Echuca stay the course in search of three-peat

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Daniel Willis

OUTS: None

The reigning back-to-back premiers are set for more of the same this season, with the squad remaining relatively unchanged in 2024.

The Murray Bombers’ 2023 season was even more impressive than in 2022, with the side rampaging to its second straight title with a six-goal grand final victory over Kyabram.

Sam Reid is stepping away from the coaches chair but will remain a key figure on the park, leaving the 2022 title winning duo of Simon Maddox and Andrew Walker at the helm with perhaps an even stronger squad than the one that led them to the premiership last campaign.

“Last year’s under 18's won the premiership so those kids are really pushing through and made it really clear they want to play senior footy,” Maddox said.

“So there’s a good environment at the moment that's conducive to challenging each other.

“I think we’ve got the strongest squad with we’ve had under mine and Andrew’s tenure and we’re looking forward to the challenge that the other side’s bring.”

With no major departures and the return of 2022 premiership alum Daniel Willis, the Murray Bombers are poised to make a deep run once again as they search for an elusive three-peat, last achieved by the 2005-07 Seymour side.

“We’ll go in with a similar mindset (to last year), nothings set in stone until we’re playing finals so our first goal will be the win enough games to get us to finals,” Maddox said.

“Once we’ve done that, we’ll start to map a plan to hopefully be the premiers, but a lot of water to go under the bridge before we talk about that sort of stuff.

“We’ve had a long pre-season like everyone else, and when you see the AFL on TV just starting, our guys are ready to play footy now as well.

“We’re fully fit, and we’ve got everyone on the track, and football can't come quick enough for us now.”