One of Echuca’s youngest players was also its finest in Sunday’s GVL reserves grand final.
Ruckman Jed Brereton, 19, enjoyed a dream end to an eclectic football season when he was awarded the Peter Ryan Medal as best-on-ground in the Murray Bombers’ 28-point win against Kyabram.
“This win means the world, not just for the boys who played today, but the boys who missed through injury,” Brereton said.
“We had a massive start today and Ky’s a good team, they stuck to their guns, but we played really well.”
A fair lump of a lad who stands 200cm, Brereton had spent much of 2022 as a member of the Bendigo Pioneers side in the NAB League competition.
“I played 11 games this year with the Pioneers,” he said.
“I’ve had a few injuries to overcome (this season), a dislocated shoulder, then I broke my thumb and strained my glute.”
Brereton started his career at Leitchville-Gunbower, playing in two premierships at under-17 level before making the move to Echuca.
His time as a Murray Bomber has been interrupted, first by the COVID-19 pandemic, then his Pioneers commitments.
But he will go down in the record books as an Echuca premiership player, something he was delighted about.
“It’s been great to pull on the colours and to win a premiership ... hopefully we’ll have a few cold ones tonight,” he said.
Among those to congratulate Brereton post-match was legendary Goulburn Valley League identity David Williams.