Echuca’s major boost ahead of grand final replay against Shepparton

A ‘cursed’ injury toll may be impacting one club’s premiership defence however, as a grand final replay looms, there may be some gold among the rubble.

Liam Tenace is back for his first game of the season for Echuca. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Echuca is confident a ‘cursed’ injury toll won’t impact its chances of winning a fourth straight premiership in the Goulburn Valley league.

Instead, it has ramped up the chance to invest more games into juniors.

The Murray Bombers take on the Shepparton Bears in a Goulburn Valley Football League grand final replay on Saturday at Deakin Reserve with both sides winning their opening four matches of the year.

However, the unbeaten run has not come without challenges.

At one stage the Bombers had 14 players on the injury list including ex-AFL player Ben Reid and Carlton VFL-lister player Aiden Mills who both have season-ending injuries.

“We’re a bit cursed,” Echuca coach Simon Maddox said.

“In terms of players’ health it hasn’t been a good start.

“We knew we were going to be younger and there was going to be chances for kids.

“We’ve got a few more kids in than expected.

“It has created some great opportunities for some young kids who will now test themselves against the best in the competition on Saturday.”

Last weekend against Benalla Echuca fielded a dozen players either under the age of 20 or with under 10 games of senior experience.

Despite some nervous moments at the start they still won by 55 points.

Maddox said the worst of the crisis was over with a host of players to return this weekend for the trip to Shepparton.

Ex-AFL player Sam Reid comes in after missing the Benalla game with Kane Morris also returning.

Kane Morris is back after a week off. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Last year’s leading club goalkicker, Liam Tenace, also returns for his first game of the season.

“We’re not complaining about Saturday’s side, it’s a pretty good side,” Maddox said.

“We get three big ins and Lachie Watson is back, he didn’t play last week.

“But there’ll be different faces to what played on grand final day.”

Maddox said he expected a fired up Bears outfit after the 96-point smashing by Echuca in the grand final last year.

“It should be a ripping game of football,” he said.

“Your first point of redemption is when you play them again.

“I expect Shepparton to be red hot at the start of the game.

“It will be a territory battle.

“They are trying to right last year’s wrong and we’re still trying to make a statement we are one of the best teams in the competition.”

The game starts at 2pm.