Echuca's Bobby Robinson releases a handball as Shepparton Swans’ Levi Baldi closes in during the under-16 division one preliminary final. Photos: Rechelle Zammit.
Two Echuca sides battled Shepparton Swans in a pair of Goulburn Murray Junior League preliminary finals at the weekend, with each club claiming a victory at Tatura Park.
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In under-14 division one, Echuca Bombers got the best of Swans White by a comfortable 46 points, while in under-16 division one, Echuca Murray Bombers fell a goal short of the grand final, downed by six points.
Echuca’s Keoni Anderson pauses play.
Under-14s
After negotiating an elimination final against clubmates Echuca Murray Bombers last weekend, the Echuca Bombers shocked the more highly ranked Swans side in a comprehensive performance.
Jesse Watson and Max Williams each kicked two goals, while Brandt Haw, Jesse Nye, Ryder Roussis and Sam Whan also chipped in as Echuca rampaged to an easy win despite poor accuracy in front of goal, 8.14 (62) to 2.4 (16).
The Echuca side advances to play minor premier Shepparton Bears, who are a perfect 10-0 for the season, in the decider.
Two previous meetings have resulted in 18- and 45-point wins for the Bears.
The grand final will take place from 10am at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.
Echuca's Charlie Voss laces the Sherrin for one of two goals on Sunday.
Under-16s
The Echuca Murray Bombers engaged in a much closer encounter with the Swans in under-16 division one.
Like in the under-14s, the goal accuracy wasn’t there for Echuca, and this time it cost the locals.
Despite logging 19 scoring shots to 15, the Murray Bombers missed out on a grand final place by a goal, 7.12 (54) to 9.6 (60).
Lynkoln Richardson and Charlie Voss both kicked two majors for Echuca, supported by Keoni Anderson, Beau Griffiths and Max Potter with one each, but it wasn’t enough to see their side advance.
The Swans go on to take another shot at Kyabram in the grand final.
Shepparton Swans’ Toby Keady is mown down by Echuca’s Henry Bell.
Also on grand final day, Moama is seeking a flag in under-16 division two, the Mowers having this week off after advancing straight to the decider with a qualifying final win.
The Mowers will take on the same team it defeated by 11 points in that game, Shepparton United, the final to be held at noon at Deakin Reserve.
The remaining grand final of the day, in under-14 division two, will be held in Seymour, with Shepparton United taking on the Wandong Warriors at Kings Park.
Echuca’s Bobby Robinson follows an unpredictable bounce.
Echuca’s Keoni Anderson and Shepparton Swans’ Naite Mellington joust in the air.
Shepparton Swans’ Tom Collins takes a mark under pressure.
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