Experienced Echuca outclasses Swans in Goulburn Valley League elimination final
If there was one conclusion viewers could come to after Saturday’s elimination final, it’s that experience matters.
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Echuca, the three-peat reigning premier, facing off against Shepparton Swans, a side that hadn’t played finals in nearly a decade, made that statement ring true in its classy 18-point victory.
The Swans, who were without ruckman Mark Kovacevic, were gallant in their drought-breaking Goulburn Valley League finals appearance, but when it mattered most, Echuca’s experienced men stood up and delivered.
“Most of our better players today were older ones,” Echuca coach Simon Maddox said post-game.
“I think that experience really helped, even just in our preparation.
“The changing of the time goes to 2.30pm, so just being able to alter ourselves slightly, and not being overawed by the situation.”
The heat on the ball was immediately evident from the outset, with both sides finding majors early in the first quarter to pump up the supporters who travelled to Tatura Park.
The early desparation was clear as Shepparton Swans’ Luke Davies took an Olympic-level dive forward to smother an open shot on goal by Echuca, but gradually the Murray Bombers started to tick over the scoreboard.
A common theme of the day was Echuca’s inability to completely capitalise on its scoring shots, with that precedent set in the first term as the Murray Bombers kicked 4.7 (31) to the Swans’ 2.1 (13), leaving the red and white with a sniff.
However, despite the inaccuracy, it was clear to all those who witnessed how strong Echuca was in comparison to its opponent.
Experienced leaders stood up all over the ground, but none could compare to Liam Tenace’s untouchable day up forward.
With a vice-like grip compounded with super glue, it seemed anything that flew in Tenace’s general direction stuck.
The key forward’s gold standard leading patterns saw Tenace clunk half-a-dozen contested marks in the second quarter alone, as Echuca began to cruise through the Swans’ defence with time and space.
“He’s been out injured this year a bit, had to play him in the ruck a bit, but he was on today,” Maddox said.
“He was marking everything, had he’d been able to kick straight he probably would have had eight or nine goals.
“It gives you a focal point up forward.”
Goals out of nothing to Swans’ Jonathan Moore and Oliver Warburton reined in Echuca’s increasing lead to 28 at half-time, with the momentum carrying through to the third term as the Swans began to stamp their authority in the contest.
A flawless goal in transition to James Auld followed by a kick from the goal line after a 50m penalty was rewarded from an all-in brawl set the wheels in motion for a comeback, as another Auld major bridged the gap to 10 points.
Yet Echuca’s experience lifted when the challenge was raised, snagging goals off game-high pressure levels around the contest, with the Swans’ defence cracking under the Murray Bombers’ persistent siege.
Four consecutive majors for Echuca put the lead out to nearly six goals by three-quarter time and, in the final term, the Murray Bombers would kick two of the first three to put out the fire.
The Swans valiantly battled to the final siren, but the game’s intensity significantly dropped off halfway through the last as Echuca coasted to a 14.17 (101) to 13.5 (83) victory.
The result was somewhat flattering for the Swans, with Maddox lauding his side’s ability to generate looks on goal across the game, but crediting the opponent’s fight while undermanned.
“They nailed their opportunities and took them, but I felt we were in control most of the day,” Maddox said.
“We just couldn’t put them away, at times we got out to 30, 35-point leads.
“They had a few guys out today and put up a real fight.
“But we were really good, good in a lot of areas, but there will be some things to tidy up.”