Goulburn Valley: Sam Willoughby and Aiden Mills line-up for flag favourites Echuca

Country clubs are making the most of the early season VFL bye with a host of stars returning to the bush this weekend. See who is taking the field.

Echuca has been further bolstered for its Goulburn Valley league clash against Shepparton United on Saturday with star duo Sam Willoughby and Aiden Mills available due to the VFL bye this weekend.

The GV reigning premiers began its flag defence in ominous fashion with an Easter Saturday spanking of Mansfield by 82 points.

GV: Echuca assault on third successive @GVLeague flag starts in impressive fashion, 82 point win over Mansfield. Former Geelong VFL skip Angus Byrne 6 goals. Every player today bar one (Sam Reid) is one pointer. @theweeklytimes

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) March 30, 2024

But with no VFL matches due to the interstate match between Victoria and South Australia as part of the AFL Gather Round in Adelaide, Willoughby and Mills will roll back and play for “home club” Echuca.

Sam Willoughby has played two games for Footscray’s VFL team this season. Picture: Blair Jackson

Last year, Willoughby split his time between VFL club Footscray and Echuca and has played the first two matches for the Bulldogs this season.

Mills did likewise between Cartlon’s VFL team and the Murray Bombers and like Willoughby, he played in the club’s second successive GV premiership win.

The Big V is back!

All the best to all involved and well done to the local footy clubs who have played a big part in the journeys of these players, who now get to wear the famous jumper.

Watch live on Sat 6 Apr, 1:10pm AEDT. Details 👇 https://t.co/6em5eNLgSH

— AFL Victoria (@aflvic) April 5, 2024

Other country clubs benefiting from the VFL bye this weekend are Ovens and Murray clubs Albury and Wodonga Raiders, who meet on Saturday.

Albury has selected Riley Bice after the young gun played the first two games for Werribee and Wodonga Raiders have selected Carlton’s Tom Phillips and Frankston’s Seb Quirk.

Riley Bice playing for Albury in last year’s Ovens and Murray league grand final against Yarrawonga. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Myrtleford, which is playing Wodonga after a narrow opening round loss to North Albury, has regained the services of Tom Cappellari and Toby Cossor.

Meanwhile, Gippsland league club Traralgon has secured a clearance for Tristen Waack, but the former Morwell player won’t play against Leongatha on Saturday due to his VFL club Northern Bullants playing a practice match during the bye weekend.

Wonthaggi’s Jack Hutchinson returns to the Gippsland league on Saturday with the VFL having a bye. He has played two matches for Collingwood this year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Cam Olden and Noah Gown will play for Leongatha after starting the season in the VFL team and Jack Hutchinson is playing for Wonthaggi after two matches for Collingwood.

TRARALGON MAKES EARLY STATEMENT

Traralgon will attempt to further bolster its ranks in coming days with the signature of rising star Tristen Waack, who finished runner-up in the Gippsland league best and fairest two years ago playing for rival club Morwell.

After a high turnover of players in the off-season, Traralgon made the perfect start with a 35-point win over Bairnsdale in a stand-alone Easter Saturday encounter at Bairnsdale.

Traralgon lodged a clearance for Waack last week, but it was denied by Morwell.

It’s unclear how many matches he will play for Traralgon this season because he is also on the Northern Bullants’ VFL team list.

But with the VFL having a general bye this weekend, Traralgon coach Troy Hamilton hoped a clearance could be sealed before a second round encounter against reigning premier Leongatha.

Tristen Waack finished runner-up in the Gippsland league’s Trood Award and Rodda Medal in 2022. He is seeking a clearance from Morwell to Traralgon. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Traralgon opened a 21-point lead at halftime against Bairnsdale before extending the margin at the final siren.

Bairnsdale’s cause wasn’t helped by coach Logan Austin suffering a hamstring injury early in the third term.

“A win’s a win,” Hamilton said.

“It was the main objective, but I think both sides would think they could play better.

“A lot of the players who left went for a variety of reasons.

“But we just tried to retain what we could and try to bring as many Traralgon juniors back as we could.”

Traralgon's Tom Hamilton takes a strong overhead mark against Bairnsdale. Picture: Rachel Gaskell

Traralgon’s list of departures since last year included goalkicker Brett Eddy, onballer Tom Schneider and coach Jake Best.

Dylan Loprese kicked 7.0 from centre half-forward for Traralgon and captain Tye Hourigan starred at centre half-back where he had an engrossing battle with Austin before the latter was forced to leave the ground.

Traralgon added North Gippsland league best and fairest Liam Willaton to its ranks over summer and he figured among the team’s best players, as did Chance Doultree, who is on the Western Bulldogs’ VFL list.

Traralgon's Tye Hourigan and Bairnsdale's Hugh Longbottom fight for the loose ball in their Gippsland league match on Saturday. Picture: Rachel Gaskell

Bairnsdale went into the match without two primemovers, Xavier Richards and Brayden McCarrey, but many still thought it would start the season with a victory.

A highlight for Bairnsdale fans was two brilliant goals in the third quarter from Tyran Rees.

Traralgon will regain Mitch Membrey from suspension for the clash against Leongatha and Bairnsdale plays Drouin.