Saturday’s icy winds made for some tough conditions as the Echuca Masters ventured across to Mooroopna to take on the Goulburn Valley Giants in a twilight fixture.
The conditions were not enough to dampen enthusiasm however, with both sides turning up to play some good Masters footy and each benefiting from strong depth on their benches.
Word had got around that the game was being broadcast globally with the GVFL commentary team making themselves available for the Masters game and many listeners tuned in for the entertainment.
The first quarter saw a very tight contest with both midfields working hard to drive their team forward. The Emus were able to take a slight advantage kicking with the wind and go into quarter time with a two-goal lead.
Goulburn Valley were playing their hearts out in honour of the late Buck McPhee, who orchestrated the development of the GV Giants after coming from Echuca. They played inspired footy in the second quarter but were inaccurate in front of goal and couldn’t put enough pressure on the scoreboard to trouble the Emus, the game was finely balanced at the main break.
Enter Emu’s playmaker Francis O’Brien who took the game by the scruff of the neck in the third quarter, winding back the clock with two scintillating goals to get the Emus fired up. This spurred the Emus into gear and they took control of the game thereafter, building a commanding lead that was never at risk.
The electric pace was taken out of the game in the final quarter as the Emus controlled the game, working well into the wind and running out with a commanding victory.
As has been a staple this year, the Emus backline was a cohesive unit all game with Paul Else, Drew Elliot, Kent Horrocks, Damo Hammond and Les Butler denying the giants a good look at goal. Justin Voss was dominant in the ruck giving clearance specialists Leigh Owen, Troy Ramsey and Kelvin Nye plenty of supply while Rob Guerra gave great support after turning up on the right day.
Clint Jurey, Matthew Veitch, Lucas Walker and Jon Beech proved a handful for the Giants defence as they scored with precision benefitting from the work of pressure forwards Kevin Dunque and Aaron Prewett.
It was an even team effort on and off the field, all players motivated by the return of Jeff Abela to the coaching box which allowed Mark Van Poeteron and Bruce McCahon to focus on their on-field games.
All of the Emus remaining games for the 2024 season are at home with matches against Macorna on August 4th, a double-header against Maryborough & Benalla on August 18th and the final round against Yarrawonga on September 7th.