Sport

Echuca closes regular season with strong win

By Christian Marchetti

Aug 23, 2026

Strong first and third quarters boosted Echuca to victory over Mooroopna in the final round of the Goulburn Valley League football season. Photos: Jordan Townrow

Echuca missed out on the Goulburn Valley League football minor premiership on the final day, but finished a strong regular season with a comfortable six-goal win over Mooroopna.

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The Cats kicked the first goal of the contest at Echuca South Recreation Reserve before the Murray Bombers clicked into gear during a dominant opening quarter.

Jack McHale reels in a mark on the run in game 100 for the Murray Bombers.

Simon Maddox’s side booted the next five majors without reply, taking a solid 5.2 (32) to 1.3 (9) lead into quarter-time.

Mooroopna, having a much-improved season, wrestled back some control in the second period, which it won with three goals to Echuca’s two.

Liam Tenace and Mitch Wales get fired up after a major.

The Murray Bombers’ advantage was pegged back to 15 at half-time as they led 7.4 (46) to 4.7 (31).

But Echuca rediscovered its earlier swagger in the third quarter.

William Emanuelli and Darby Jones battle in the air.

Similarly to the first, the Cats kicked the first major of the period, but it would be their only one in the quarter.

Maddox’s side responded with four in a row, suddenly up by 35 points entering the final term.

Mooroopna’s Toby Williams and Echuca’s Samuel Edgar fight for the footy.

In a drab ending the two sides only traded one major each to finish — inaccuracy preventing more — as Echuca largely cruised to a 12.12 (84) to 6.12 (48) win.

The second-placed Murray Bombers had a chance to finish first on the final day and did their job with the victory, but didn’t get a favour from Rochester in action elsewhere.

The Tigers had to beat league leader Shepparton for Echuca to be minor premier, but they lost by 21 points at Deakin Reserve.

It meant the Bears finished top, with them and Echuca knowing for some time that they will face off in a qualifying final in the first week of the post-season.

Liam Tenace lunges for a contested mark.

The Murray Bombers were the only side to defeat Shepparton in the regular season, winning at Deakin in round eight, and Echuca has won eight of the past nine meetings between the sides.

Maddox’s side will seek a ninth win from the past 10 in the first final, the winner of which will progress to a grand final qualifier.