Echuca slammed home a stunning 10 unanswered goals in the third quarter to inflict Mansfield’s first defeat of the season, 17.12 (114) to 7.4 (46), but it didn’t have the momentum all its own way in an absorbing first half.
The highly-touted contest between the two unbeaten teams lived up to the billing early, as three first-quarter goals to Eagles livewire Will Foster set the tone for the visitors.
Mansfield movers James Herridge and Jayden Howe kept the pressure on the minor premier while the Eagles’ ex-AFL recruit Jack Hutchins repelled the Murray Bombers’ forward entries.
At half time, Mansfield led by four points. At three-quarter-time, Echuca led by 52, effectively putting the game to bed.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said his team didn’t bring its best footy to start the contest and a robust half time address laid the framework for a pressure-filled second-half assault.
“We didn’t play our best footy in the first half and, credit to Mansfield, they came and brought the pressure,” Maddox said.
“We had a chat at half time about correcting a few things and our second half was much better.
“We just had to get our pressure up to where they were at because they were first in for the footy every time.
“It’s hard being up every single week at that ultimate level and we just looked a little bit off.
“We had a chat, more to do with energy and the will to hunt the footy and to run both ways.
“It was a tale of two halves. (Mansfield) brought the pressure and moved the ball quickly, but you obviously need to maintain that for four quarters.”
Echuca conceded just two inside-50s and one goal in the third quarter.
Walker starred in Echuca’s swift turnaround, with Maddox indicating it was one of the best quarters his co-coach had played since his return to the club in 2017.
“His third quarter was huge,” Maddox said.
“As a playing-coach we love his ability to say, ‘file in behind me boys, I’ll lead the way’.
“It’s as good a quarter as I’ve seen him play in his time since he’s been back in Echuca.”
Walker wasn’t alone in the onslaught, with the highly touted ruck duel between Tom McDonagh and Kane Morris fizzling out after an injury brought an end to McDonagh’s game.
This allowed Morris to dictate ruck terms, and Echuca’s midfield capitalised.
“Jack McHale gave us good drive through the centre. Kane Morris was dominant in the ruck in the second half,” Maddox said.
“The forwards all shared it around. It was a really good team effort.”
Jack Evans and Ruory Kirkby each booted three goals, while Foster finished with four to be Mansfield’s top goal-scorer.
Echuca has now leap-frogged Mansfield into fourth spot on the Goulburn Valley League ladder and holds a 3-1 record alongside four other sides in a logjam from second to six.
The Murray Bombers will face a wounded Seymour side at Kings Park next Saturday.
Mooroopna is the last undefeated side in the league and continued its winning ways with a 43-point win over the Lions.
