The Murray Bombers added four Goulburn Valley League premiership flags to their collection in 2022 after their 17-and-under netball and under-18s, reserves and senior football teams all triumphed on grand final day — with the latter snapping a 20-year premiership drought.
Echuca came from behind to seal a memorable 12-point win over Euroa in the senior football, the reserves triumphed over Kyabram by 28 points, the under-18s prevailed over the Shepparton Swans by 19 points and the 17-and-under netballers defeated Mooroopna 46-37.
There were a plethora of players, members and officials from the Murray Bombers in attendance at the Sportstar awards night and they shared their memories from grand final day and what the award meant to the club.
“You always strive to the be the champion club, it is very highly regarded at the Echuca Football Netball Club,” senior co-coach Simon Maddox said.
“It will be goal number one for our club this year.”
Looking back on grand final day, new Echuca FNC president Justin Hatfield said it was a special occasion.
“It was certainly better than winning one premiership,” Hatfield said.
“If you can have multiple premierships it shows the formula that the club has put together on and off the field.”
Six Echuca sides were in action overall on GVL grand final day at Shepparton’s Deakin reserve, with the 15-and-under netballers and under-16 footballers also playing in the season finales.
Those two sides came up just short of lifting a trophy after falling to the Shepparton Swans and Mooroopna.
The Echuca women’s football team was the standout side in the Northern Country Women’s League, completing an unbeaten home-and-away campaign as they finished on top of the ladder.
But they couldn’t quite complete the perfect season, falling to Nathalia in the grand final for the second season in a row.
Ash Byrne was a player during Echuca’s last premiership in 2002 and was the president of the club when they lifted the trophy again last year.
He offered a humble assessment of the current strength of the Murray Bombers across every age group in football and netball.
“It shows we are going okay,” Byrne said.
“We are providing a good experience for those who come to watch the footy and netball. It is all very positive and there has been great community involvement.”
That community connection was something that Ruory Kirkby said made Echuca FNC such a special place.
“It is a community. It is about bringing not only your mum and dad, it is about bringing your aunty and uncle or your grandma and grandpa and giving them the best possible experience,” Kirkby said.
Kirkby played a key role in the Murray Bombers’ senior premiership victory, booting four goals against Euroa and earning the Wilf Cox Medal – the best-on-ground award as voted by the media.
The Moama Football Netball Club, Echuca Cricket Club and Moama Steamers were the three other finalists for the team/club of the year award.
