Echuca has romped to its seventh win from eight games in season 2024 with a 101-point thrashing of a struggling Benalla at Benalla Showgrounds.
The reigning premier flexed its muscle to record a second straight triple-figure win, restricting the Saints to 10 scoring shots for the match in the 19.22 (136) to 5.5 (35) victory.
It was not always the case that the Murray Bombers looked like posting the mammoth triumph, with Benalla keeping relatively in touch at half-time.
A rather poor first term in front of goal had Echuca kick 4.9 (33), heading into the first break with a 26-point lead, yet the Saints showed some fight to win the second term and cut the margin back to 16 points by half-time.
It was Echuca’s inaccurate goal-kicking that was keeping Benalla in the contest, with 5.13 (43) a terrible return at the main break.
But as the ball was bounced for the third term, Echuca ramped it up a notch and put the Saints to the sword, booting a much tidier 7.4 for the quarter while keeping the home side to one behind to break the game wide open.
It would be more of the same in the last as the Murray Bombers ran away with the contest, putting through another seven majors while the Saints mustered one, capping a brilliant second half that resulted in the massive margin.
Kane Morris continued his strong form, with the co-captain named Echuca’s best, while Jack McHale (one goal) was also among the more influential in what is turning into a stellar season for the midfielder.
Sam Reid made an instant impact in his first game since the second outing of the season, slotting two goals and earning a spot in the best, while Jack Evans (two goals) and Callum Parsons (three goals) hit the scoreboard as important contributors in the win.
Hugh Byrne and Liam Tenace were again among the goals with three each, while co-skipper Will Monahan also slotted multiple goals with two.
Corbin Anderson, Noah Langborne and Riley Smith finished with one major each, as Echuca shared the goals around, with 10 individual goal scorers listed on the score sheet.
The win ensures Echuca sits a game clear in second spot on the ladder following the completion of round eight, with the loss against Rochester looking increasingly more like a tiny blip on the radar as the Murray Bombers continue to build.
Echuca will head to Tatura Park this weekend to take on the 11th-placed Bulldogs (1-7), as it looks to continue its strong momentum.