Goulburn Valley: Echuca wins grand final replay against Euroa
See all the photos from Saturday’s GV clash between Euroa and Echuca, and find out why the Magpies’ coach is stepping down.
Euroa has entered the marketplace for a new coach with Scott Rowan stepping down at the end of the season after six years in the job.
Rowan took the Magpies into the Goulburn Valley league grand final last year only to lose to Echuca by 12 points.
The two teams met in the grand final replay on Saturday with Echuca again coming out on top by nine points.
Rowan, who previously coached Alexandra, said he expected his position to be highly sought-after given the talent at the club, which sits fifth on the ladder.
“We had a long chat at the end of last season and I expressed that I would like to do only one more,” he said.
“I think there have been a couple who have already put their hands up.
“Hopefully we will have six or seven applicants who are of high quality and (whoever is appointed) can continue to take the club on the trajectory it is on.”
In a low-scoring, high-intensity match, Euroa led by a point at halftime and trailed by the same margin at three-quarter time with Echuca grinding out a narrow victory with two goals to one in the last term.
“Hopefully it will be a launching pad for the rest of the season,” Rowan said.
“We know we can beat any side in the league.”
Euroa went into the match without star player Ben Giobbi due to suspension, but undefeated Echuca also had talent missing.
The Murray Bombers players on the sidelines included co-coach Andrew Walker due to ongoing knee soreness and Logan Prout, AJ Mills and Jack Evans playing at VFL level.
Ruckman Kane Morris is also due to return from holidays in coming weeks.
“It was a good opportunity for us to play some kids against some quality opposition,” Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said.
“The result was very pleasing because it was probably our youngest side for the year.
“It was a red-hot game of footy.
“With it being a grand final replay we expected Euroa to be red hot and they were.”
Mitch Kemp played his first game since seriously injuring his knee in pre-season last year and Echuca continues to cover the loss of star goalkicker Ruory Kirkby.
Former Greater Western Sydney player Sam Reid, who was dogged by injury in his first season with Echuca last year, hasn’t missed a game and been a dominant player in the midfield.
Echuca plays Mooroopna in the next round with the Cats the last team to beat the reigning premiers in the final home and away match last year.
Meanwhile, Mooroopna was forced to take the unusual step of launching a social media shout-out to prove homegrown VFL-listed player Nathan Drummond should be a one-point player rather than a five-point player as presently listed.
The Cats pleaded with members to produce a photo of Drummond playing for the club as a junior, which would make him a one-point player.
The Goulburn Valley league had demanded extra evidence from Mooroopna to prove he played for the club in 2007, but its records were destroyed in last spring’s big floods.
Drummond has played the last two games for Mooroopna on the comeback trail from injury and hopes to play five games to qualify for GV finals.
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