Goulburn Valley: Kyabram beat Echuca for first time since 2019 grand final

Echuca has suffered its first loss since early last season and in a worrying sign the injuries keep mounting.

Kyabram slammed on seven goals in the final term to end reigning premier Echuca’s unbeaten start to the Goulburn Valley league on Saturday.

Starring roles from two players who had injury-decimated seasons last year, onballer Mick Mattingly and ruckman Zac Norris, played pivotal roles in Kyabram’s 34-point win after scores were level at three quarter time.

The last time Kyabram beat Echuca was the 2019 grand final with the Murray Bombers winning the last three flags and aiming to match the four-in-a-row won by Shepparton Bears in the mid-1960s.

Echuca star Jack McHale has joined a growing list of injuries. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Echuca kicked the first four goals of the match.

But Kyabram gradually wore down its highly rated opponent, which lost midfielder Jack McHale to a knee injury before halftime and another Murray Bombers star, Sam Reid, also battled the effects of a heavy knock.

Mattingly is averaging more than 30-plus possessions across the opening six rounds and is one of the early favourites to collect a second Morrison Medal after playing only two games last year on his return from the SANFL.

Sam Reid was named in the best for Echca in the loss to Kyabram. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Norris hurt his shoulder in the 2023 grand final and didn’t play a match last year.

Kyabram had other important contributors in Kaine Herbert and forwards Tom Holman and Charlie Barnett, who both kicked four goals.

Young gun Archie Watt also kicked three goals including two late goals in the third quarter to turn momentum the way of Kyabram.

Key forward Hugh Byrne and Sam Edgar booted four goals for Echuca, which is being forced to tap into its depth of talent with a long list of injuries to star player including Ben Reid, Aiden Mills and Liam Tenace.

Echuca’s last defeat was to Rochester in round 4 last year.

NORTH CENTRAL

Co-coach Jordan Humphreys played a key role in Calder United taking down the previously undefeated Boort in crushing fashion by 125 points on Saturday.

Humphreys returned from a foot injury last round when Calder United was denied victory against new ladder leader, Birchip-Watchem, with a late goal.

He booted eight goals as Calder United totally outclassed Boort, which beat reigning premier Sea Lake-Nandaly last round.

After an even first term, Calder United cut loose in the second term to pile on eight goals to nil in the second term and take complete control.

Calder United co-coach Jordan Humphreys booted eight goals in the big win against ladder leader Boort. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Matt Wade, Steve Kennedy and Riley Smith led a dominant onball brigade for Calder United, which also negated the impact of Boort star Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, who had kicked 28 goals in the opening four rounds, including two bags of 10.

Sea Lake-Nandaly returned to the winners’ list after a rare two defeats in a row with a 119-point demolition job on St Arnaud.

Reigning Feeny Medal winner Wade Donnan starrd for the Tigers, who welcomed back veteran ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan and Adam Pattison after missing the last round defeat to Boort.

HAMPDEN

North Warrnambool’s Harry Keast booted the matchwinning goal from outside 50m late in the final quarter to sink Portland in the battle between the two previously undefeated teams.

Portland’s Tom Sharp put his team back in front minutes earlier before Keast unloaded on his long bomb off only one step to regain the lead for North Warrnambool, which held onto win by six points.

North moved to the top spot with a 5-0 record, but Portland lost no admirers in its major turnaround this season after failing to win a match in 2024.

Portland squandered chances to have a bigger lead than 14 points at quarter time and went into the final change leading by the same margin.

Coach Lachie Huppatz, Daniel Jackson and Tanner Lovell again starred for Portland.

North welcomed back Sam McLachlan, who last played for the club in 2019 when he finished runner-up in the Maskell Medal to Warrnambool’s Jye Turland.

North and Portland are yet to win a Hampden league flag.

Originally published as Goulburn Valley: Kyabram beat Echuca for first time since 2019 grand final