A quality first half delivered Echuca its first win of the Goulburn Valley League senior football finals, outlasting a last gasp surge by Shepparton Swans.

Playing the second elimination final at Tatura Park, the Murray Bombers came up against the fifth-placed Swans, who were in red-hot form having toppled league leader Kyabram in the final round of the home and away season.

Echuca (4.7) got majority share of the ball in the opening quarter, despite not capitalising on a few chances to have an 18-point lead at the first turn.

After kicking the final major of the first quarter, Liam Tenace added two more to his tally in the second period, while Riley Smith slotted another to lift the Murray Bombers to a 28-point advantage at the major break.

With the wind still blowing a gale, there was a change in the air between the two sides as the Swans joined the party after half-time.

James Auld and Kade Anderson combined the kick the first three goals of the third term for Shepparton Swans, putting the Murray Bombers on the back foot.

A timely double from Samuel Edgar and contributions from Echuca captain Mitchell Wales and Tighe O’Brien kept the Murray Bombers in front, increasing their margin to 35 with a quarter to play.

With their season on the line, the Swans gave it their all down the stretch, sending six majors through the middle to give the Murray Bombers a fright.

However, the defending champions dug in, with Samuel Edgar and Liam Tenace adding more majors to their collections and Hugh Byrne getting on the board was enough for the Murray Bombers to escape with an 18-point victory.

The final score was 14.17 (101) to 13.5 (83).

Echuca coach Simon Maddox reflected on the up-and-down nature of the game, but said for the most part his side controlled the tempo.

“I thought we were good for most of the game, we controlled it, we should have been further in front at half-time and the game might have been put to bed,” he said.

“To the Swans’ credit, they came rolling back at the start of the third quarter and got themselves back in the game.

“They got back to within 10 points and we sort of picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and kicked the next few goals and and got back out to a good lead again.”

Maddox also highlighted Sam Reid’s best-on-ground performance as ruck rover with Tenace also getting credit for a successful day at full-forward.

“Sam (Reid) had plenty of it, he would have 30 or 40 touches and Liam (Tenace) was marking everything,” he said.

“They were both very, very good, both experienced players, both premiership players, and Sam's obviously played AFL football, so it was good that they played well.”

Maddox said the side would have to tighten the screws in attack if it was going to bring its best against arch rival Rochester in the semi-final.

“Our ball movement was really good and some of our defensive stuff was good, I definitely liked it,’’ he said.

“We just probably didn't finish our work in front of goals, we missed a few easy ones, so we'll need to address that.

“We've got a little bit we can work on between now and next week.”

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Thursday, 23rd February 2023

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