Echuca’s dominant season in the Goulburn Valley League continued at the weekend.
The Murray Bombers stretched their winning streak to 11 after accounting for Shepparton Swans by 61 points at Princess Park on Saturday.
Echuca weathered a spirited but wayward first-quarter charge from the Swans to take a nine-point lead at the first break.
The Swans failed to capitalise on early opportunities with seven behinds until Nathan Rachele snapped their inaccurate run with their first goal.
Coming off a 10-goal haul last round, in-form forward Ruory Kirkby drew the attention of Swans defender Ben Gilberto, but nonetheless began to exert his influence on the contest in the second quarter as the Murray Bombers kicked away with a five-goal-to-one term.
Echuca then crafted a typically busy third-quarter performance to put the game to bed, converting another five goals to take a 50-point lead into the three-quarter time huddle.
The Swans finished strongly with four goals, but it was Echuca’s day en-route to a 16.19 (115) to 7.12 (54) triumph, the Murray Bombers’ 11th straight.
Swans midfielders Zac Banch and B.J. Squire were in the thick of the action in Shepparton’s first-quarter charge, while Will Dwyer, Max Clohesy and Andrew Riordan were standouts in the Swans’ ninth defeat of the season.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox praised the “workmanlike” performance of his side, while also crediting the Swans for the “best pressure” the Murray Bombers have experienced in recent weeks.
“Credit to (Swans), if they had kicked straight in the first quarter it might have been a bit more interesting,” Maddox said.
“I thought they were quite competitive. They didn’t take the foot off the pedal all day.
“They probably brought the best pressure we’ve seen in four or five weeks.”
Kirkby’s hot streak in front of goal continued with another five against the Swans, taking his season tally to 43.
Jack McHale collected plenty of the football through the middle of the ground and Maddox praised Sam Willoughby for his performance.
“Sam was good with his pressure all day, he kicked a few goals as well,” he said.
“Ben Reid and Curtis Townrow were good down back, Ruory kicked five and took a lot of marks. It was just an even spread (of contributors) and a workmanlike performance.”