Echuca geared up for grand final fight

The Murray Bombers are entering their fifth straight grand final, and are in search of their second flag after finally breaking through in 2023.

However, this is a very different side to the one that claimed a maiden premiership and coach Damien Dalziel has faced the challenge of returning to basics with a relatively inexperienced squad while still maintaining his side’s competitive edge.

It’s a line Echuca has managed to walk well, and the Murray Bombers once again finished on top of the ladder with a 12-2 record.

They will take on a Shepparton United side who earned third place after a 10-3-1 season.

The Demons have been a tough prospect for everyone they came up against this year and upset Mansfield 6.7 (43) to 1.0 (6) in the semi-final to make their way to the decider.

The first time Echuca and Shepparton United met in 2024 was all the way back in round one and it was the Murray Bombers who came away with the win 4.6 (30) to 3.4 (22) at Victoria Park.

It was a different story when Echuca visited Kialla Recreation Reserve in the return fixture in round six.

On that occasion it was the Demons who got the better of the premiers, coming away 3.2 (20) to 2.2 (14) winners.

With both sides having scored a narrow victory against the other and the teams having not met since May 10, it looks to be anyone’s game on Sunday.

Shepparton United is set to pose a different challenge for the Murray Bombers than they’ve seen in grand finals past.

“They’re youthful and fast so we’ve got to play smart footy,” said Dalziel.

“We can’t chase them all day and run with them, so we’ve got to play to our strengths.

“They’re young, fast, fit and they move the ball really well so it’s totally different to what we’re used to.

“Usually, grand finals have been with Nathalia over the last two or three years and physical bash-and-crash style footy.

“Shepp United like to play the outside game a lot more and get it and use their leg speed so we’ve obviously got to be switched on to that but still play our own style of footy.”

One thing the Murray Bombers don’t have to worry about is player availability with the squad in one of its best states all year.

“We’ve been at 21 (players) for two weeks,” Dalziel said.

“(We’ve had) 14 to 16 usually every week, had a few girls injured that have come back and it’s lucky we have a full squad at the end of the home-and-away ready to go into this week so looking forward to having a bench.”

Echuca earned its place in the final last Sunday when it defeated Nathalia 2.2 (14) to 2.

Dalziel was happy with the way his side battled with the Purples and came out on top.

“A physical encounter which it always is,” he said.

“They came out hard, had the breeze (but) we were able to keep them to a point and kicked a goal ourselves against it.

“Then it was pretty much backwards and forwards all day, and we were lucky enough to be on the finishing end a couple of goals ahead of them, so a solid hit-out, and that’s what we expect every time you go into any finals, and even during the year it’s been the same.”

Echuca will search for back-to-back Goulburn Murray Women’s League crown when it takes on Shepparton United at Deakin Reserve on Sunday, with the first bounce scheduled for 2pm.