volleying it through from almost on the goal line. Then Liddell’s brother Brendan, another star on the day, almost trumped Gerard with a snap from the same position on the boundary line, only for it to be touched by a Bears defender on the line.

The game turned back into a scrap in the third term as Shepparton was allowed to get away with its out wide game before Seymour responded to coach Shane Robertson’s blast at the final break to assert control again in the fourth quarter.

Brendan Liddell and Cole were excellent in the midfield and joined O’Keefe and Fisher as among the side’s best. Dom Russo and Gerard Liddell made the most of the conditions as well, their forward pressure ensuring the Bears weren’t let off the hook easily.

Shane Robertson also praised the contribution of Hugh Robertson, who kicked a goal in that second term and adapted to the conditions well.

‘‘We really had 21 contributors,’’ the coach said.

‘‘But I was pleased to see the players I was curious to see how they were going to go when the weather came in, Dylan and Rory Scopel, Dom and even Jason, did really well.

‘‘They took a lot of pressure off (Paul Colbert and Saad).’’

And the second quarter did not surprise him.

‘‘We earmarked through the week how we should go about things,’’ Robertson said.

‘‘That second quarter was exactly what we spoke about. We went back to the poor stuff in the third quarter when they played wide footy and we got sucked in but in the fourth we straightened up and we were much better.’’

Skipper Brent Colbert agreed.

‘‘We said before the game we wanted to be disciplined and have intensity. While they haven’t won a game they have played good teams and hadn’t been blown away. When you’re 10 goals up at half-time against a struggling team it’s easy to drop off, and while we only kicked seven goals in the second half we still controlled the game. To kick 17 in those conditions is a good effort.’’

The Lions travel to Shepparton United on Saturday. Read more of Colbert and Robertson’s thoughts on that and the month ahead in this week’s Telegraph.

Seymour3.3, 10.6, 13.7, 17.9 (111)

Shepparton1.0, 1.1, 3.2, 4.3 (27)

GOALS, Seymour: S. Saad 8, H. Robertson 2, P. Colbert 2, G. Liddell, R. Scopel, J. Cole, R. Douglas, T. O’Keefe.

BEST, Seymour: T. O’Keefe, S. Saad, P. Colbert, B. Liddell, T. Fisher, J. Cole.

RESERVES

At half-time in the reserves game the teams had seemed to play to the conditions with only six goals kicked in total. But Seymour stepped up in the second half, kicking seven goals to one (and keeping the Bears scoreless in the third quarter) to win by 52 points.

And it was a happy coach Shane Cockerell.

‘‘We ran the game out well,’’ he said.

‘‘Our first half to second half this week was fantastic. What I was really pleased with was the fact we had everyone contributing and that’s what ultimately gave us the success we deserved.’’

Standout player was Xavier McMahon, with good support from the likes of Nick Clydesdale, Harry Wheeler, Seamus Feery and Tom Robertson.

The Lions are on the cusp of the top six but face a big test against unbeaten Shepparton United this week.

‘‘They’re going to be a benchmark,’’ Cockerell said.

‘‘But we’re (4-3) now and that’s a great way to be. It’s a completely different side from last year and the core are starting to understand what it takes and are becoming more consistent. They’re starting to get used to playing with one another and while you take it week to week in this grade, out there (on Saturday) the belief was there.’’

Seymour1.3, 4.4, 8.7, 11.10 (76)

Shepparton2.3, 2.4, 2.4, 3.6 (24)

GOALS, Seymour: N. Clydesdale 5, T. Martin 2, N. Lane 2, D. Frost, H. Szczykulski.

BEST, Seymour: X. McMahon, H. Wheeler, N. Clydesdale, T. Martin, T. Robertson, S. Feery.

UNDER-18

The Bears were the scene of two different emotions for Seymour last year. There was the memorable after-the-siren win at Deakin Reserve to make the finals, then the disappointing loss the following week to the eventual premiers in the first final.

But the young Lions were too good this time, winning by 51 points. They handled the conditions much better than a new-look Shepparton.

Coach Matt O’Sullivan said it was the best team performance this season.

‘‘We were quite determined about winning the hard ball in wet conditions and we actually had a few things in place before the game about not mucking around with the footy and we played to it,’’ he said.

Standouts included ruckman Jay Eager.

‘‘He’s a developing young player who played his best game for the year,’’ O’Sullivan said.

Jordan Hockley added to a run of good form with another fine effort. Seymour did lose one of its stars in Billy Cox during the game after he suffered a cut over an eye and had to be taken to hospital.

The Lions moved to fourth place with the win, and next faced Shepparton United, who are in second on percentage after a narrow loss at the weekend. O’Sullivan wants to see some consistency.

‘‘We’re an absolute rollercoaster,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve just had a good win against the third or fourth placed team but we’ve lost a couple to the sides on the bottom.’’

Seymour3.4, 6.5, 10.5, 11.8 (74)

Shepparton0.2, 1.4, 2.4, 3.5 (23)

GOALS, Seymour: J. Thelen 4, J. Hockley 3, B. Cox, Q. Pearce, R. Clarke, C. Muir.

BEST, Seymour: J. Hockley, J. Eager, J. Rowlands, B. Gregson, H. McLean, B. Tarran.