Echuca pulls off resounding grand final victory over Kyabram to seal back-to-back GVL premierships

Echuca etched its name into league immortality with a resounding victory over Kyabram at Deakin Reserve on Sunday, the first Murray Bombers side to do the double since 2001-02.

It also buried the demons of its 2019 loss to the Bombers in that year’s decider and four years later it’s the club by the Murray that now sits as the competition’s top dog.

It’s status as the best club of the past two seasons is now set in stone after a 15.13 (103) to 9.13 (67) triumph, with the scoreline suggesting a lop-sided affair.

But that was only half-true, with the Bombers flying high by five points at half-time in Paul Newman’s final game as senior coach.

However, the start of the decider will be remembered as a cagey affair with neither team scoring a goal in the first 10 minutes.

It was none other than returned co-captain Kane Morris who loped inside 50 after a contested opening stanza to kick the first goal.

Under an injury cloud heading into the clash, Kyabram’s Jason Morgan justified his selection from injury with a pair of vital early intercepts, but the Bombers couldn’t capitalise down the ground.

It wasn’t until the 18th minute that Kyabram found its first goal of the grand final, with Morrison Medal runner-up Kaine Herbert stepping up to the plate after a 50m penalty to get the Bombers under way.

With a litany of stories to pick from, 18-year-old Hugh Byrne was one of best of the day in his first senior grand final, getting a medal around his neck one year after brother Angus did the same.

Byrne stood tall to boot Echuca’s second goal of the day, but an experienced Brad Mangan was strong down forward for Kyabram to tie up proceedings at 2.2 (14) apiece at quarter-time.

After the break, preliminary final hero Anthony Depasquale kicked truly early in the quarter to hand Kyabram the lead for the first time as the arm-wrestle continued.

Tom Burnett then sent Kyabram supporters into hysteria and his team two goals clear with a snap from the boundary, a feat emulated by Sam Willoughby at the other end to bring it back to one kick.

After booting four goals in their previous encounter against Kyabram, Cooper Barber roved the pack beautifully in front of goals at the Skene St end to tie scores up again.

That was until Josh Dillon’s free kick and goal sent the Bombers clear again and, despite the Murray Bombers’ favouritism heading into the clash, Kyabram looked up to the challenge, heading into half-time with a five-point lead on the back of some good work from Rhys Clark and Brad Whitford down back.

But Echuca has proven itself as a second-half specialist throughout its contests against Kyabram this season and the question was whether the grand final made for an entirely different comeback.

It didn’t. Instead, it was another blistering performance from the Murray Bombers.

Jackson Stewart’s miraculous running snap within the first minute of the third quarter started a run of eight unanswered goals for Echuca, retaking the lead almost instantly.

But it was Byrne again who stood up to the occasion early in the premiership quarter.

Byrne kicked truly on two occasions within the space of seven minutes to take his tally to three for the day, and Sam Reid got in on the action to launch Echuca out to a 21-point lead.

Injury concerns to Zac Norris put him out of play momentarily and opposing ruck Morris capitalised with a goal from directly in front.

A Kyabram turnover in front of goal allowed Will Monahan to pounce on a goal of his own, the first of two in the shadows of three-quarter time for the co-captain.

Liam Tenace then added to the Echuca deluge to make it eight unanswered goals for the reigning premier and, while Kyabram broke that run through Brad Mangan, the Murray Bombers had blown the margin out to 39 points at three-quarter time, one final stanza away from glory.

And the question of whether or not the Bombers would work their way into the contest was answered swiftly.

Tenace, Reid and Monahan led a five-goal final term ― one that delivered a second straight Goulburn Valley League premiership.

For the second year running, the final siren sparked joyous celebrations for the green and white supporters who made the trip down the highway, with tears rolling down the faces of all and sundry.

The Murray Bombers have now stamped their authority as the best club of the two seasons, losing two games in the past two campaigns and going back-to-back for the first time since 2002.

And for Echuca’s Sam Willoughby, it was another occasion to savour.

After being named last year’s umpires’ best-on-ground, the Echuca midfielder scooped the umpires’ accolade and the Wilf Cox Medal to round out a dominant performance.