With another big year of sport in the rear view mirror and and action-packed 2026 on the horizon, The Riv sports desk is counting down its best sport stories from the year that was.
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In three parts, we’ll give you our favourite moments from epic highs and lows, inspiring journeys and career milestones from Echuca and surrounding areas.
Rochester breaks tennis drought
For the first time in a decade Rochester 1 brought the Dolly Christie Memorial Shield back home after defeating Echuca 2 in emphatic fashion in the Campaspe Tennis Association section one final in March.
After a week's delay due to severe heat, the two sides met at Echuca Lawn Tennis Club to determine the section one champion.
The final score was Rochester 9-89 to Echuca 2 4-68.
Along with Stephen Hope’s male aggregate win, Alyssa Moss, recruited to Rochester from Rich River this season, had a great year with her new team, earning female aggregate honours.
Rochester captain Karen Taylor reflected on the day and her team’s performance when it mattered most.
“We started off strongly, there were a few hotly contested games throughout, yes, we got to win, but we’ve had a great tussle,” she said.
“Jacob Grieves was so consistent today, as usual, he is wonderful on the net.
“Kate Familari has hardly played since Christmas, but her and Alyssa stepped up, it was a really solid effort across the board.
“We have gelled really nicely throughout the year and are absolutely thrilled with the win.
“It is very satisfying being able to bring the shield back to Rochy, we will display it proudly.”
Flag Football star claims Asia-Oceania gold
Flag football’s popularity is on the rise in Australia and Rochester local Jacob Atley is leading the charge for the green and gold to field a team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Atley was once a young a promising AFL prospect, captaining the Bendigo Pioneers and playing for Essendon’s VFL side before making the switch to flag football in 2023.
In March 2025, after two years playing for Victoria as a wide receiver Atley was named in the green and gold contingent to represent his country at the 2025 IFAF Men's Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championship in Dingbo, China.
In a pool with New Zealand and American Samoa, Australia went a perfect 4-0 through the group stage ‒ finishing top of the pool and with a place in the Asia-Oceania final.
Facing Japan, Australia won the big dance 23-19, with Atley scoring two touchdowns and earning them the gold medal and qualification to the IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Dusseldorf, Germany next year.
Being top of the tree at the world championships will earn them automatic qualification to the Olympics ‒ a goal Atley and the Australian squad are keen to accomplish.
“We put in a lot of work this year training-wise and studying the playbook and going in we were confident in ourselves and in our team, so, to go undefeated against those other teams and then win the gold medal was terrific,” he said when reflecting on the Asia-Oceania final.
“That's the goal (Olympics), we’ve got a three or four-year plan in terms of the lead-up to the 2028 Olympics and the 2032 games in Brisbane as well.
“First we need to make sure we qualify, which we're currently set up to do heading over to Germany for the World Cup.
“I think the top two or three teams in that tournament next year, they'll instantly qualify for the Olympics, so that's our main goal currently, and then we'll sort of set new goals if we do qualify.”
Moama Youth Girls become flag-pies
A Moama football side finally brought a flag to the nest, a month before the reserves did the same feat when the youth girls side claimed a maiden premiership on Sunday.
Moama got its work done early and kept the Demons at arm’s length throughout the second half to record a 7.5 (47) to 3.4 (22) win.
“I couldn't be any more proud of the girls; they really wanted it today,” Moama coach Kate Christie said.
“I know Shepparton United really wanted it, they got done last year, but I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of girls and they were hungry for it.
“They got the job done and they got it done nicely.”
Moama had the best of the early pressure, opening its account with a minor score before Shaleah Cooper slotted the first major of the game.
Although the Magpies continued to earn strong field position, a clinical Demons counterattack from defensive 50 saw Zara Findlay kick her side’s first major.
Moama would kick two further goals, each the product of good movement within forward 50 and continued to dominate field position with the Magpies going into the first break ahead 19-7.
When Moama did get some pressure after a midfield tussle late in the second quarter, it capitalised first through Ruby McLeod before Cooper bombed another through from range.
The Magpies’ sixth in the dying seconds had the home team well in the ascendancy at the main break, leading 39-8.
Moama was back on the attack after the break, but wasn’t rewarded with a goal and it was United that kicked the first of the half through Tabitha Ingham.
The Magpies managed a quick response to quell the Demons’ comeback hopes, but another major, this time from Lacey Wellington, kept their momentum going.
The Demons had Moama’s defence under the pump in the final quarter, but the Magpies’ backline stood tall and, while neither side found the goal, it was enough for Moama to claim its maiden flag.
Look out for part two of our look back at the year that was in the Tuesday, December 30 edition of The Riv.