Murchison-Toolamba and Shepparton East — last year’s grand final combatants — are on a collision course once more and Saturday’s blockbuster at the Hoppers’ home could well be chapter two in a gripping 2025 saga.
Reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba won by 47 points in last year’s decider, a green tidal wave of pressure, polish and precision had them crowned kings of the league.
But footy, like memory, can be short-lived.
And judging by the way both sides have torched their opposition to start the new campaign with consecutive 100-point demolitions apiece, neither has any interest in looking backwards.
Murchison-Toolamba coach Brett Foley said his charges had hit the ground running in 2025, but was expecting nothing short of a war when boots hit turf on Saturday.
“We had two good wins, Girgarre and Stanhope both put it up to us early and we got on top in the second half which makes me feel like we’re pretty fit,” he said.
“But on the weekend, we’re playing against a side that we obviously played in the grand final, a good side, and we’re going to have to play four good quarters of footy to win.
“It’s a proud club, Shepp East, they’ve got some good players in the side as do we.
“When you come up against a team that beat you in the grand final, you’re obviously out for revenge, so we’re expecting them to come out all guns blazing.”
Saturday shapes as a true marquee match-up: two in-form juggernauts, two white-hot forward lines and two spearheads with a thirst for leather and the scoreboard spotlight.
James Lloyd, the Grasshoppers’ sharpshooter, has picked up where he left off after a ludicrous 137-goal campaign in 2024.
Aerially dominant, sizey and deadly by foot, Lloyd has 13 goals to his name after two games — but this season, Murchison-Toolamba is straying away from the one-dimensional approach.
“There’s a good spread of players playing well ... we don’t really want to be a one-man show,” Foley said.
“In those two games, James hasn’t kicked 12s or 10s to win us the games which is a bit of an advantage we have with multiple getting on the scoreboard and playing in different positions across the ground.
“We have got an influx of players, a bit more depth which is great and it puts pressure on the guys that were in the side last year.
“It gives me a little bit more of a headache, but it’s still better than scratching your head thinking of who can take someone’s spot if they’re injured or unavailable.”
Lloyd — and the Hoppers’ back line — will have to kick it up a gear to match it with league-leading goal-kicker Jake Sutherland (15).
The Eagles’ own goal square general only needs a sniff and his strength on the lead and nose for the big sticks make him a match-up nightmare.
It means midfield supply could well be the difference.
The Green Machine’s engine room — led by joint McNamara medallist James Milne — has been winning it at the coalface, feeding Lloyd with silver-platter service.
But the Eagles’ on-ball brigade is no slouch.
Jayden Dhosi and Tyler Pedretti are in red-hot touch, not to mention Jamie Spencer and recruit David Mundi in the back line and if they can get their hands dirty early, the delivery to Sutherland could swing this contest.
It’s hard to pick a favourite, but one thing’s for certain.
There’s no love lost here.
For Murchison-Toolamba, it’s about asserting its reign, proving last year’s flag was no flash in the pan.
For Shepparton East, it’s about redemption — getting one back on the side that denied it glory.
With form, firepower and a little bit of history all colliding, Foley laid down the gauntlet ahead of the first bounce.
“It’s 21 versus 21 — it doesn’t matter who you’ve got out there, just as long as you play well” he said.
