The Murray Bombers were too strong across most statistical categories against the second-to-last Saints, but unsurprisingly it was the midfield-forward link-up which proved lethal.
Echuca led the Goulburn Valley League for inside-50s before the game and this outing was no different, pelting the Saints with 69 entries to 15.
Of those, 42 were converted as Ruory Kirkby (10 goals), and Will Monahan (four goals) gleefully pounced on those opportunities provided by Andrew Walker (26 disposals) and Riley Smith (28).
Compounding Benalla’s woes was the amount of uncontested balls Echuca was allowed to collect.
The Murray Bombers found 110 more than the Saints, and Smith proved the instigator in that with 21 of his 28 touches uncontested, a game-high.
Benalla may have walked away empty-handed, but the Martiniello’s were on fire.
Will Martiniello led the way in defeat for the Saints with 34 disposals and topped the contested ball stakes with a game-high 20.
James Martiniello wasn’t far behind him with 29 disposals and 18 contested possessions.
Echuca’s on-ball brigade was up for the challenge, however.
Murray Bomber’s bull Jack McHale continued to bustle his way through the contest with 23 disposals and a team-high 14 contested possessions.
While Echuca was rarely troubled down back, it was an impressive outing for one of the league’s silkiest defenders.
Ben Reid’s skills out of defence were on show again, with 25 disposals underlined by a laser-like efficiency of 91 per cent.
By the numbers
Echuca | Benalla
371 Disposals 243
255 Uncontested Poss 145
37 F50 Marks 1
69 Inside 50s 15
29 Hitouts 39
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