Echuca’s final Goulburn Valley League netball regular season fixture against Mooroopna has huge ramifications, as the Murray Bombers could either drop out of the top two or win the minor premiership on the final day.
As September approaches several local football-netball clubs are or have concluded their campaigns, while others are preparing for or in the midst of a post-season run.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Echuca’s senior sides will be involved in the Goulburn Valley League finals, finishing their regular seasons this weekend against Mooroopna at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.
The Murray Bombers have already locked up a top two finish in senior football, but are still playing for the accolade of minor premier on the final day.
Simon Maddox’s side needs the leader Shepparton to lose at home to Rochester while beating the Cats, and hope percentages work in its favour.
In netball, Mooroopna is currently top and two points ahead of second-placed Echuca.
Bronwyn Slater’s side must win to have a chance at first, though it would almost certainly fall to third with a defeat.
Euroa is currently third, on the same number of points as Echuca, but faces winless Kyabram in action elsewhere.
The Murray Bombers are also celebrating their 150th birthday as a club on the day, with live music on from 4.30pm along with food trucks at the ground.
In the Murray Football Netball League, Moama takes on Rumbalara at Rumbalara Recreation Reserve, with its senior footballers expected to end their season with victory over bottom-placed Rumba.
In netball, Moama and Rumbalara are essentially already locked into facing each other again in the finals, with their meeting offering one last tune-up ahead of an elimination clash.
Echuca United is up against Mulwala at Lonsdale Recreation Reserve, with its senior footballers facing a Lions side that needs to win to have a chance of a top two finish.
The Eagles are looking to conclude their A-grade netball campaign with a third straight win, but will also be underdogs against second-placed Mulwala.
Finally, Tongala takes on Finley at Finley Recreation Reserve, with both Blues sides favoured to win.
The senior footballers are currently sixth, and victory over the Cats would see Tongala finish fifth.
Tonny’s A-grade netball side will likely finish third, but could steal a top two spot by winning and gaining a huge favour should Echuca United upset Mulwala.
All GVL and Murray league football-netball matches will take place on Saturday, August 22.
While those two leagues conclude regular seasons, the Heathcote District Football Netball League enters its second week of finals.
After a huge win over Heathcote, Lockington-Bamawm United faces North Bendigo in another elimination final at Toolleen Recreation Reserve on Sunday, August 23.
The Cats split their regular season match-ups with the Bulldogs and will progress to a preliminary final with victory.
Lockington-Bamawm United is looking to continue what has been a vastly improved season against North Bendigo in a Heathcote District Football League semi-final.
Junior football
This weekend will also see two local junior football clubs take part in Goulburn Murray Junior League grand finals on Sunday, August 23 at Deakin Reserve.
In the under-14 division one decider, the Echuca Bombers are taking on Shepparton Bears, with the first bounce at 10am.
The Bombers booked their place after smashing Shepparton Swans by 46 points in a preliminary final, but will be underdogs against a Bears side that hasn’t lost all season.
Meanwhile, Moama will feature in the under-16 division two decider, taking on Shepparton United at 12pm.
The Magpies only faced the Demons two weeks ago in a qualifying final, winning that encounter by 11 points to book their spot on grand final day.
Soccer
Both Echuca-Moama Border Raiders sides will play on Sunday, August 23 in the Football Victoria Greater Bendigo League 2.
The women can move one step closer to winning the minor premiership against Castlemaine, as victory would push the Border Raiders three points clear at the top.
That fixture will take place at Jack Eddy Oval, beginning at 11am.
Meanwhile, with the premiership already secured, the men face Castlemaine Green in a dead-rubber fixture at Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park, with kick-off at 12pm.
Hockey
Echuca-Moama’s finals chances in the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association men’s competition will be decided in the last round, with the River Rats needing a victory.
Echuca-Moama Hockey Club’s men’s side plays its last regular season match in the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association, facing Shepparton Youth Club Blue.
The River Rats, currently holding on to the last finals spot in fourth, must defeat the second-placed outfit to book their place in the post-season.
Meanwhile, the women take on Mooroopna in their penultimate fixture, already locked into finishing second.
Both fixtures will take place at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex on Saturday, August 22, with the men starting at 1.15pm, before the women’s game at 2.45pm.
8°C