Echuca catapulted itself to the top of the Goulburn Valley League ladder on Sunday with a 45-point win over arch-rival Rochester at Victoria Park.
The Tigers made a hot start in wintry conditions but, reminiscent of itsround one win over Rochester, Echuca was far too strong in the second half, booting seven goals to one as injuries reduced the visitors to no rotations.
Echuca piled on the pain with four unanswered goals in the last quarter to run away with a 12.9 (81) to 5.6 (36) win after Rochester trailed by just five points at half-time.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox credited the “ugly” win to his side’s adaptability and improved ball use in the second half.
“We adapted to the challenge, got our game going and ran away with the win eventually,” Maddox said.
“We were fumbling with the ball in the first half, whether it was the greasy conditions or the pressure Rochester brought.
“We were a bit cleaner with the footy (in the second half) and I thought defensively we stood up after half-time.
“It wasn’t our best performance, but sometimes you’ve got to win ugly.”
Chris Jansen picked up plenty of the football for Rochester and, together with ruck Dan Russell and Jordan Harper, piled the pressure on Echuca early in the game.
Murray Bombers forward Ruory Kirkby kicked three goals, while Sam Willoughby and Jack McHale wrenched back the midfield ascendancy for Echuca in the second half.
“I thought Sam Willoughby was really good. Kane Morris had a good battle in the ruck,” Maddox said.
“Rochy’s ruck (Dan Russell) was good for a lot of the day. They had a good battle in the ruck, those two.
“Jack McHale battled hard, Ben Reid off half-back played well.
“I thought Aiden Mills in defence did really well. He played on (Steve) Stroobants and gave us some really good drive off half-back.”
While Echuca’s victory saw it move atop the GVL ladder, Rochester’s second defeat of the year has come at a cost.
Coach and forward livewire Steve Stroobants looks set for an extended stint on the sidelines with an MCL injury, while Hamish Hooppell and James McPhee encountered hamstring issues during the match.
Stroobants took heart from his side’s first-half showing, but conceded the Tigers needed a four-quarter performance against the top teams.
“I thought the first half we battled hard and put some pressure on and we played the footy we want to play,” Stroobants said.
“The second half we lost a few soldiers and our skill execution started to hurt us a bit — we got a bit tired and couldn’t maintain it for four quarters.
“We showed that we’re up to it, it’s just about keeping it up for those four quarters, which is the main thing.”
Rochester’s attention will now turn to a match-up against the resurgent Seymour at Moon Oval in round nine, the first of a challenging four-game stretch that includes games against Euroa (sixth), Kyabram (fifth) and Mooroopna (fourth).
Echuca hosts the Cats at Victoria Park this Saturday, June 11.
GVL
Echuca: 1.2, 5.4, 8.7, 12.9 (81)
Rochester: 2.4, 4.5, 5.5, 5.6 (36)
Goals
Rochester: Mitch Cricelli 2, Lachlan Harper, Andy Henderson, Izaac Johnson
Echuca: Ruory Kirkby 3, Dan Willis, Will Monahan 2, Cooper Barber, Jack McHale, Kane Morris, Jackson Stewart, Sam Willoughby
Best
Rochester: Adam McPhee, Grant Fuller, Mitchell Bright, Andy Henderson, Izaac Johnson
Echuca: Sam Willoughby, Kane Morris, Ben Reid, Jack McHale, Aiden Mills