Tough tag and second-half surge help Echuca stay on top of GVL

By Josh Huntly

Jul 30, 2023

Echuca’s second-half temperament has once again held it in good stead, this time against Euroa.

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Trailing by a goal at half-time, the Murray Bombers booted 10 second-half goals to the Pies’ four at Victoria Park to romp to a 32-point win, the second time this Goulburn Valley League season Echuca has bested its 2022 grand final opponent.

Euroa became the latest string of opponents who have led at the main break yet had no answers for the Murray Bombers’ second half blitz.

Echuca co-coach Sam Reid, sidelined with a calf injury, said his charges did well to refine their ball movement after a “chaotic” first half.

“Teams at the moment are coming with us in the first half,” Reid said.

“It was a really good contested game, we want to play in those because as the game goes on we start getting the ball moving and our young blokes get their run going.

“We didn’t change much, we had a lot of opportunities in the first half, but with the intensity and pressure they were putting on us we were a bit chaotic I suppose.”

Echuca jumped out of the blocks with a four-goal-to-two first term before the Jacob and Max Gleeson-led Euroa turned the table with a physical five-goal second stanza.

Quick hands: Euroa's Nathan Stewart gets a handball away under pressure from Jack Evans. Photo by Josh Huntly

Liam Tenace added three goals to his season tally after eight the previous week, while Corbin Anderson, Noah Langborne and Will Monahan each booted two.

But hanging over the contest was arguably the best player in Goulburn Valley League at present ― Will Hayes.

Hayes also started well after picking up 50 disposals against Seymour, but he was accompanied all game by Matt Lias who applied the tag on the Pies’ talisman.

“(Matt) was unbelievable,” Reid said.

“We pumped him up, I was into him on Thursday night about how to play that role. We spoke about it and everything I told him he did.

“We had to tweak it on the run after Hayes had I think eight or nine touches in the first quarter and looked like he was getting a bit of it.

“Matt just wants to win.”

Victory has helped Echuca hold top spot for another week, while the Pies have slipped to fifth.