‘Terry’s Mighty Swans For 1982 Premiers’ was the simple passage adorned on the Echuca South Football Club banner prior to the Echuca Football League grand final of that season.
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In reference to South coach Terry Stockton, it proved a prophetic statement as Riverine Herald sports reporter Matthew Learmonth pointed out, with Stockton and his squad lifting the premiership cup 40 years ago.
South and Bamawm did battle for the EFL premiership in front of a packed Victoria Park on Saturday, September 11, and despite coming in as heavy favourites, the Swans required a dominant last-quarter charge to claim their first flag since 1975, one of four to that point.
Echuca South, merged with Echuca East in 1994, will see that flag triumph celebrated at Echuca United’s past players day and premiership reunion this Saturday before the Eagles’ clash against Barooga.
Former South midfielder and 300-gamer Ian McDonald, 27 at the time, recounts his involvement amid a “frantic” start before the Swans eventually came away with a 15.7 (107) to 9.13 (67) win.
McDonald’s duties went beyond the football field, however, with the club secretary at that time taking on the usual gameday tasks before taking the field for one of the biggest games of his life.
“The game was pretty frantic, there were two little scuffles early but it was played at a good pace,” McDonald said.
“It was always a tough game against Bamawm back then.
“Gary and Steven Waters, our skipper Guy Amos, they were the midfield drivers. The Waters boys had won three club best-and-fairest’s each at that time.
“I started on a wing and changed to a half-back flank. I didn’t get into the paper as one of the best players but a lot of people said I was.
“It was a huge day for me as I was secretary of the club at the time. We had three or four sides into the grand final, all playing on that same day.
"I had to organise things for people, best and fairest cards, time keepers, etc.“
Under three-time premiership coach Stockton, McDonald explains that the Swans side of 1982 was a perfect mix of homegrown heroes sprinkled with one or two recruits.
“As far as the footy went, we were a reasonable side throughout the year with coach Terry Stockton who was a legend of the area at the time,” Stockton said.
“He coached us in our ’74, ’75 flags when I was playing reserves.
“He coached another year or two before moving off to (Echuca) East for a year. We enticed him back to South in ’82.
“We thought we had a side close to winning the flag and we got it done. Allan Beecroft and Paul Davies had played in two flags for South at that point.
“We recruited Steven Edwards from Echuca; we had to get him on an appeal about a third of a way through the season. He was a tall, aggressive ruckman.
“Other than that, we were homegrown South players who came up through the reserves. I didn’t start playing seniors until I was 24 or 25.”
But early in that fateful stanza against the Lions, it seemed Bamawm were more than up for the challenge, reported Learmonth.
His summary details the early ascendancy of Bamawm ruckman Charlie Love and midfielder Victor Jones, whose sharp clearance work allowed the Lions entry after entry into their forward 50.
Bamawm fired off the first two goals, and South’s first score, a behind, came 18 minutes into the first quarter as Peter Cocks and Gary Waters attempted to kickstart the Swans.
A late first-quarter goal from South saw Bamawm take a 13-point lead into the first break.
Gary Vicary’s long-range goal against the play provided a promising start for the Swans before Mark Roberts closed the gap even further to two points.
The Lions still managed to retain an eight-point lead at half-time with the threat of an upset looming over South, but the Swans retaliated through the third quarter to lead by 13.
Jeff Milne’s monster goal from the edge of the square for Bamawm opened the scoring, but South’s final-quarter onslaught put paid to the Lions chances.
Stockton accepted the mayoral trophy from councillor Ian Prior, while Cocks was named player of the finals series.
While the reserves and fourths could not emulate the feat of the seniors, Echuca South was rocking as the club unknowingly celebrated its fourth and final senior flag as Echuca South.
Junior Eagles double premiership joy
In 2002, Echuca United saluted a thirds and fourths premiership double in the Murray Football League.
The under-17 Eagles were comfortable 9.8 (62) to 2.4 (16) winners in the decider over Numurkah, with stars such as Jake Guinan, Ryan Prendergast, and Marty Retallick guiding the Phil Hazelman and Robin Rowbottom-led United to victory.
The under-14s saluted the ’02 flag over Congupna out at Tocumwal, with Eric Edwards’ three goals and a star showing from Liam Guinan guiding the young Eagles to a 6.5 (41) to 4.5 (29) triumph.
Echuca United’s Past Players Day and 1982, 2002 premiership reunions will take place at Echuca South Recreation Reserve this Saturday, August 20, with all life members and former players invited. The Caledonian Hotel will also play host to a formal catch-up on Friday, August 19 from 7pm.