GVL Data | Murray Bombers overwhelm Demons in opening term

Echuca was particularly devastating to start the game, booting eight goals for a 50-point first term. So, what was the secret to the reigning premiers’ blistering start?

An interesting place to look is an area the Murray Bombers were below their full-game average: marks inside 50. While Echuca got the ball into offensive 50 23 times (out of 63 in the game) in the first quarter, those inlets only resulted in four marks, below average when you consider their total of 21 for the game.

This indicates a scrappy first term, played more often on the ground than in the air. And plenty of other statistics would reinforce this.

Both sides had their highest hit-out totals for the game in the quarter, 30 for the Murray Bombers and 10 for the Demons. The champions also held the biggest advantage in the game.

Echuca won the clearance count 18-12 in the period despite losing it overall 47-54, and the term featured the most overall clearances in the game (45) with 33 in the third, the next most for any quarter.

Both sides were below their game average in disposal percentage in the first and the Murray Bombers had more turnovers in the period than in any other quarter.

The takeaway of all this may be that the first stanza saw Echuca win the arm wrestle with Shepparton United, winning the ball on the ground and remaining camped in and around the Demons’ 50.

When the host did get the ball, Echuca stifled the Demons’ forward momentum; they recorded six of their 10 total smothers in the quarter, regained possession and turned it into scores.

The Murray Bombers scored six straight, of their total 8.2, in the quarter from turnovers, three times after earning the ball in the midfield, and three after taking it from the opposition in their defensive 50.

As is to be expected from the two-time champions, Echuca has plenty of different ways to win over their opposition.