Sport

Bears get 2024 grand final revenge on Murray Bombers in round 16 thriller

By Oliver Shedden

Aug 3, 2025

Liam Tenace gets over the top of the rest to take a high-flying mark. Photos: Jordan Townrow Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The defending Goulburn Valley League football champion Echuca has been stunned by 2024 runner-up Shepparton in what could be an intriguing finals preview.

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Despite it being a scheduled home game, the Murray Bombers were hosting Shepparton in unfamiliar territory at Echuca South Recreation Reserve in round 16.

The travelling Bears got the jump on the host, nailing a trio of majors with Ned Byrne and Trent Herbert looking potent up front.

Cooper Barber sends one through the middle. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Samuel Edgar jagged one back in reply to end the opening quarter, with the Murray Bombers trailing by 11 at the first turn.

Both sides upped the ante in the second period, with a goal-scoring bonanza to end the first half.

Kane Morris and Ashley Holland contest the centre bounce. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The Bears continued their charge, slotting five through the middle, while Echuca’s Malik Gordon went nuclear, banging three of the host’s six goals in the quarter and narrowing the deficit to a single point by the half-time siren.

The Murray Bombers were well-and-truly in the mix after the major break, with Edgar getting his second goal and Cooper Barber and Hugh Byrne getting in on the action.

Riley Smith sends it into the middle from the wing. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

However, Shepparton managed to stay a step ahead at every turn, with its sheer amount of minor scores making up an extra goal and giving it a seven-point buffer heading into a pivotal final frame.

Echuca’s Joshua Hoffman slotted one to draw the sides level early with a comeback win on the cards, but the Bears (3.3) pulled it together to run over the top of the defending champion 14.13 (97) to 11.12 (78).

Mitch Wales clears it in traffic. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

For his efforts up front, Gordon was named best-on for the Murray Bombers with his three-goal burst in the second period bringing them back from a slow start.

The 19-point defeat against a flag contender will hurt the already hobbled Murray Bombers, making it their third loss of the season, with a blockbuster contest with world-beating Kyabram looming in round 17 after the second half of a split round 16.