While it may be a toss up to see if the Lions make it to September Echuca is essentially a shoo-in, the game at Victoria Park was always going to be an interesting one.
However, by the end of the first quarter, it was clear the Murray Bombers had this one wrapped up.
In an opening stanza that featured a double in front of goal by Hugh Byrne and contributions by Joe Guiney and Makai Cronin, Echuca darted out to an 18-point lead.
Yet, through the middle of the match, it was slow going attack-wise for both sides, with Liam Tenace the sole goal kicker for the second period.
By this point, it was clearly going to be a low-scoring affair, with Seymour scrounging 11 points by half-time and the normally trigger-happy Murray Bombers sitting at 39.
So, when the Lions outscored the host in the third period (2.7) to (1.2) and cut the lead to 17, we may have thought we had a game on our hands.
But, the green machine did what it does best — coming home strong down the stretch.
The most productive passage of play from either side all game came in the final frame for Echuca, nailing 4.5 to ice the game.
The familiar unit of Samuel Reid, Curtis Townrow, Harry Milburn, Mitchell Wales and Byrne across the ground got it done for the Murray Bombers with Byrne shining in front of goal with three majors.
The 10.15 (75) to 4.15 (39) victory serves as a nice preamble for Echuca, as it looks to a big showdown this week with historic rival Rochester at Victoria Park for round 12.
