GVL | Echuca mauls Tigers in GVL opener

Despite the setback, last season’s GVL minor premier ran away with the game in the second half on the back of a five-goal haul to Ruory Kirkby following a typically fiery start to the contest.

The Murray Bombers booted five first-quarter goals to Rochester’s two, but the Tigers faithful were up-and-about with star addition Shaun Atley booting Rochester’s first goal of the season.

Echuca kept the Tigers at arm’s length during the second quarter, but a hushed silence descended when Reid went down, stretchered off the ground midway through the second quarter.

Tigers coach Steve Stroobants and Izaac Johnson both found the goals to draw closer to Echuca, but late goals to Dan Willis — his first game back for Echuca since 2019 — and Liam Tenace saw Echuca maintain a healthy 23-point buffer at half-time.

Rochester was held goalless by a “miserly” Murray Bombers defence in the third quarter, effectively putting the game to bed.

Echuca coach Simon Maddox credited his squad in a late war of attrition.

“Obviously, we were under a bit of duress,” Maddox said.

“We had injuries early and we were dropping like flies in the last quarter.

“We only had one fit on the bench at the end of the game and a few blokes cramping up.

“To our credit, we fought it out in the last quarter, we didn’t cough up any easy goals.

“Every time you beat Rochy is a great win, but obviously with the injection of the Atley boys it was a bit of a pumped-up game.”

Shaun and Joe Atley were named in the best for the Tigers, while Stroobants finished with two goals, but the Rochester forwards struggled to find fluency against the pressure of Echuca’s defence.

“I thought our backs were really miserly,” Maddox said.

“Logan Prout and Ben Reid back there marshalled up well.

“AJ Mills through the middle, Mitch Wales was in-and-under all day, and Kane (Morris) rucked most of the day unchanged.

“It was a real team effort.”

Liam Tenace provided more strength in the air for the Murray Bombers, while Jack Evans was also named in the best players.

It was an emphatic start for the GVL minor premier, whose 2021 premiership run was thwarted by COVID-19.

The Murray Bombers will now look forward to its clash this Saturday against fellow flag fancy Euroa, Echuca’s first home game of the season.

Echuca will come in without Sam Reid, with Maddox admitting his absence from this week’s squad was already expected as he battles a shoulder injury.

“Sam jarred his knee (during the game),” Maddox said. “He was going in for shoulder surgery this week anyway, so he’ll miss a bit.

“Obviously, it will give him a bit of time to get his knee right as well. At this point it doesn’t look like it’s anything structural.

“Cam (Valentine), we’re not too sure, we’ll have to have a look and see.

“The rest were just collision injuries, corkies etc.”

Maddox is excited to return to the “Fortress,” and says not much will change as his squad look to emulate its round one showing.

“We love playing at Vic Park; we think of that as our fortress,” Maddox said.

“They’re obviously a very good side Euroa, they score really heavily, and they have a host of good players so it’s hard to target any one player.

“We’ll be back at Vic Park hopefully putting up another performance like we did today —if we do that we’ll be hard to beat.”

Around the GVL, Euroa suffered a 27-point loss to Mansfield, while Kyabram slogged to an 11-point win over Tatura.

Mooroopna and Seymour enjoyed strong victories over Shepparton Bears and Benalla respectively, while Shepparton Swan won the local derby against United by 25 points.