Shepparton capitalise on Echuca goal kicking woes to go back-to-back in Goulburn Valley League under-18s

The Bears were well-structured behind the ball early and able to create repeat entries inside 50 in the first term, but Echuca’s defence survived the heat and avoided conceding a goal.

Once Echuca found an attacking groove, its first couple of entries presented scores, with Murray Bomber Jake Barden taking an overhead mark near the goal square to then slot through the set shot for the game’s first major.

It didn’t take long for the Bears to hit back though, and Cody Montgomery booted Shepparton’s first a couple minutes later.

A high IQ switch play by Spencer Sharp opened up the ground for the Bears, although it resulted in a behind, as other Murray Bushrangers products flexed their skill early, with the likes of Alex Whitlock and Hunter Howells placing their fingerprints on the contest early.

Howells continued his work in the second term, taking a sharp snap for the Bears’ second goal, improving the one-point quarter-time lead to seven.

Echuca continued to be efficient when going inside 50 though, and as the quarter wore on, the Murray Bombers brought the score back to a deadlock.

Inaccuracy plagued both sides, albeit many behinds were rushed, but at half-time the Murray Bombers put their nose in front, 2.9 (21) to 2.6 (18).

Shepparton co-coach Joshua Pearce stated improving organisation across the field saw a turn in favour in the second half.

“We were certainly in the contest early, but we probably had to be a little bit more organised to match how well they (Echuca) were organising themselves,” Pearce said.

“I was a little bit taken aback at how the boys competed after, we knew we had to grind away, but I’m really proud of how the boys held their nerve and took their opportunities.”

Shepparton controlled the play to start the third term, as Bear Kaiden Whittaker redeemed an earlier missed set shot with a goal on the opposite angle.

Top goalkicker Riley Myers found the goals next, extending the lead beyond a kick for Shepparton for the first time in the match, and Alex Whitlock, younger brother of AFL exports Jack and Matt Whitlock, showed the family genes run strong with a coolly kicked set shot from 40 metres out on a 45-degree angle.

Another major came after the Bears scrambled from end to end with blistering pace from a kick out, and a fortunate 90 degree bounce turned Echuca’s defence inside out, leaving Archer Hueston to mop up and slam through the Sherrin on the goal line.

A second set shot poster in the term for Echuca signified the agonising yips in front of the sticks, as the three-quarter time siren sounded with the Murray Bombers on 2.16 (28) to Shepparton’s 6.8 (44).

But Echuca wasn’t done yet, and a piece of individual brilliance looked set to rid the goal kicking woes.

Bursting out of centre clearance with speed, a bounce and a 55-metre bomb, Zeke Neumann ended a streak of 14 consecutive behinds and thrust Echuca back into the contest, tugging at the monogram emblazoned on his guernsey in celebration.

Shepparton’s Mitchell Sutton secured a stabilising goal next though, and it was Hueston that sealed a mature settling down by the Bears.

Not overawed by the moment, tucked tight in the right hand pocket of the Skene St end of Deakin Reserve, Hueston backed his drop punt and threaded the needle, providing an insurmountable three-goal advantage that deflated Echuca’s momentum.

Hueston would sail through another goal after the centre bounce clearance, this time at much easier odds, directly in front, before the Bears and Murray Bombers wrestled until the final siren with Shepparton comfortably in front of Echuca’s 4.19 (43) with 10.13 (73).

Sharp’s poise and ability to generate attack out of defence saw him named with the Freddo McMahon Medal for best on ground as voted by the media, while the AFL Victoria Medal for best on ground as voted by the umpires went to Hueston for his match-winning moments.

Echuca’s Baxter Cowley was presented the Garry Lyon Medal for best player in the finals series.

“He’s a fantastic kid, Spencer,” Pearce said.

“He’s more than worthy of playing in the later (senior) game today.

“He reads the game well, he marks the ball at the right times and he defends really tough.

“He’s a general.

“As much as Archer’s goals were super important, his contest around the ground to not be outmarked was important, and I think today was his best game for our football club.”

With a flag on the line, the reigning premier Bears knew what it took to taste sweet victory again.