Euroa and Echuca are set to face off in this weekend’s Goulburn Valley League grand final, and based on their performance last weekend, there is one key element of the Magpies’ game that the Murray Bombers should be keeping an eye on.
Taking on Mansfield in last weekend’s preliminary final, scores from stoppages were key for the Magpies in their 24-point win over the Eagles.
Euroa scored 5.3 from stoppages at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton on Sunday, while the Eagles could only muster 0.4 from stoppages themselves.
It proved to be a key factor in the game, with the 29-point differential of course larger than Euroa’s 24-point winning margin.
The Magpies had a +11 stoppage differential against Mansfield overall on the weekend.
Clearances will be a key part of the game, and it will be a battle of the league’s top two sides in that category. Echuca averages 37.7 clearances per game, just ahead of Euroa’s 36.2.
Fortunately for Echuca, while scores from stoppages was key in Euroa’s preliminary final win, the Murray Bombers have shown they can match it with the Pies in that category.
The two sides have met three times already this season, with Echuca outscoring Euroa from stoppages in their two most recent encounters.
The Green Bottles kicked 9.6 to Euroa’s 6.3 from stoppages in their preliminary final clash a fortnight ago, and they outscored the Pies by 23 points back in round 13.
Euroa had more scores from stoppages back in round two, albeit only marginally, outscoring Echuca by just six points.
Scoring from stoppages
Preliminary final
Euroa: 5.3 (33)
Mansfield: 0.4 (4)
Semi final
Echuca: 9.6 (60)
Euroa: 6.3 (39)
Round 13
Euroa: 3.3 (21)
Echuca: 7.2 (44)
Round 2
Echuca: 2.4 (16)
Euroa: 3.4 (22)