‘We had a fair bit to play for’: Echuca crushes Shepparton for fourth flag in five years

Not quite the 96-point win of two years ago, the Murray Bombers let their guard down late and ‘only’ defeated the Bears by 81 points in the 2026 senior GVL final, 21.15 (141) to 8.12 (60).

From the outset it was clear it would be Echuca’s day.

Co-coach Angus Byrne, who would win both best-on-ground medals, quickly established his will, simply too strong in the air for the Shepparton defence.

He kicked four in the first quarter and the Murray Bombers were off to the races.

Just like two years ago, when the Bears did find their way forward, it just wasn’t happening for them, and shots sailed wide as the margin continued to grow.

“ We had a fair bit to play for today,” co-coach Simon Maddox said.

“From where we were 12 months ago, a couple of broken necks, a kid (AJ Mills) with a pretty bad diagnosis who wasn't even allowed to play footy, to where we are today.

“All week I’ve been telling everyone we’re not losing today, it was never on the agenda.”

Defender Mills, who was ruled ineligible for last year’s finals after spending a year battling brain cancer, was thrown up forward in the final quarter, and was swamped by his teammates after slotting two majors, including one on the final siren.

“Everything went to script, and footy’s good when it goes to script,” Maddox said.

“It doesn’t always go like that unfortunately, and sometimes it ends in tears, and we’ve been on the end of that ourselves.

“Last year was pretty hard for us to take as a footy club, so to hit back the way we have this year, is amazing.”

In it’s 150th year, Echuca has been without a home ground, playing at Echuca South, Moama and Tongala throughout the season, but the Murray Bombers wouldn’t let that stop them reaching the pinnacle once again.

“Everything we used as motivation just to galvanise us,” Maddox said.

“No footy ground, raining no end in winter, nowhere to shower, and we just kept turning up.

“We’d have 40 or 50 at training and the credit’s due to all the boys, they’re a fantastic group.

“The whole club, seniors reserves, 18s.

“Two weeks ago we said to the boys we’ll go watch the netball, and they hired a bus and came over, and we had 40 footballers there watching the A-grade netball play, so it’s a pretty special group.”

Maddox’s tenure at the helm ends here, his legacy a stellar four football flags in a five-year stretch.

“I won’t be lost to the place,” he said.

“I’ll cook a barbecue, I’ll work the gate, or work on the bar or something.

“I’m getting old and grumpy and tired to tell you the truth, and the boys need a new change.

“It's been a great journey, started right back with Walks (Andrew Walker) at the start, and since then we’ve been very successful.

“If I can help out somewhere else, I definitely will.”