ECHUCA footballers weren’t overly impressive against Shepp Swans in round six of the Goulburn Valley League, but they got the job done on talent as opposed to any strong performance.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Tomorrow’s opponent Shepparton United hasn’t been terrible this season (a big loss to Rochester aside), so this isn’t going to be a game the Murray Bombers are going to breeze through if they aren’t at the top of their game.
There should be a few big ins for the Bottle Greens, with co-coach Andrew Walker and key defender Cam Valentine both likely to return so the team should be looking better on paper.
This should be a win, but we don’t want to see Echuca perform the way they did against the Swans.
We want to see Echuca put their next few opponents away and show they are still getting better.
■ ECHUCA UNITED is a good Murray Football League side, Katandra is poor and the two come together on Saturday.
Prior to the interleague break, the Eagles knocked off a high flying Cobram side and will enter this game full of confidence.
United has shown an ability to kick a big score this year and we’re tipping tomorrow will be its biggest yet.
Katandra is going to be wishing the Eagles didn’t fly into town — a triple-figure margin looks set to be on the agenda.
■ MOAMA spent its week off running a clinic for their junior footballers.
It’s fitting, really, when you look at how much the Magpies are focused on development in 2019.
The kids are getting better.
So this week, they get another test.
Mulwala is a top five side, so on paper they should be miles ahead of the Magpies.
But we are interested in what the week off, a bit of time to freshen and a bit more work has done for the Magpies.
It’s not going to be an easy match and, realistically, the Magpies are probably going to lose this one.
But if Moama put on a good showing, anything can happen.
■ TONGALA is sitting pretty at 3-3, but have a very tough month of football ahead.
It begins with Cobram, a top-four team which looked to be one of the best sides in the competition until their recent loss to Echuca United.
The Tigers will be wanting to get another strong result on the board to bounce back.
The Blues have three wins, but we could argue none of them have been against really high quality opposition.
A win here would be huge for the Blues — it would probably move them into the eight, as well as being a statement victory.
It will be tough, but we think the Blues are a sneaky chance here.
■ LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER needs to keep winning in the Heathcote District Football League.
We don’t think the Bombers are a bad side at all, but one who is underperforming.
You only need to have a look at their goal kicking so far — games have been closer (and actually lost) due to poor showings in front of the sticks.
They have Colbo this weekend, a side who have looked pretty good to be 3-1.
They’re a quality line-up, they have some really good players and might actually have the better team of the two.
The Bombers can’t afford to make any silly mistakes if they want to get the win.
■ LBU is in for its biggest test of the season this weekend when its travels to take on Mount Pleasant.
After their opening round loss, the Blues have been flying with three straight wins.
If LBU can claim a win here, followed up by a victory against North Bendigo next weekend they would well and truly be the HDFL premiership favourites.
It’s time for the Cats to show us what they’re all about and we think they’re going to get the job done.
■ MATHOURA was extremely disappointing last weekend as it fell to Blighty on the back of a second-half fadeout.
Do that against Berrigan this weekend and the Timbercutters’ opposition will be out of sight.
The Saints are sitting third on the Picola and District Football League ladder having lost just one game to this point of the season and are looking difficult to stopping.
Mathoura have struggled to stop a side’s momentum this year and that’s not going to improve this weekend.
Unfortunately, another loss is on the cards.