Former GWS Giant Sam Reid injured in big Echuca win, country footy wrap

Country footy wrap: A former GWS player was injured in Echuca’s round one bout, while two father-son duos debuted for Buchan.

David Johnston

4 min read

April 12, 2022 - 3:19PM

The Weekly Times

Echuca’s star recruit Sam Reid is facing an extended stint on the sidelines with a double injury blow at the start of the Goulburn Valley league season.

The former Greater Western Sydney utility, who has joined his brother Ben at the Murray Bombers this year, undergoes surgery this week to repair a shoulder injury he carried into the first-round clash against Rochester on Saturday.

But in the second quarter he went down with a knee injury and left the ground on a stretcher.

Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said the club expected to be without him for at least eight matches.

Sam Reid had to be carted off during his Echuca Murray debut. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“He’s in the wars,” Maddox said.

“The surgeon advised him that he didn’t think there was much risk that he could do any more damage (to the shoulder) so he played.

“We will get a scan on the knee just to be 100 per cent sure, but our physio is pretty sure there is no structural damage.”

The Murray Bombers won the match by 54 points with a dominant second-half performance highlighted by a starring role from co-coach Andrew Walker and five goals from straight kicking forward Ruory Kirkby.

The match featured potentially the only time former North Melbourne player Shaun Atley would play with his brothers Joe and Jacob at their original club, the Tigers.

Anthony “Tank” McPhee, who is a GV Hall of Famer and games record holder, presented Shaun with his jumper before the match.

“For us it’s huge to get a 234-game AFL player and a person whose family has a rich history in the club back,” McPhee said.

L-R: Joseph, Jacob and Shaun Atley, suited up for the Rochester Tigers. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“We were always hopeful he would, but you just don’t know.”

Shaun and Joe started in the centre square and were both named in Rochester’s best players.

Joe will return to Essendon’s VFL team, where he is captain and has made a strong start to the season.

Jacob finished the game with hamstring tightness and could be in doubt for round two.

“It’s a good experience to come back and play a bit of local footy,” Shaun said.

“Obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted.

“But they are a good side and well drilled so it’s good to see where we’re at.”

Rochester coach Steve Stroobants said it was unclear when the Atley boys would play together again for the Tigers.

“It was great to see them running around together for the first time,” he said.

“We won’t see (Joe) unless they’ve got a bye.

“But it was great for Essendon to make him available today.”

The Tigers face a tough test against Kyabram on Good Friday, but captain Nathan Marone is expected to be back from injury.

“We let ourselves down a bit with our disposal and stuff, especially in the third quarter,” Stroobants said.

“There were little patches in the game that we just weren’t clean.

“But to come up against Echuca, one of the premier teams in any league in country Victoria, is always going to be hard.”

Echuca plays Euroa in the next round.

Two father-son combinations have taken to the field for Buchan at senior level for the first time in a huge win against Bruthen in the Omeo and District league.

Billy Joiner and Jeff Walker Jr played alongside their fathers, James and Jeff Sr, who have been long-term players for the Cavemen, after starting the day with a match in the under 16s.

Buchan won the senior match by 172 points on Saturday, with Jeff Jr kicking four goals and Billy playing the first three quarters before sitting out the last term.

“It was mentioned after the game the two young blokes might have their fathers’ measure now,” Buchan president Matt Whelan said.

“They really enjoyed playing with the boys.”

Tyson Siddle booted 11 goals for Buchan in the lopsided contest.

Father-sons Jeff Walker Senior and Jeff Walker Junior and Billy Joiner and James Joiner played for Buchan in the Omeo and District league on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

The ODFL traditionally has 16 players on the ground, but numbers dropped to 14 with Bruthen among many clubs in the state struggling for numbers.

Covid also wreaked havoc with many volunteers off before the game.

“Our head trainer was out and her partner is our junior coach so he was out isolating also,” Whelan said.

“The league umpires both went down on Friday night also, so we had to find club umpires to umpire the senior game.”

BENDIGO

Gisborne has overcome the loss of five players including captain Pat McKenna to Covid protocols to record a first-round win against Sandhurst.

Jack Reaper, Frank Schipano and Liam Spear stepped up for the undermanned Bulldogs, who won by 26 points after leading by just one point at the last change.

Gisborne’s most productive forward was Jack Scanlon with three goals.

Sandhurst is sweating on the seriousness of a knee injury sustained by Jed Zimmer in the match.

OVENS AND MURRAY

Livewire Mat Walker has played a starring role in his first match for Albury since the 2018 grand final when he made a shock debut for the Tigers in their most recent flag triumph.

Walker was drafted by Hawthorn at the end of the 2018 season and presently plays for North Melbourne’s VFL club.

The Roos had the bye at the weekend and Walker returned to Albury to boot five goals in a best-on-ground display in the Tigers’ 48-point win against Wodonga following a heavy first-round loss to Wangaratta.