Sport

Echuca suffers massive double blow at tribunal

By Liam Nash

Sep 4, 2025

Echuca will be without two of its stars this weekend, one not to return this season. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

A Goulburn Valley League star has copped a massive ban from the tribunal on the eve of semi-finals, while another will miss this weekend’s crucial do-or-die clash.

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Echuca’s Sam Reid was suspended by the MRO for two games for striking during the Murray Bombers’ elimination final win over Shepparton Swans at the weekend, but an early plea reduced the sentence to one match.

Reid won’t be permitted to play in Echuca’s knockout match against Rochester on Sunday, but may return for the preliminary fixture should the Murray Bombers progress.

Meanwhile, fellow teammate Cam Valentine has found himself in hot water following an incident from the same game.

The Echuca defender caught Swans on-baller Oliver Warburton high in the third quarter, deemed to have intentionally or carelessly bumped or made forceful contact to an opponent from front-on when the player has their head over the ball.

Valentine was directed straight to the tribunal for a charge deemed as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact.

The verdict from Wednesday night’s hearing was a six-match suspension, with Echuca now without a key defender for the rest of the season and the early stages of 2026.

Shepparton Swans defender Luke Davies was also cited for a separate incident, intentionally or carelessly engaging in rough conduct against an opponent.

Davies accepted an early guilty plea and will miss the first two games of next season after the charge was downgraded from three matches.