Hugh Byrne had a day in front of goal against Tatura, kicking eight in Echuca’s demolition of the Bulldogs. Photo: Jordan Townrow.
Echuca did its wins column and percentage a huge favour in round three by not only beating bottom-dweller Tatura, but blowing it out of the water to creep its way up the standings.
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In a completely lopsided affair, the Murray Bombers notched both the highest total in Goulburn Valley League so far and the highest winning margin to date.
In all fairness to Tatura, it has played arguably the three strongest sides in the competition in the opening rounds, falling to Shepparton and Kyabram by more than 100 points.
Will Monahan also had a productive day out, kicking five for his efforts.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
But the fixture against the three-time defending champions was something else.
Taking the opportunity to play with freedom and increase its percentage, Echuca torched the Bulldogs in the opening term, drilling eight through the middle while holding them to just a single behind to take a 48-point advantage at quarter-time.
Mitch Wales remains undefeated as co-captain of the Echuca senior side.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Bulldogs’ misery continued as they weren’t able to produce any goals in the second period while the Murray Bombers kept playing their same tune, bagging a further seven maximums, just falling short of 100 points by the half-time siren.
Easing up in the second half, the Murray Bombers still tallied six goals for its time in the third term, but its kicking went wayward, with eight shots on goal converting to behinds.
Lachlan Watson attemps a hanger over Ryan Young.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Tatura finally got on the board in the third quarter, kicking a pair to scrounge back any sort of pride.
The Bulldogs built on this momentum in the final frame, landing another one through the sticks, but was little compensation against a relentless Murray Bombers outfit, who nailed six more for fun.
Jack McHale fires one into 50.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Ballooning to a 161-point win at full-time, Echuca kicked 27 goals in the contest but will be disappointed to have missed out on a few with 18 behinds.
Meanwhile, Tatura wrote a similar tale as the other two games of 2025, both struggling to kick goals or stop the other team, collecting just three goals for its day.
Sam Reid locks up Michael Archer
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The final score was Echuca 27.18 (180) to Tatura 3.1 (19).
Hugh Byrne was the star of the week for Echuca in front of goal, collecting an absurd, eight-goal bag along with five from Will Monahan with the two being part of an 11-player cohort to kick a goal in the contest.
Kane Morris goes over the top of Andrew Ciaverella.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Many of the usual suspects made it among Echuca’s best, including co-captain Mitchell Wales, Byrne, Monahan, Jack Evans and Jackson Stewart.
Echuca will get another chance to improve its percentage when it travels to Benalla Showgrounds to come up against the Saints, who have yet to win a game this season.
Jack Evans found himself among Echuca’s best.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Joe Guiney on the move.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Sam Edgar looks for the open man.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Game
Scores
Echuca: 8.1, 15.5, 21.13, 27.18 (180)
Tatura: 0.1, 0.1, 2.1, 3.1 (19)
Goals
Echuca: Hugh Byrne 8, Will Monahan 5, Samuel Edgar 4, Baxter Slater 3, Mitchell Bell, William Deutsher, Jack McHale, Kane Morris, Logan Orr, Samuel Reid, Mitchell Wales
Tatura: Michael Archer, Blake Armstrong, Will Russell
Best
Echuca: Jack Evans, Hugh Byrne, Jackson Stewart, Will Monahan, Mitchell Wales
Tatura: Curtis Ryan, Jess Petherick, Xavier Hutchison, Michael Archer, Andrew Ciavarella
13°C