The Murray Bombers announced they are withdrawing from the senior women’s competition for 2026, citing lack of numbers.
Echuca Football Netball Club posted to social media on Thursday morning stating “This is not a decision that was made lightly, but with the late departure of a big group of players, our numbers weren’t strong enough to enter a team for the upcoming season.
“Our hope is, with the strength of junior girls' football growing, and our new facilities coming, that women’s and girls football will be back, bigger and better at Vic Park in the near future.”
Echuca has defined the league for the last half-decade plus, appearing in the previous six Goulburn Murray (formerly Northern Country) Women’s senior grand finals and winning back-to-back flags in 2023 and 2024.
The Murray Bombers would have been preparing for another run at the flag after falling to Shepparton United in last year’s decider, but the club will now have to wait until at least 2027 to have another tilt at the crown.
A high turnover of players had often been a concern over recent seasons, but the side looked to have established some stability last year, with a strong influx of players and more limited departures.
The hope for the Murray Bombers is that the league’s greater focus on girls' football, including last year’s introduction of an under-14 competition, will flow through to the women’s game and allow Echuca to return in 2027.
The Murray Bombers are well-placed to secure the talent coming through the ranks, with Moama and Echuca United claiming the previous two girls league flags and Echuca the natural landing point for girls ageing out of those sides.
Echuca’s departure leaves the senior women’s competition with six teams, Shepparton United joined by Rumbalara, Nathalia, Mansfield and Tatura, as well as the newly-arrived Cobram, which replaced Barooga after the latter club’s jump to the Picola District league.
It also leaves the GMWGL with only one Echuca-Moama-based side after Echuca United’s girls team elected to move to the AFL Central Victoria competition.
Defending girls premier Moama will shoulder local hopes in the GMWGL.
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