Echuca can’t miss a trick in 2025 with another dominant display in round four

By Oliver Shedden

Apr 27, 2025

Curtis Townrow was key at centre half-back for Echuca in its victory over Benalla in round four. Photo: Jordan Townrow.

The Murray Bombers feel just as unstoppable in 2025 as they felt in the past three seasons, with a perfect 4-0 start indicative of another strong run to a potential fourth flag on the bounce.

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Granted, Echuca is one of a myriad of teams in Goulburn Valley League this season to maintain a perfect start as the standings remain essentially cut in half between the unbeaten and the winless.

Last year’s chief flag contenders Shepparton and Rochester are showing signs of improvement upon already stellar 2024 campaigns, while Kyabram has risen from the ashes to return to glory and has been met with a surprising surge by Shepparton Swans.

In round four, the green machine came up against another team that was surely primed for a rise in the standings by now in Benalla, but has unfortunately failed to do so even considering its nice turnaround at the back end of last season.

However, the Saints did manage to get the drop on Echuca in the first quarter of round four, sailing out to an 8-point lead at the first break courtesy of an early four-goal blitz.

The Murray Bombers wrestled with the Saints in the second period, but got on top of Benalla, kicking five, including two from Darby Jones to snatch a 12-point half-time lead.

To the Saints’ credit, they managed to remain competitive into the third term, kicking enough goals consistently while restricting Echuca from getting away to a substantial lead.

That effort through three quarters seemed to be for naught for the Saints as they were almost held to no score down the stretch, adding just two behinds to their tally.

Meanwhile, the Murray Bombers unleashed their trademark fourth quarter flurry, kicking six through the middle to ice the game.

Hugh Byrne (4), Will Monahan (3) and Jackson Stewart (3) led the way for their side in the 55-point victory away from home, the final score being 17.12 (114) to 9.5 (59).

Young gun Cody Walker made his season debut in round four after taking a brief break from his duties with Bendigo Pioneers.

Round five will be perhaps the first true test of strength for Echuca in 2025 when it travels to Deakin Reserve for a 2024 grand final rematch with Shepparton.