Echuca Bombers and Shepparton Swans White under 14 football teams played on the weekend and with both sides missing players due to interleague commitments, it was going to be a test to see which players stepped up.
Echuca Bombers were out of the blocks early kicking two quick goals through Fynn Hatfield and Will Poulton.
Makai Cronin was busy on the ball, often combining with Darchi Clarke to send the ball into attack.
Echuca Bombers were able to hold their opposition scoreless in the first quarter.
In the second, Seth Robinson took it up a notch – often taking on bigger, stronger boys.
Olly Bray continued to patrol the half-back line, repelling many Shepp Swans attacks.
In the dying minutes of the half, Seth Robinson snagged a beautiful goal off a contest on the goal line.
At half time the Bombers held a 13-point advantage.
Will Poulton had an enormous workload all game – running the ruck for the majority of the contest.
He took some strong marks and was able to crash the contest to bring the ball down to the small brigade.
Seamus Miller slotted through a nice goal after crumbing the contest and Echuca Bombers had stretched their lead to 19 at the last break.
The play of the day saw Will Poulton read the play, taking an intercept mark and send the ball to the advantage of Will Halloran and Jack Morley running into an open goal.
Unselfishly Will handballed to Jack, who slotted through the sealer.
Echuca Bombers ended up with a 17-point victory.
Big thanks to our match-day sponsors Evans Shoes, Busy Bean, Roma Pizza, Paramount Cinemas and KFC.
Goals: Fynn Hatfield, Seamus Miller, Jack Morley, Will Poulton, Seth Robinson.
Awards: Olly Bray, Seth Robinson, Will Poulton, Jack Morley, Toby Coutts, Fynn Hatfield.
Echuca Green 6.5 (41) lt. Shepp Swans Red 7.4 (46)
In our first trip to Shepparton this season, an eager Echuca Green took to the field against Shepp Swans Red.
The team came out strong in the first quarter determined for a win and put the first score on the board.
Ball movers Levi Hone, Ed Cunningham and Kyle Green pushed hard to send the ball forward.
Mitch Shearer and Connor McCoy put in a great game applying pressure where needed to turn the ball over.
Newcomer Judd McAuley took some solid marks and moved the ball forward and Zac Hegarty again stepped up and showed his true grit and determination to get the ball.
With many under 14s players in the interleague game we were very lucky to have a few players join the team for the day.
Lachie Donchi was instrumental in ruck and Harry Bardon was hugely valuable in stopping the ball, with Jaxon McMinn and Conner Armstrong assisting to push the ball forward.
Riley Smith and Logan Mann both adapted to under 14s footy quickly and assisted in a goal each.
A determined back line of Josh Carr and Carson Smith kept the scores close by keeping pressure on and turning the ball back towards goal.
In the last quarter the ball spent most of the time in our forward line and we hit the front, thanks to a united effort from Jed Dargon and Noah Turner, but in a nail-biting finish, Shepp Swans kicked a goal in the last 30 seconds of the game to steal the win by five points.
Goals: Judd McAuley, Noah Turner (2), Lachlan Douchi, Mitchell Shearer.
Awards: Connor Armstrong, Kylie Green, Jaxon McMinn, Zac Hegarty, Carson Smith and Noah Turner.
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