The AFL Goulburn Murray football academy programs wrapped up a training block recently with a chance for all players to put their skills to the test.
The Shepparton and Echuca-based players faced off against each other for full four-quarter matches, with the under-13 and under-14 footballers enjoying the play.
In the under-13 contest, Echuca — coached by Paul Clarke, Bart Phillips and managed by Cameron ‘‘Squeak’’ Farrer — reigned supreme when the final siren sounded, winning 14.10 (94) to Shepparton’s 9.7 (61).
Archie Watt (three goals), Nicholas Jephson and Makai Cronin (both two) booted multiple majors for Echuca, with Bailey Marsh, River Stevens, Mitchell Bell, Tom Evans, Lachlan Hogan, Jobe Shanahan and Jai Milligan all kicking one.
For Shepparton — coached by Brett Warburton, Simon Grumley and Jamie Atkinson — it was Lochie O’Brien (three goals), Darby Wilson (two), Jack Whitlock (two), Zayden Leocata and Harry Brown finding the middle of the big sticks.
Evans, Cronin, Watt, Shanahan, Hogan and Nate Rasmussen were among Echuca’s best players, while Mitchell Grumley, Mitch Walters, Oliver Warburton, O’Brien, Jye Fitzsimmons and Kade Dwyer impressed for Shepparton.
The result was flipped in the under-14 age group, with Shepparton — coached by Paul McInneny and Ross Opie — taking a 17.9 (111) to 11.6 (72) victory.
Coby James (one goal), Lucas Rachele, Lachlan Howard (four goals), Gus Bramwell, Ben Woods and Angus Murray (two) stood out most for the victors, with Levy Tejones, Mason Reeves, Joeve Cooper, Manny Laulu and Josh Payne all booting two goals.
For Echuca — under coaches Adrian Dohnt and Phillip Evans — Kyle Green, Harley Reid, Bohden Learmonth, Sam Edgar (all two goals), Ben Paterson, Ethan Hart and Darchi Clarke all managed to trouble the scorers while Reid, Edgar, Oskar Smart, Alvin Cooper, Charlie Palmer and Noah Langborne battled hardest in the defeat.