The reigning premier is on the run home to finals, but despite sitting atop the Goulburn Valley League ladder with three games to play, Echuca could, remarkably, still be strengthened.
A mixture of injury and VFL commitments have kept several members of the Murray Bombers’ squad out of action, though that looks set to change.
Premiership defender Ben Reid, who has yet to play a game this season through injury, is targeting a late-season return to the side, with Benalla (11th), Rochester (10th) and Mooroopna (4th) awaiting Echuca on the run home.
“We’ve had that kind of year where we’ve been able to get some games into young players, so we’ll be trying to get our best team on the park,” Murray Bombers co-coach Sam Reid said.
“We have a few guys on the way back, so we’ll be excited to see them and launch into trying to go back-to-back.
“Ben (Reid) has been out all year, he’s putting in a really big block at the moment.”
Echuca veteran Andrew Walker has played five games in 2023, but is also targeting a solid hit-out before finals.
Meanwhile, the club could recall up to five VFL players, though state league finals could influence their involvement in the Goulburn Valley League flag race.
Geelong skipper Angus Byrne remains a chance to turn out for Echuca this September, while Cats teammate Jack Evans has notched 10 games this year for the Murray Bombers.
“Walks has looked after himself a bit, so we’ll look to get him back going into finals,” Reid said.
“Gus Byrne, we’ll see how we go qualifying him in the last few rounds.”
Carlton, ninth, finds itself in the running for VFL finals, with Echuca duo Aiden Mills and Logan Prout set to be key players in the Blues’ dash.
Sam Willoughby, who has tallied seven games for eighth-placed Footscray, returned to the Murray Bombers’ line-up last week.
Experienced duo Sam Reid and Kane Morris look set for a break during the last three games, while the Murray Bombers will be expected to regain defender Curt Townrow for this weekend’s clash against the Saints.