Sport
Echuca playing coach Belinda Lees reflects on a heartbreaking grand final loss in 2024
To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
That’s how Euroa would’ve felt after knocking down Echuca in the Goulburn Valley League A-grade grand final, felling the green juggernaut once and for all.
But for Murray Bombers’ playing coach Belinda Lees, losing is never easy.
After reaching the dizzying heights of attaining a premiership in 2023 and witnessing a glowing back half to the 2024 campaign, Echuca was again the benchmark going into Sunday’s decider at Deakin Reserve.
But as the hooter blared and a supporters surged onto the court, this time they weren’t wearing green.
Euroa’s 50-38 deliverance in the grand final stung like hot nettles for the Murray Bombers girls, leaving them teary-eyed - and understandably so.
“We probably made a few uncharacteristic mistakes and unforced errors that aren't part of our natural game," Lees said.
“I liked that we stayed in the game, they got the jump on us by about seven goals early but outside of that it was pretty even for the rest of the game.”
The game was exactly how Lees described it, a close and well battled contest. Each side had their own piece of momentum, but it was Euroa’s stellar 15-8 first term that proved to be the difference.
“Credit to Euroa they have had a great season, and I hope they really relish this because this doesn’t feel great right now and is much nicer on the other side,” she said.
It may not have been their day, but credit must also go to Echuca’s fantastic regular season campaign. Winning premierships is hard at any level, going back-to-back is near on impossible, but getting back to the grand final to defend their title is something Lees and her troops should be proud.
With 27 weeks until 2025’s GVL round one, the losing feeling of today is sure to burn throughout the pre-season and spur on their dreams of a return to that one day in September.