‘It stings’: Echuca United fall by a point in epic under-17s decider

By Josh Huntly

Sep 18, 2022

Pressure: Nathalia's Charlie Dietrich takes possession ahead of Echuca United's Oliver Poole. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Echuca United and Nathalia played out a gripping under-17 decider in the wet at Moama, but at the end of the day the Purples reigned supreme in a thrilling one-point victory.

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Nathalia jumped to a three-goal head start at quarter-time but failed to kick a goal for the rest of the match as the Eagles mounted a desperate final lunge in the dying stages.

United’s two goals in the second quarter drew it within a kick before both sides went goalless in the third term.

In a grinding contest that saw the ball camped in the middle of the ground, a heroic long-range goal off the ground from Riley Godfrey with two minutes to play broke a lengthy scoring drought.

But the scoreline of 3.3 (21) to 3.2 (20) Nathalia’s way would remain to hand the Purples the premiership silverware and secure their first flag in the grade since 1984.

Eagles coach Garet Stobaus admitted the loss stung but was proud of his team after pegging back the early 20-point deficit.

Purple reign: Nathalia’s under-17s celebrate a hard-earned flag. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

“I can’t fault the boys, they left it all out there,” Stobaus said.

“They just kept chipping away, grinding it out. We’re super proud of the whole team, we didn’t have any passengers.

"Obviously we gave them that head start. Bringing them back in that weather was always going to be a challenge.

“It stings. I thought at three-quarter time when we held them scoreless, I thought we were every chance.”

Ryan Stobaus, Oliver Poole and Will Graham were some of United’s best players on the day, while Nathalia’s Charlie Sheehan was judged best-on-ground.

While the pain of defeat will linger now, Stobaus encouraged his side to keep the faith after a bright season saw many of the Eagles squad make the leap to senior football.

“It was a real year of growth for us,” he said.

“We had six play senior football and another seven or eight step up and play reserves.”