Hello and welcome to Goulburn Valley League grand final day from Deakin Reserve.
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McPherson Media Group journalists and photographers will be across the action from the first whistle to the final siren - and I’ll keep you updated as it all happens in this live blog.
A reminder, the freshest updates will appear just below this intro throughout the day, giving you the ability to pop back in for the latest news and then scroll down to see what you missed.
Make sure you pick up a copy of the Shepparton News and the Riverine Herald tomorrow for your special souvenir editions - or head online to flick through the digital editions of each masthead.
Enjoy!
UPDATE: 6.05pm: Thank you all
Thanks everyone for tuning in today - and yesterday to the Murray league blog as well.
To tie off the last bits of the news from today, Cooper and Sam Willoughby jagged best afield medals today and Ash Holland was named the best player in finals.
It’s been another ripping end to the local football and netball seasons, and as always its been our privilege to bring it to you from every angle.
Make sure you look out for all of the rest of the content we’re working on across the evening on the Shepp News and Riv Herald websites.
And as the music blares from the Echuca rooms, I’ll give one more plug to tomorrow’s print editions - or digital replicas - before we scurry away to finish them off for you.
Until next time!
UPDATE: 6pm: Earth-shaking
The Echuca senior football song rocked the foundations of Deakin Reserve.
The A-grade netball report is also ready for you in all of its glory below.
Reid all about it (see what I did there).
UPDATE: 5.38pm: Record-breaking
I’ve just spent 10 minutes combing through every senior football grant final score in the GVL Weekender (which goes back to 1919).
Echuca’s 96-point winning margin today is the biggest winning margin in the league’s history.
In 1995, Tatura defeated Echuca 23.13 (151) to 10.15 (75) - and that 76-point margin has stood the test of time for almost three decades.
The Murray Bombers can now also claim the highest score in a GVL grand final - beating that Tatura score in ‘95.
UPDATE: 5.28pm: Echuca dominant
The Murray Bombers are a force to behold - 22.22 (154) to 9.4 (58) is the final score in what was a completely one-sided affair.
That’s three in a row for the Bottle Green in the seniors - and all three football sides have snared success today.
Bear with us as we get through the washup and the celebrations (and battle print deadlines) but there will be plenty of content ready for you shortly.
UPDATE: 5.13pm: Party time
To be fair, it’s been party time for a while for the Echuca contingent, but there was certainly a loud cheer from the Bottle Green crowd when the scoreline ticked over to 140-40.
19 minutes gone, final term.
UPDATE: 5pm: The final throes
The senior football is approaching the 10-minute mark of the final term and Echuca leads by a mammoth 80 points.
The Murray Bombers have notched up 17.18 (120) to Shepparton’s 6.4 (40).
UPDATE: 4.31pm: Young star takes flight
Euroa’s Hollie Reid took best on court honours in the A-grade clash.
Echuca now leads 109-21 in the senior footy, approaching red time in the third term.
UPDATE: 4.30pm: Take in some of the colour of the day
Check out this yarn from contributor Cameron Burt on all of the colour and verve of the day.
UPDATE: 4.05pm: Euroa captures the flag
Euroa has done it, winning 50-38 over Echuca to claim success and the A-grade crown.
UPDATE: 4pm: Magpies about to succeed
Euroa is up to every challenge Echuca is throwing at it, up by seven goals late in the fourth term.
UPDATE: 3.50pm: Echuca fighting hard on court
The Murray Bombers drew within seven goals of Euroa at the final change.
The Bears have their second goal on the board in the senior footy contest, but Echuca is all over them otherwise.
The Murray Bombers lead by 62 points.
Will they be starting to think about joining the roaring party their seconds and thirds are currently conducting?
There’s a fair way to go yet.
The half time siren has just sounded.
UPDATE: 3.41pm: Drawing closer
Euroa is still holding sway by nine goals, but both sides are missing opportunities in the third term.
Echuca is out to 73-8 leaders in the football, 17 minutes gone in the second term.
UPDATE: 3.27pm: Half time of the netball
Euroa has stormed ahead by 10 goals at the main break over Echuca.
Liv Morris is dominating.
UPDATE: 3.17pm: Quarter time
Echuca took Shepparton scoring to heart, and proceeded to pile on another three majors to end the first term at 7.6 (48) to 1.0 (6).
Euroa leads Echuca 21-13 on the netball court.
UPDATE: 3.10pm: Bears on the board
Joel Brett bursts through a pack and snaps truly on the run to get Shepparton its first goal.
Whether you call him a like-for-like replacement - or just a bloody good one - for Luke Smith is up to you.
UPDATE: 3.06pm: Ominous
Echuca starts as Echuca means to go on - leading 4.5 (29) to nothing just into red time of the first quarter.
This is the scoring (and Skene St) end though.
Euroa has flown the lids in the netball, leading by seven goals.
UPDATE: 2.56pm: Nervy start
The Bears have turned it over a few times through the middle of the ground and Echuca is threatening to make them pay.
Murray Bombers lead 2.3 (15) to no score with 12 minutes gone.
Euroa and Echuca are doing battle on court, with the Magpies securing an early break.
UPDATE: 2.48pm: And we’re off
Hugh Byrne has run in Echuca’s first major of the day to the tune of the Murray Bombers’ reserves absolutely belting the chorus of ‘Freed from Desire’ from the Shepparton United clubrooms.
He’d have to be deaf not to have heard it.
UPDATE: 2.43pm: Tighe talk
“I didn’t think I deserved either of them but it’s good to have but the other one’s, (the premiership’s) the most important medal,” Echuca’s Tighe O’Brien told The Riv.
“Very proud (of the year). It’s the beauty of a good football club. You get dropped from the seniors you’ve still got the opportunity to play in a grand final because the reserves are in it.
“It’s awesome, it’s a great place to be around. It’s been my home since I was born I grew up around the club, I don’t really know anything else.”
UPDATE: 2.40pm: More from earlier
Defender Toni Bootland received best-on-court honours for her efforts in the B-Reserve game.
Seymour coach Courtney Aldous was impressed by Bootland’s performance, given the star defender had just returned from injury.
“It’s (Bootland’s) first game back since six or eight weeks,” Aldous said.
“She had a wrist injury, so to come and perform like that was insane.”
Coming into the match, Aldous said the group felt pressure to perform after making it through 2024 undefeated.
“It’s a real special group of girls,” she said.
“We have had a big build-up to this point, given we were undefeated throughout the season, but we embraced it.
“The girls came and showed up today.
“I am really grateful to be a part of this team.”
The Lions utilised the rolling substitution rule perfectly in the grand final.
Aldous said this had been a focus point for the group all season.
Read more at the link below.
UPDATE: 2.35pm: Nearly ready
Teams are warming up, but we’re unlikely to start on time as we haven’t had the official pre-game ceremonies yet.
Echuca reserves’ rendition of the team song just shook the walls though.
I’ve had word too - Tighe O’Brien won both the best afield medal today and the best player in finals crown.
UPDATE: 2.25pm: Best on court
Euroa’s Sarah Ternes has been crowned best on court in the B-grade clash.
If the football speakers were louder I could tell you who claimed the equivalent honours in the twos, but you’ll have to wait until the journo on deck texts it to me.
UPDATE: 2.13pm: Murray Bombers get the job done
Echuca far too good in the end in the reserves, running away with a 45-point win over Rochester.
The buzzer has also sounded in the B-grade netball, with Euroa taking the spoils.
UPDATE: 2.03pm: Coverage note
Following the end of the B-grade netball there’s a break so that the A-grade netballers can line up with the senior footballers out on the oval for some official proceedings.
Our content continues to roll out on both the Shepp News and Riv Herald websites from this morning’s games.
Make sure you grab a copy of each tomorrow as well.
And then throughout the week you’ll be able to look out for some special edition premiership posters across the grades - and leagues - from the past few weeks of grand final action.
We’ll also have, conservatively, a million photos for you to peruse - I’ll sort you out some mega galleries through the week with those that missed being included in the match report galleries in there as well.
UPDATE: 2pm: Taking control
Echuca and Euroa have charged ahead in their respective reserves football and B-grade netball clashes.
The Murray Bombers are now 19 points up as the game heads into red time.
The Magpies led by 10 goals at the final break.
UPDATE: 1.53pm: Tight one!
Echuca has retaken the lead, by just one straight kick, in the reserves clash. 13 minutes gone in the final term.
Euroa’s out to a 32-23 lead in the netball contest.
UPDATE: 1.40pm: Plenty to play out
Rochester has lifted to lead by two points at the final change over an Echuca side which has yet to taste defeat this season.
In the netball - in the early stages of the third quarter - Euroa is taking it right up to Mooroopna and leads 23-18.
UPDATE: 1.25pm: Action continues
Just about to hit red time in the reserves football and Echuca holds a 10-point lead over Rochester.
Over in a hotly-contested B-grade netball clash, Euroa leads Mooroopna 16-13 midway through the second term.
UPDATE: 1pm: Half time
At the main break of the reserves football, Echuca leads Rochester 4.2 (26) to 3.3 (21).
We’re not far from the B-grade netball action beginning either.
UPDATE: 12.46pm: Lions roar
Seymour has claimed a dominant 44-30 win over Rochester in the B-Reserve netball.
Toni Bootland was named best on court.
The Tigers lead by two points in the reserves footy.
UPDATE: 12.45pm: Swan song
Read all about the 17-and-under Swans’ triumph at the link below.
UPDATE: 12:26pm: Lions leading
Seymour is 32-26 ahead at three-quarter time of the B-Reserve clash against Rochester.
In the footy, Echuca and Rochy continue to trade blows and the Tigers lead by eight points with a minute left in the term.
UPDATE: 12.20pm: Tigers start well
Rochester has kicked the first two goals of the reserves clash and lead 14-0 after 10 minutes.
UPDATE: 12.12pm: Reserves
The twos has begun - and it’s the fiercest rivalry in local football with Echuca taking on Rochester.
Seymour led by just two goals over the Tigers at half time of the B-Reserve netball.
The completed stories from today will start rolling online pretty consistenly from about now.
First-up was the 15-and-under match report.
UPDATE: 11.55am: Football presentations
Swan Sam Bicknell wins the Garry Lyon Medal as the best player across the finals series and the AFL Vic Country Medal as best afield today as awarded by the umpires.
Echuca’s Jaxson McMinn wins the Freddo McMahon Medal for best afield as adjudged by the media.
UPDATE: 11.52am: B-Reserve netball has started
Seymour leads Rochester 15-9 at quarter time.
UPDATE: 11:45am: What a game of football
Echuca wins by a solitary point in a game that had to be seen to be believed.
So many moments late that mattered, but in the end it was Tom Evans who stood tall - after missing a set shot just a minute earlier - to slot the winner.
UPDATE: 11.39am: Tom Evans
He has a second chance to kick his team to victory. AND HE KICKS IT! Must be seconds left.
UPDATE: 11.38am: Wow
High drama all round. 30 minutes gone. Four points Swans’ way. Locked in Echuca’s half.
UPDATE: 11.30am: Cool as you like
Makai Cronin around the corner for Echuca - you can tell he’s performed on this stage before - kicks the Murray Bombers back within four points. 23 minutes gone.
UPDATE: 11.27am: Side note
Some absolute pre-game bangers emanating from the Rochester rooms - including currently Travellin’ Soldier by The Chicks.
UPDATE: 11.26am: What a game
Harper Simpson from the Swans calmly slots a set shot and gives it the huge celebration as he steers his team 10 points ahead once more.
About to hit red time.
UPDATE: 11.24am: And another!
Isaac Watson splts a pack and slots a goal on the run from 45m. Less than a kick in it!
UPDATE: 11.23am: Echuca hits back
Echuca hits back through Darby Jones and it’s back to 10!
UPDATE: 11.22am: THE DUFF MAN
Rory Duffy slots a set shot from an acute angle for the Swans and they’re back out to 16 points ahead, 14 minutes gone final term.
UPDATE: 11.20am: Swans get a flag
The 17-and-under netball has finished, with the Shepparton Swans winning 46-41 and Ruby Diffey snaring the best on court medal.
In the football, Echuca has drawn within just 10 points.
UPDATE: 11.15am: Bottle Green army lifting
Echuca’s kicked the first two goals of the term - and two behinds - to bring the margin back to an even three goals with seven minutes played.
UPDATE: 11.04am: The stage is set
Twice the Shepparton Swans have made it to the biggest day of the year in the thirds and been met with the unstoppable force that is Echuca.
Will it finally be third time lucky for this group?
The Swans lead by 32 points at the final change, but the Murray Bombers have the scoring end in the last term.
UPDATE: 11am: Big moments
The Swans keep winning the big moments as the quarter ticks over 30 minutes.
They lead 64-33.
Over on the netball courts there’s a barn-burner brewing, with the Swans leading Mooroopna by a goal at the final break.
UPDATE: 10.50am: Approaching last change
The Swans hold a 57-32 lead over Echuca as three-quarter time approaches.
Both the third and fourth quarters in the thirds grand final have time on added (which I only just remembered when the clock ticked past 20 minutes and the siren didn’t go).
UPDATE: 10.41am: Stretcher called
A young Swan is down with a lower leg injury but we haven’t been able to catch his number.
Play resumes with just under three minutes left on the clock.
UPDATE: 10.38am: Swans charging
With the aid of a breeze advantage (it is quite swirly though) the Swans have kicked out to 15 points ahead of Echuca.
HOLD THE PHONE
As I type, Flynn Grumley has unleashed from the arc again and again shot truly!
And pulled out the bow and arrow mind you!
Swans lead by 21 points.
AND ANOTHER
I need to type quicker. Straight out of the centre clearance and the Swans are now 27 points ahead with five minutes left in the third term.
UPDATE: 10.28am: BANG!
Shepparton Swans hit the lead again a minute into the second half thanks to a huuuuge roost from Flynn Grumley.
He wheeled around from about 55m at the Skene St end of Deakin Reserve and slotted it.
UPDATE: 10.20am: Murray Bombers fight back
Echuca takes a 5.0 (30) to 4.3 (27) lead into half time of the thirds footy.
The second term was of a green and white flavour, thanks to the brute force of Cody Walker.
Echuca kicked three goals to the Swans’ one to take a three-point lead into the main break. Sam Bicknell has kicked two of his own for the Swannies and doing all he can to keep them in the contest.
It’s all tied up over at the netball early in the second term, 12-apiece.
UPDATE: 9.55am: Next up
The 17-and-under netball is next up on court, with Mooroopna and Shepparton Swans set to do battle.
The Swans hold a 20-12 lead over in the football contest at quarter time.
Echuca kicked the first goal of the game within a minute, but the Swans replied from the next centre bounce and steadied from there.
UPDATE: 9.50am: Best on court
Echuca’s Kate Head was named best on court in the 15-and-under decider.
UPDATE: 9.42am: Echuca has done it
The Murray Bombers were tested mightily early on by Mansfield, but a stellar second half has seen them take out the first premiership of the day.
The final score was 45-41.
Over in the under-18 football the Swans have started on fire, leading 3.2 (20) to Echuca’s 1.0 (6) with five minutes left in the term.
UPDATE: 9.40am: The crowd’s about to go wild
Echuca leads by four goals with surely not long left now.
UPDATE: 9.25am: Huge quarter from Echuca
The Murray Bombers have lifted!
At the final break, Echuca leads Mansfield 34-33 and the crowd is having a huge influence.
UPDATE: 9am: Mansfield holding sway
The Eagles are up 24-19 at half time, having snared goals in the final seconds of both quarters thus far.
UPDATE: 8.45am: Action has begun
There’s plenty of noise at the netball courts as Echuca and Mansfield gte underway in the 15-and-under decider.
The Eagles led 12-9 at quarter time.
UPDATE: 7.45am: What a day ahead
The sun is shining, it’s not too warm and it’s not too cold (Goldilocks would be having a field day) - perfect grand final weather has greeted the last day of the Goulburn Valley League’s season.
Volunteers are already buzzing around making sure everything is set up, and some members of the crowd are even starting to roll in.
First-up we have the 15-and-under netball decider between Echuca and Mansfield - which begins at 8.30am.
That means you’ve still got plenty of time to scroll down through all of today’s preview content, as well as take in everything the team produced at Moama yesterday throughout the Murray league grand finals.
I’m not exaggerating when I say we worked through the night to have it all ready for you - our subscribers - to read well ahead of tomorrow’s print editions.
UPDATE: Sunday, September 22, 6am: The story so far
Those of you up bright and early will have plenty of time to read through any preview content you missed in the lead-up to today’s action.
Catch links to all of it below.
You can also see how Murray Football Netball League grand final day played out at Moama Recreation Reserve yesterday by clicking through to the live blog.
All of the match reports, photo galleries and reaction from those deciders are also online already as well.
AS IT WAS PRINTED
Shepparton News digital edition: https://sheppartonnews.pressreader.com/shepparton-news
Riverine Herald digital edition: https://www.riverineherald.com.au/pressreader
FOOTBALL
Seniors
A mix of recruitment and development the key to Shepparton’s Goulburn Valley League rise: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/a-mix-of-recruitment-and-development-the-key-to-sheppartons-goulburn-valley-league-rise/
Shepparton ready to go toe-to-toe with the Echuca juggernaut: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/shepparton-ready-to-go-toe-to-toe-with-the-echuca-juggernaut/
Treble front and centre as Echuca aims to make history: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/treble-front-and-centre-as-echuca-aims-to-make-history-2/
GVL Data | Shepparton’s quiet achiever is ready for the big stage: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/gvl-data/gvl-data-sheppartons-quiet-achiever-is-ready-for-the-big-stage/
GVL Data | Jonty has Shepparton feeling jaunty ahead of Sunday’s grand final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/gvl-data/gvl-data-jonty-has-shepparton-feeling-jaunty-ahead-of-sundays-grand-final/
GVL Data | Can this Bear Byrne the Murray Bombers in the GVL grand final?: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/gvl-data/gvl-data-can-this-bear-byrne-the-murray-bombers-in-the-gvl-grand-final/
Reserves
Rochester looks to celebrate a club first in its 150th season: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/rochester-looks-to-celebrate-a-club-first-in-its-150th-season/
Arch-rivals in reserves grand final showdown: https://www.campaspenews.com.au/sport/arch-rivals-in-reserves-grand-final-showdown/
Under-18
Shepparton Swans look to break the Echuca hoodoo in Goulburn Valley League under-18 grand final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/shepparton-swans-look-to-break-the-echuca-hoodoo-in-goulburn-valley-league-under-18-grand-final/
A bag of flags on offer for Echuca under-18s: https://www.riverineherald.com.au/sport/a-bag-of-flags-on-offer-for-echuca-under-18s/
NETBALL
A-grade
Euroa A-grade netballers primed and ready for Goulburn Valley League grand final rematch: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/euroa-a-grade-netballers-primed-and-ready-for-goulburn-valley-league-grand-final-rematch/
Echuca A-grade looks to go back-to-back in grand final rematch: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/echuca-a-grade-looks-to-go-back-to-back-in-grand-final-rematch/
B-grade
Mooroopna’s B-grade side out to avenge A-grade counterparts in grand final showdown with Euroa: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/mooroopnas-b-grade-side-out-to-avenge-a-grade-counterparts-in-grand-final-showdown-with-euroa/
B-reserve
Seymour Lions head to grand final after undefeated season: https://www.seymourtelegraph.com.au/sport/seymour-lions-head-to-grand-final-after-undefeated-season/
Tigers to take on Lions in B-reserve grand final: https://www.campaspenews.com.au/sport/tigers-to-take-on-lions-in-b-reserve-grand-final/
17-and-under
Mooroopna remains poised to claim back-to-back 17-and-under GVL netball flags: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/mooroopna-remains-poised-to-claim-back-to-back-17-and-under-gvl-netball-flags/
Shepparton Swans champing at the bit for Goulburn Valley League 17-and-under grand final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/shepparton-swans-champing-at-the-bit-for-goulburn-valley-league-17-and-under-grand-final/
15-and-under
Echuca’s under-15s out to defend championship: https://www.riverineherald.com.au/sport/echucas-under-15s-out-to-defend-championship/
MORE
Goulburn Valley League grand final umpiring panel announced, with one to step up for his first taste of the big leagues: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/goulburn-valley-league-grand-final-umpiring-panel-announced-with-one-to-step-up-for-his-first-taste/
Tribunal and report news from the final week of footy season: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/tribunal-and-report-news-from-the-final-week-of-footy-season/
Opinion | What’s killing country football?: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/opinion/opinion-whats-killing-country-football/
Gallery | Shepparton triumphs over Rochester in preliminary final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/gallery-shepparton-triumphs-over-rochester-in-preliminary-final/
Gallery | Euroa soar past Mooroopna for the first time in 2024 to secure GVL grand final spot: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/gallery-euroa-soar-past-mooroopna-for-the-first-time-in-2024-to-secure-gvl-grand-final-spot/
Shepparton News editor