GVL | Echuca wins third straight over Kyabram in fiery encounter

By Josh Huntly

Apr 24, 2022

Eyes on the ball: Echuca’s Will Monahan looks to gather the ball and evade Kyabram’s Zac Cerone. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Listen up: Echuca coach Andrew Walker addresses his troop in the game against Kyabram. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Echuca and Kyabram’s storied rivalry added another thrilling chapter on Saturday, with the Murray Bombers running away with a 19-point win under lights.

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The 2019 grand final opponents engaged in another fierce encounter at Kyabram Recreation Reserve on Saturday night, with Echuca claiming its third consecutive win over the Bombers.

Held goalless until the 12-minute mark of the second quarter, Echuca wrestled the game back onto its own terms in the second half to claim a 10.13 (73) to 8.6 (54) victory.

Both sides were dead-locked for the majority of the match, but the Murray Bombers’ three-goal-to-one third quarter allowed them to keep Kyabram at bay as spot fires flared around the ground.

Echuca defenders Ben Reid and Logan Prout were strong down back for the Murray Bombers, while young forward Liam Tenace provided a strong option with three goals for the game.

Cooper Barber and Jackson Stewart both kicked two goals each.

Kyabram’s end-to-end play threatened to break the game wide open, but Echuca’s centre clearance work, led by ruckman Kane Morris and Sam Willoughby, ensured a response was never too far away.

Kyabram stalwart Jason Morgan toiled hard down back, while Anthony DePasquale and Lachlan Smith were also in the Bombers best players.

Kayne Pettifer booted three goals for Kyabram.

It’s Echuca’s third straight win over the Bombers after failing to defeat the GVL powerhouse in 11 seasons before last year’s drought-breaking win.

With several key names still on the sidelines, Echuca co-coach Andrew Walker told Shepp News he was pleased with his side’s response with several key names out.

“It was one of those games where we were riddled with injuries, which is actually at times welcomed by us as a playing group because it gives players an opportunity to step up,” Walker said.

“We’ve got some absolute key players out and some late omissions with Matt Lias who started the season off really well for us and Brady Simpson on game day having to pull out due to illness as well.”

This left the door ajar for young Keiran Hogan to take his place in the side, an assignment Walker concedes is one of the more hostile entrances to senior football you can expect.

“We brought up Kieran Hogan to play his first game of senior football which was really exciting,” Walker said.

“You don’t often get in your first game to go over to Kyabram under lights (where it’s) extremely hostile.

“For him to come over and be a part of that was awesome and I’m just glad we got the win for him.”

Echuca is yet to concede more than 54 points in a game from its first three fixtures with its backline one of the most vaunted in the league, with young gun Aiden Mills forming a formidable partnership with Reid and Prout.

“I’ve been super excited with our young brigade,” Walker said.

“It’s just so incredible to see the development of guys like AJ Mills, who last year was obviously a regular appearance in our senior side but he’s now taking his game to another level.

“He’s doing an apprenticeship basically under Ben Reid off half back and Logan Prout so he’s got two of the best rebounding defensive half backers in the league to sort of walk him through his football.”

The result takes both sides records to 2-1, with Kyabram in fourth and Echuca in fifth.

Echuca face the undefeated Mansfield this Saturday, April 30.