GVL | Echuca’s flag dash on in earnest with Mansfield qualifying final

Mansfield is chasing GVL silverware for the first time since its 2009 premiership, and Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said his side would afford the Eagles the respect they deserved after an impressive campaign.

“They’ve got some good forwards; (Cameron) Arnold’s a strong forward, when he kicks straight he can be formidable,” Maddox said.

“(Ben) Christopher and (Will) Foster as well ... they have some good forwards as well as some strong midfielders in (Corey) Rich and (Patrick) Marks.

“They’re strong across the board — you don’t finish second by a fluke.”

In early selection drama, Echuca will be without the services of star ruckman Kane Morris for the big clash following his one-week suspension in last week’s upset defeat to Mooroopna.

Maddox admits it’s a blow but is confident the Murray Bombers stable of young rucks can stand up to fill the gap.

“As far as I know, Kane was suspended on Wednesday night,” Maddox said.

“We’ve got Liam Tenace who rucks really well, we’ve brought in Lachlan Watson from the Thirds, Leo O’Brien has been in good form.

“Kane’s our captain and we would love to have him out there, but we’ve won games without him.”

Echuca star Sam Reid is also under a cloud with a hamstring niggle, with his availability to be determined at Thursday night training.

“Whatever side we put on the park it’s always been a one troop down and one troop in scenario,” Maddox said.

“We have really good depth in the the Reserves and under-18s. We’ll go to Seymour confident that our best footy is good enough.”

Last time these two sides met, the Eagles were more than up for the challenge, but only for a half.

Mansfield finished in second spot after a quality home-and-away campaign, a quality that had Chad Owens’ squad within four points at half-time of their round four clash at Victoria Park.

A remarkable 10-goal blitz in the third quarter helped Echuca to an emphatic 68-point victory, but Maddox said the slate was wiped clean on the eve of a brand new finals series.

“It was a game of two halves last time, but I’m not sure you can take too much from that,” Maddox said.

“We’ve had a limited look at each other and we have different personnel, and now we’re on a completely different ground.

“We’ll worry about our own backyard. We didn’t finish on top of the ladder for no reason, we know our best footy is good enough.”

That sentiment was echoed by his opposing coach last week after the Eagles locked in a top-two berth.

“We haven’t played Echuca since round six or seven. It was 12 weeks ago and our personnel have changed since then and so has theirs,” Owens said to The News.

“Obviously their press is really good and can suck the life out of the game if you allow that.

“They’ve got a great midfield group and some dangerous forwards. Obviously it’s a huge game. The boys are excited and ready to have a crack.”

The Murray Bombers’ blistering 16-game winning streak came to an end last week at the hands of a Moooropna outfit desperate for finals.

Maddox is hopeful the one-goal defeat can “kickstart” his side against the Eagles who will power into the clash with an eight-game winning streak at its back.

For both sides, it’s the start of a campaign that will hopefully yield long-awaited success.

Mansfield’s drought stretches back 13 years, but the Murray Bombers haven’t tasted GVL success at senior level since 2002.

After a barnstorming home-and-away many in Echuca will be hoping this is the year the Murray Bombers can bring it home, but they will be forced to contend with stiff opposition.

Echuca’s most recent finals opponent, reigning premier Kyabram, narrowly qualified for finals and will face Euroa in an elimination final at Tatura on Saturday.

Rochester and Mooroopna play off at Victoria Park on Sunday in the other elimination final.