GVNL - A GRADE

Echuca 38 def by Euroa 50

THE stage was set after a great win by Euroa Magpies B grade and it was definitely swooping season as the Magpies A grades were feeling momentum.

Euroa won the toss and started with the first centre and making the most of it moved the ball quickly down to goals for Olivia Morris to set the tone making goaling look easy.

Sophie Owen in WD was quick to put her mark on the game getting an early intercept and then give and go to work the ball down to attack for Euroa to score enabling them to get an early lead.

Tylah Marchbank and Ellie Warnock were also strong in the defence circle making Echuca work for every ball, forcing errors.

The Magpies were ready to capitalise taking Euroa to an enviable lead of seven goals at the first break.

Echuca 8 Euroa 15.

The second quarter was another strong one by the Magpies despite Echuca settling and trying to implement their finals experience into the game.

Hollie Reid and Kellie Davidson were dominant in the midcourt able to work the ball at times requiring patience to make sure that Mia Sudomirski and Olivia had ball in hand to score goals and that’s exactly what they did.

Sophie and Tyla’s defensive pressure was solid as Echuca tried to penetrate the zone and Echuca was looking rattled as the Magpies had extended their lead to 10 at the major break.

Echuca 17 Euroa 27.

In the third quarter, which is often known as the premiership quarter, and Echuca being the quality team that they are were not going to relent, a high-pressure quarter with Euroa being determined to hang on to their dominant lead.

With pressure on every ball, Mia, Hollie and Kellie were like work horses presenting at every opportunity, endeavouring to break the Echuca wall and Olivia and Mia’s accurate goaling was crucial in this phase.

The defence end stood strong as Sophie, Kellie and Tylah forced Echuca to have patience in trying to get the ball to the goal.

They were able to keep Echuca at bay holding on to a lead of seven at the last break.

The final quarter saw the Murray Bombers throw everything they had at the swooping Magpies as the Magpie Army watching on became a little nervous with the margin getting as close as six.

With a repeat of 2023 playing on their minds, every Euroa player was not about to let this happen.

Eliza Hoare and Ellie combined well to get an impressive turnover on the defence circle edge and created the energy needed for the Magpies to show their dominance. Every team member lifted and transitioned to goals seamlessly, resulting in a convincing win of 12 goals at the final whistle.

Holly Reid was awarded best on court.

The girls had created football club history breaking a 41-year drought to become A grade premiers and for the first time in EFNC history had not one but two cups to bring home.