Echuca co-coach Angus Byrne won both the Wilf Cox and AFL Victoria best on ground medals in Echuca’s premiership triumph on Sunday. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
If you couldn’t see Angus Byrne in the fading light on Sunday evening as he left Deakin Reserve and headed back to Echuca, you certainly would have heard him.
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Having saved his best for the biggest stage, Byrne tore the Goulburn Valley League senior football grand final apart in the first quarter, clunking a number of huge contested marks and booting four goals when the game was on the line early, proving almost unstoppable and heaping even more pressure on an already under siege Shepparton backline.
In fact, those four goals were four of Echuca’s first five, too, and Byrne added another before half time in a dominant individual display as the Murray Bombers tore the Bears to shreds.
With six majors and a premiership medallion to his name by the final siren, there was no surprise when the number 11 was announced as both the Wilf Cox and AFL Victoria best on ground medallist post game.
Hence the noise - three medals clinking around your neck makes a hell of a racket.
“As long as the premiership one was there,” he said.
“I obviously I would have liked to play well on grand final day, I just lucked out that all my mates up the ground did their best work.
“They worked their back sides off, and yeah, we got the rewards.”
Angus Byrne dominated proceedings on Sunday afternoon, kicking five first half goals to help Echcua to a fourth senior flag in five years.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Despite Echuca’s plethora of recent success, Byrne wasn’t apart of the two most recent senior premierships for the club, making his performance on Sunday afternoon all the more special.
Remarkably, his first triumph since being apart of the drought breaking 2022 flag also comes in the first season that he took over the role of co-coach, returning from a stint in Noosa last season to lead the Murray Bombers back to the promised land alongside Simon Maddox, an experience he has relished.
“Oh, it’s unbelievable mate,” he said.
“They’re such a talented group, a hard working group, such a driven group.
“I’m very fortunate to be able to rock up and work with these guys who want to work, and work really hard, and it’s a credit to all of these boys, it’s amazing.”
It’s that man Maddox that he saved special mention for, with ‘Smeagle’ calling time on his tenure of the Murray Bombers after four senior flags in five years.
Having played under him, and now achieved the ultimate success alongside him, Byrne has seen first hand the sacrifices Maddox has made for the club, and said no one deserves more praise for their efforts than he.
Simon Maddox (left) and Angus Byrne address the troops at quarter time.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
“It’s great (being able to work with him) as a mentor, as a friend, and as a coach,” he said.
“The work that he does week in week out, is just, yeah, unbelievable.
“For Simon to put all his hard work into our club for such a long time, he deserves all the recognition in the world for what he's been able to do for Echuca Football Club.”
Perhaps the standout element of the entire decider for Byrne, though, was playing alongside brother Hugh.
The younger of the two was already a two-time senior premiership player, and while they both pulled on the bottle green throughout the 2024 season, Angus didn’t feature on the final day.
Sunday’s triumph featuring both brothers adds another chapter to an already storied family legacy at the club.
“I’ll touch on Hughie, I’ve played with my brother but never in a premiership,” he said.
“I didn’t get the chance a few years ago, but today is just special for our family.
“The girls do amazing work too, my sisters (Rose and Bridget) are playing A grade, my family is a big part of this club.
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