Sport

Murray Bombers football dynasty comes to an end

By Oliver Shedden

Sep 8, 2025

Rochester's Cooper Hamilton celebrates a team-lifting goal. Photo by Bruce Povey

Echuca’s hopes of a historic fourth Goulburn Valley League football premiership have come to a close after being stunned by a determined Rochester outfit on Sunday.

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Euroa Memorial Oval turned into a battleground as the hallowed rivalry between Echuca and Rochester came to a head.

The Tigers came out of the blocks firing, with Sean Williams bending one off his left boot within the first two minutes.

Echuca's Hugh Byrne slots a snap in the dying stages. Photo by Bruce Povey

After trading minor scores, a Cody Walker set shot gave rise to a slick Cooper Barber finish to bring the scores level before James McPhee, Williams and Hamish Hooppell struck inside two minutes to leave the Murray Bombers reeling.

Liam Tenace gave the Murray Bombers some hope at the start of the second period before Samuel Edgar continued the belief, but, Rochester held firm with Wil Hamilton slotting one to give his side a nine-goal advantage at the major break.

Mitch Trewhella marks back with the flight. Photo by Bruce Povey

Barber drew first blood for the Murray Bombers to begin the second half positively; however, the Tigers had the answer at every turn, with some individual brilliance from Cooper Hamilton and Adam McPhee keeping the green tsunami at bay.

Malik Gordon and Mitchell Wales both hit the scoreboard either side of Rochester’s Drew Lloyd to tee-up a pulsating final frame between the arch-rivals.

Cody Walker and Mitch Trewhella battle in the midfield. Photo by Bruce Povey

Hudson Kellett gave Echuca some confidence at the start of the fourth quarter, but another three goal barrage courtesy of Hooppell, Hugh Hamilton and Lloyd left plenty of work to be done for the defending champions.

In a lengthy run home, James McPhee and Barber traded blows to inch the Murray Bombers closer, before a Hugh Byrne left-foot snap lifted his side to within a goal of levelling the game.

Echuca's Hugh Byrne nearly claims a one-handed screamer. Photo by Bruce Povey

As had been the case all day, it was high drama to finish as Rochester had a chance to ice the game, settling for a behind, while Echuca missed a prime opportunity to send it into overtime.

Both teams continued to slug it out in the mud until that fateful siren sounded, signalling an end to the Murray Bombers’ dreams of four-peat glory in a 12.7 (79) to 10.13 (73) finish.

Rochester's Mitch Bright brushes by Echuca's Mitch Wales. Photo by Bruce Povey

While Echuca hasn’t been the juggernaut this season as it has in the recent past, Rochester now has an opportunity to go one better than it did in 2024.

First, the Tigers will have to defeat sneaky Mansfield in the preliminary final at Deakin Reserve on Sunday, September 14 to set up a date with a Kyabram side firing on all cylinders.