Don't go writing us off.
The injury-ravaged Magpies brushed aside the disappointment of their loss to Mooroopna before the month-long hiatus to clinch a monumental 16-point victory over fellow top four outfit Echuca.
With a host of star power back in the side, Euroa brought an end to the Murray Bombers’ six-game winning streak in the round 11 encounter.
On-baller and pre-season recruit Ben Giobbi starred in his debut match, while talented forward Erish Uthayakumar booted three majors in his return from injury.
Tall timber Jacob Brereton was a welcome addition and provided classy ruckman Andrew Smith quality support against the might of Echuca's ruck stocks.
And former coach JD Hayes traded the racecourse for the football ground, in what was his first hit-out of the season.
Magpies coach Scott Rowan was over the moon with the effort from his charges.
“It was probably our best four-quarter performance all season,” Rowan said.
“To come out after the month off, after the disappointment of the Mooroopna loss, and beat Echuca was a fantastic result. I'm really proud of the boys.”
It was a taxing and physical affair right from the get-go.
Euroa got the jump at the start and held the visitors goalless in the opening term.
But the Murray Bombers worked back into the contest to trail by four points at the main break.
Rowan's half-time message of “let's keep bringing the pressure” shone through in the premiership quarter.
The Magpies put the burners on again with five goals, which opened their lead to 15 points at the last break, one that Echuca was unable to reel in.
Rowan praised the performance of Giobbi and Smith, who were rewarded for their quality efforts in the list of better players.
Star midfielder Jack Hellier was again one of the Magpies’ best, along with Jayden Gleeson.
“It was a pretty even contest, the pressure was intense,” Rowan said.
“They challenged us a couple of times and the really pleasing thing was how we lifted and responded each time.
“Ben was super important, he gives it everything. Jack just continues to do his thing. Everyone at Euroa sees the work he puts in.
“And having Smithy is a real luxury. Him and Jacob had a great duel with Kane all day. It was a pretty entertaining ruck battle.”
But for all of Euroa's grit and determination, Echuca will feel like it was one that got away.
The Murray Bombers failed to capitalise on their chances and missed six shots on goal in the last term of the 11.6 (72) to 7.14 (56) loss.
Classy operator Kane Morris toughed it out in the ruck all day, while defender Logan Prout, co-coach Andrew Walker and Will Monahan (two goals) chipped in strongly.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox put his side's tense defeat down to a lack of execution in front of the big sticks.
“You have to give full credit to Euroa, they came out ready to play,” Maddox said.
“They got the jump on us at the start, but I thought we worked our way back into the contest and we were confident that we would have the legs to run out the match.
“But our execution let us down. They kicked better than us, we missed some very gettable chances, especially in the last quarter.
“We'll take some lessons out of that match, but we won't be tearing the paint off the walls.
“We will have a fairly different line-up when we play them next.”
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