Change of colours: Echuca United’s 2021 best-and-fairest winner, Matt Lias, was in the green and white on Saturday at Lockington for the first of two Echuca practice matches. They will play Eaglehawk at Victoria Park this weekend.
Echuca Football Club journeyed out to Lockington for its first competitive hit-out of the season.
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Echuca, the Goulburn Valley League minor premier, faced Ovens and Murray outfit Wangaratta Magpies in a hit-out between two strong clubs in their respective leagues.
The game featured the Murray Bombers’ star recruit Sam Reid in his first match donning the bottle green, while on the opposing team-sheet was former Collingwood player and Wangaratta coach Ben Reid.
This Saturday, March 26, Victoria Park will come alive for its first game of the season when Echuca hosts Bendigo Football Netball League club Eaglehawk.
It will be the Murray Bombers’ final practice match before the real deal; round one against Rochester on Saturday, April 9.
On his knees: Echuca forward Liam Tenace enlists some support from Cooper Willoughby as the Murray Bombers began the final stages of their preparation for the Goulburn Valley League season, which starts on April 9 at Rochester.
On-field leader: Echuca co-coach Andrew Walker was the team runner on Saturday as he got an up-close look at his team for the first time this year.
Pressure act: Bailey Gray applies the pressure to his Wangaratta opponent. The Echuca team acquitted itself well against the highly ranked Magpies combination.
Clearance: Sam Reid showed how important he will be as a clearance player when he took advantage of the Echuca ruck domination during the practice match.
Off balance: Jordan Frew is unbalanced as he attempts to set up a teammate during one of the Murray Bombers’ forays forward during the practice match.
Magpie now a Magpie: Former Collingwood key position player Ben Reid is now coach of the Wangaratta Magpies. He provided key defender Elliot Stewart with plenty of challenges, although Stewart’s running from defence was also a feature of the match.
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