Goulburn Valley: Rochester upsets reigning premier Echuca

Echuca’s stranglehold on the Goulburn Valley league flag race has been loosened with a shock loss to an old foe.

Rochester snapped Echuca’s undefeated run at home lasting more than two seasons with a shock 13-point in the Goulburn Valley league.

The GV premiers of the past two years have suffered only two losses in the post Covid-era to Moroopna in 2022 and Seymour last year.

Old foe Rochester has been in rebuild mode in recent years and led narrowly at half time before making its move in the third term with five goals to two and holding on in the last term.

Wil Hamilton kicked three goals for Rochester and Victorian Amateurs recruit Hamish Heine, former Kyneton player Bailey McGee and 2022 Elmore addition Dylan Gordon also played starring roles.

The Rochester defence was outstanding in limiting Echuca to only nine goals at home.

Midfielder Jack McHale tried his best to lift Echuca, which has a long list of key players missing including Sam and Ben Reid and ruckman Kane Morris.

Rochester is hoping to regain midfielder Joe Atley from injury in coming weeks.

Shepparton has overtaken Echuca on top of the ladder with a 5-0 start to the season with a 12-point win over Euroa.

Ash Holland, right, played in Waaia’s premiership team before rejoining Shepparton this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Veteran ruckman Ash Holland Liam Duguid were instrumental in Shepparton’s latest win with both returning to the club where they played in the club’s last flag team in 2018.

They were premiership players with Waaia and Golden Square respectively.

After a tight contest for three quarters, Shepparton broke the game open with five goals in the last term.

First-year Euroa coach Ryan Pendlebury was back from suspension, but star midfielder Will Hayes was missing.

Shepparton and Echuca don’t meet until mid-June.

TALLANGATTA DISTRICT

Beechworth has celebrated stalwart Brenton Surrey’s 300-match milestone in style with a shock win against last season’s Tallangatta District league runner-up Kiewa-Sandy Creek.

The five-time club best and fairest and 2011 league best and fairest winner joined only Robert Forrest and Anthony Mihaljevic in reaching the major milestone.

After a tight first half, Beechworth broke the match open in the third term by kicking four goals at one against one of the league’s perennial powerhouses.

Surrey was among Beechworth’s best players along with emerging defender Degan Dolny, Connor Stone and Willem Love.

Beechworth’s Brenton Surrey played his 300th match on Saturday when the Bushrangers downed Kiewa-Sandy Creek. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Key forward Lachlan Armstong and Brad Fendyk booted three goals for Beechworth, which has risen to second place on the ladder behind reigning premiers Chiltern.

Beechworth’s only loss this season was to Chiltern in the opening round.

Wodonga Saints have scored a rare win against Mitta United by 35 points.

Mitta United was coming off a solid win against Tallangatta last round, but stumbled big time against the Saints, who suffered two 100-point losses in the first four rounds before breaking through for their first win.

Ryan Coates, Jay Winnell and Rhyle Transom were among the Saints best players.

CENTRAL MURRAY

Nyah Nyah West United star recruit Brandyn Grenfell has hit form with a second successive bag of seven goals in a 54-point win against Mallee Eagles.

Grenfell booted a century of goals for Marong in the Loddon Valley league the last two seasons and leads the Central Murray goalkicking race with 21 goals after four rounds.

Jordan and Lucas Iudica, who also joined Nyah Nyah West United this season, also played starring role for the team that lost to eventual premier Kerang in the preliminary final.

Kerang beat Woorinen by 20 points with Jarrryd Pertzel kicking four goals in his second match for the reigning premiers.