With a point to prove against its biggest challenger Echuca picked up where it left off in Goulburn Valley League finals.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t without a stern challenge from Seymour, which had inflicted Echuca’s only loss of the 2023 season, despite the eventual scoreline of 13.17 (95) to 10.3 (63) at Benalla Showgrounds.
Michael Hartley and Riley Mason drew first blood against a wayward Echuca in the early stages of the qualifying final, before Jackson Stewart kicked truly to right the ship after the Murray Bombers booted 1.6 in the first term.
Liam Tenace and Mitch Wales shook off a run of sloppy skills to take the lead back and, while Ben Clifton’s lone strike kept the Lions ahead of the curve, a late Sam Reid goal handed Echuca a seven-point half-time lead.
However, after the break it was the Lions who came out roaring.
Two straight goals and a healthy injection of momentum had Seymour snatch the early lead, but that was only the beginning of a frenetic premiership quarter.
Gus Byrne swung the game well and truly back in Echuca’s favour with three third-quarter goals, while Clifton and Tom O’Sullivan prevented the Murray Bombers putting the game to bed.
But that’s exactly what transpired early in the fourth term and despite Seymour’s early ascendancy, Echuca found its mojo in the second half to run away with the victory.
Riley Smith, Stewart, Reid and Byrne were influential, while Mason, Jack O’Sullivan and Tom O’Sullivan led a spirited Lions charge.
Echuca co-coach Andrew Walker said attention to detail swung the game back in the club’s favour in a physical encounter.
“We spoke at half-time and three-quarter time around the attention to detail in our game plan,” Walker said.
“We’ve been doing it now for six years and we’ve evolved it in certain parts. I just thought the way we were able to pay that respect in our attention to detail was impressive.
“To hear the boys’ camaraderie on the field, you could hear it from the sidelines.”
Milestone man Smith, in his 50th game, earned plaudits from Walker, who described the Echuca wingman as one the GVL’s emerging top talents.
“I was absolutely thrilled with Riley in his 50th,” Walker said.
“He was out there against some pretty handy Seymour wingers. I just think he’s playing with a real air of confidence. He’s turning into a genuine A-grader of the league.
“Jackson Stewart’s pressure was really good. Even Sam Reid, he probably doesn’t get the credit he always deserves, but if you watch what he does at the stoppage, his quick hands out of it are masterful.”
Echuca will be aiming to secure straight qualification into the decider this weekend when it meets arch-rival Kyabram, with the Bombers notching a 16-point win over Mansfield in the elimination final at Mooroopna.
It will be the first time the two clubs have met in GVL finals since the 2019 decider.
Meanwhile, Seymour will be thrust into a do-or-die semi-final clash against Euroa or Mooroopna.