Echuca has broken its 20-year flag drought in one of the all-time classic Goulburn Valley League grand finals, breaking a gallant Euroa Football Club’s heart by two goals in Sunday’s decider at Deakin Reserve.
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And helping the side to the historic win were two locals - Deni’s Sam Willouhgby and Mathoura’s Kaileb Wilson.
Willoughby was even described as one of the heroes of the match - along with Kane Morris, Cam Valentine, Mitch Wales, and best-on-ground Ruory Kirkby - and judged best-on-ground for the umpires after a stellar display.
The Murray Bombers were clinical to start the game before Euroa stormed home to briefly claim the lead in the final stanza, the first time in the day’s play they did so.
But the heroes of Echuca, including Sam Willoughby, Kane Morris, Cam Valentine, Mitch Wales, and best-on-ground Ruory Kirkby were just some of the stories to help the Murray Bombers to GVL glory for the first time since 2002.
And as soon as the siren blew to signify the start of the 2022 grand final, Echuca was red-hot in front of one of the biggest crowds in the league’s history.
Echuca spearhead Ruory Kirkby got the Murray Bombers off to a perfect start, converting an early set shot after some sizzling forward entries.
That trend continued early with Echuca’s second goal from two entries, with Kirkby again sticking a mark to set an ominous tone in the grand final.
Euroa had an early chance through Erishmiilan Uthayakumar, but in a heartbeat the ball was rebounded and Angus Byrne, a force for Echuca so far this finals series, slotted his first goal of the day.
It wasn’t long before Byrne struck again, and his set shot extended Echuca’s lead to 23 points with only 13 minutes gone in the first quarter.
But against the flow of play, the Magpies found their mark as the tension ratcheted up.
Jack McKernan calmly slotted Euroa’s first goal 17 minutes into the first term, and Will McIntosh added another shortly after to bring the Pies back within 10 points at quarter-time.
But Kirkby could not stay out of the contest, with his third goal of the day providing the Murray Bombers the perfect start to the second quarter.
Jett Trotter picked up Euroa’s third goal of the day in quick reply to keep the Pies in touch, but Echuca’s pressure ramped up to keep the ball parked in its forward half.
Cam Valentine at the other end repelled several Magpies’ advances, with several crucial intercept marks.
Cooper Barber capitalised for Echuca, kicking its sixth goal of the day and extending the lead to 19 points.
It was entry after entry for the Murray Bombers but Euroa’s back half held fast, despite enormous pressure.
A double blood rule to Nathan Stewart and Lachlan Hill reflected the contested nature of the battle.
Willoughby and Wales led the charge from the midfield for Echuca, while for the Magpies Jack Hellier and Adam Giobbi began to impose themselves through the midfield.
A late bump from Valentine failed to cost Echuca as a Harrison Jarvie set shot travelled left, and at half-time, the Murray Bombers held the ascendancy by 20 points as a defining second half loomed.
In the premiership quarter, Euroa took its chance early with Andrew Smith nabbing the first goal of the quarter to get the Pies off to a flyer.
Jarvie gathered a slick goal on the run a minute later and for the first time in the GVL grand final, a ripple went through the crowd as the Magpies drew within eight points, the closest they had been all day.
Sensing their moment, the Magpies upped the tempo, and after a Sam Reid miss from a straightforward set shot it seemed Echuca was feeling the pressure.
Kirkby reeled in an impressive mark falling back with the flight and with his fourth goal of the day delivered Echuca the steadier it absolutely needed.
With Kirkby lifting to the occasion, and Mitch Wales and Logan Prout providing good run off half-back, Euroa skipper Marcus Varley lifted a gear, and the Pies’ improved transition play resulted in a wide-open Tristan Davies goal to reduce the margin back to two goals.
With the lights on, Echuca captain Kane Morris stood tall to snag a goal from a set shot against the run.
A crucial Curt Townrow save from a certain Euroa goal helped Echuca reinforce their position, but the Pies’ chances were dealt a big blow with Erishmiilan Uthayakumar going down with a serious shoulder injury, appearing to be out of the contest.
In a remarkable final quarter, however, Euroa came home strong 19 points down.
Tristan Davies was the beneficiary of a holding the ball free kick, and in the final quarter of the season Euroa were the first to strike to bring the margin back to 13 points.
It was the case of cometh the moment, cometh Jett Trotter when the Magpies goal-kicker converted to get them within seven points.
Harrison Jarvie then pulled down Angus Byrne in a critical tackle to save a goal for the Pies and a brave Andrew Smith mark on the Echuca forward-50 line Smith and Hellier was another notch on a huge second half for the big man.
Adam Giobbi’s 50-metre dragged the Pies within a point, and with a mark in the goalsquare Nathan Stewart handed Euroa the lead for the first time in the grand final.
But Echuca did not need to wait long to grab it back with Jackson Stewart firing up the Murray Bombers faithful with a goal streaming inside-50.
Morris redeemed himself after being pinged for holding the ball at the other end and kicked Echuca back out to seven points, and Cooper Barber snagged another on the run seemed seal the premiership for Echuca.
A tense final stanza ensued with the decibels from the crowd reaching bigger and bigger heights, but with the ball in a contest on the clubrooms wing, the siren sounded to confirm Echuca as the premier of the GVL.
Euroa’s Ben Giobbi was judged player of the final series, while Sam WIlloughby was judged best-on-ground for the umpires after a stellar display.
The Wilf Cox Medal was awarded to Ruory Kirkby after his four-goal haul.