Evading: Echuca’s Tom Evans is wrapped up during the under-16 grand final. Photo: Steve Huntley
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Steve Huntley
Despite dominating in patches, Echuca has fallen to Shepparton Swans by 16 points in the under-16 grand final of 2022.
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The Murray Bombers had the run of play but could not capitalise in front of goal as the minor premier’s season ended with a 11.7 (73) to 7.15 (57) defeat.
Good hands: Echuca’s Solly Fleming reels in a strong mark. Photo: Steve Huntley
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Steve Huntley
Tom Evans was enormous for the Murray Bombers with four goals and plenty of the football, but young Swans’ gun Caiden Phillips was a force as best-on-ground to deliver the Shepparton Swans a flag on grand final day.
The Murray Bombers could not capitalise on extended periods of dominance, booting 1.6 in the third quarter, and Harper Simpson’s sealer late in the fourth quarter handed Swans the win.
Fiery: Tempers flare in the second quarter. Photo: Steve Huntley
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Steve Huntley
Despite the loss, Echuca coach Jayden Howe was proud of his young Murray Bombers’ side, one with three players aged 14.
“One thing we need to remember with this group of boys is we’ve got three kids that are 14 years old and another five or six that are 15,” Howe said.
“For our boys to grow from where they were at the start of the year to now is incredible, and we’ll take that.
“Credit to the Swans, they’d been training to beat us and they did it. You’ve got to take your hat off, they played a really quick style of footy.”
After a tense first quarter, Phillips secured the lead early in the second, but Evans would not be denied to reel the ascendancy right back.
Flying: Echuca’s Cody Mann and Shepparton Swans’ Jett Bruton climb into the ruck. Photo: Megan Fisher
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Megan Fisher
The quarter went goal-for-goal until a Bailey Stephens stunner saw the Swans take a four-point lead into half-time.
Cody Walker and Solly Fleming began to work into the contest, but a double strike to the Swans, including a Mitch Grumley goal on the siren, meant Echuca would need to overcome a nine-point deficit.
Up close and personal: Shepparton Swans Jye Fitzsimmons and Echucas Jaxon McMinn acquaint themselves. Photo: Megan Fisher
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Megan Fisher
Liam Gronow provided a spark with an early goal, but it was a deficit that proved a bridge too far, and the Swans inevitably saluted in 2022.
Howe picked out a number of key performers for Echuca.
“You can’t go past Tom Evans, he was huge,” he said.
Bang: Echuca’s Tom Evans sinks the boot in. Photo: Steve Huntley
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“Tom’s come a long way, from being told he might not play footy again to evolving into the player he is now is incredible.
“Jed Dargan across our half-back flank was really strong when we kicked out. Cody Walker as well, for 14-year-old to come out and play like that in a grand final just speaks volumes about where he’ll end up.”
Evans was judged the overall player of the series.
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