Hello and welcome to Goulburn Valley League grand final day from Deakin Reserve.
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McPherson Media Group journalists and photographers will be across the action from the first whistle to the final siren - and I’ll keep you updated as it all happens in this live blog.
A reminder, the freshest updates will appear just below this intro throughout the day, giving you the ability to pop back in for the latest news and then scroll down to see what you missed.
Make sure you pick up a copy of the Shepparton News and the Riverine Herald tomorrow for your special souvenir editions - or head online to flick through the digital editions of each masthead.
Enjoy!
UPDATE: 11.55am: Football presentations
Swan Sam Bicknell wins the Garry Lyon Medal as the best player across the finals series and the AFL Vic Country Medal as best afield today as awarded by the umpires.
Echuca’s Jaxson McMinn wins the Freddo McMahon Medal for best afield as adjudged by the media.
UPDATE: 11.52am: B-Reserve netball has started
Seymour leads Rochester 15-9 at quarter time.
UPDATE: 11:45am: What a game of football
Echuca wins by a solitary point in a game that had to be seen to be believed.
So many moments late that mattered, but in the end it was Tom Evans who stood tall - after missing a set shot just a minute earlier - to slot the winner.
UPDATE: 11.39am: Tom Evans
He has a second chance to kick his team to victory. AND HE KICKS IT! Must be seconds left.
UPDATE: 11.38am: Wow
High drama all round. 30 minutes gone. Four points Swans’ way. Locked in Echuca’s half.
UPDATE: 11.30am: Cool as you like
Makai Cronin around the corner for Echuca - you can tell he’s performed on this stage before - kicks the Murray Bombers back within four points. 23 minutes gone.
UPDATE: 11.27am: Side note
Some absolute pre-game bangers emanating from the Rochester rooms - including currently Travellin’ Soldier by The Chicks.
UPDATE: 11.26am: What a game
Harper Simpson from the Swans calmly slots a set shot and gives it the huge celebration as he steers his team 10 points ahead once more.
About to hit red time.
UPDATE: 11.24am: And another!
Isaac Watson splts a pack and slots a goal on the run from 45m. Less than a kick in it!
UPDATE: 11.23am: Echuca hits back
Echuca hits back through Darby Jones and it’s back to 10!
UPDATE: 11.22am: THE DUFF MAN
Rory Duffy slots a set shot from an acute angle for the Swans and they’re back out to 16 points ahead, 14 minutes gone final term.
UPDATE: 11.20am: Swans get a flag
The 17-and-under netball has finished, with the Shepparton Swans winning 46-41 and Ruby Diffey snaring the best on court medal.
In the football, Echuca has drawn within just 10 points.
UPDATE: 11.15am: Bottle Green army lifting
Echuca’s kicked the first two goals of the term - and two behinds - to bring the margin back to an even three goals with seven minutes played.
UPDATE: 11.04am: The stage is set
Twice the Shepparton Swans have made it to the biggest day of the year in the thirds and been met with the unstoppable force that is Echuca.
Will it finally be third time lucky for this group?
The Swans lead by 32 points at the final change, but the Murray Bombers have the scoring end in the last term.
UPDATE: 11am: Big moments
The Swans keep winning the big moments as the quarter ticks over 30 minutes.
They lead 64-33.
Over on the netball courts there’s a barn-burner brewing, with the Swans leading Mooroopna by a goal at the final break.
UPDATE: 10.50am: Approaching last change
The Swans hold a 57-32 lead over Echuca as three-quarter time approaches.
Both the third and fourth quarters in the thirds grand final have time on added (which I only just remembered when the clock ticked past 20 minutes and the siren didn’t go).
UPDATE: 10.41am: Stretcher called
A young Swan is down with a lower leg injury but we haven’t been able to catch his number.
Play resumes with just under three minutes left on the clock.
UPDATE: 10.38am: Swans charging
With the aid of a breeze advantage (it is quite swirly though) the Swans have kicked out to 15 points ahead of Echuca.
HOLD THE PHONE
As I type, Flynn Grumley has unleashed from the arc again and again shot truly!
And pulled out the bow and arrow mind you!
Swans lead by 21 points.
AND ANOTHER
I need to type quicker. Straight out of the centre clearance and the Swans are now 27 points ahead with five minutes left in the third term.
UPDATE: 10.28am: BANG!
Shepparton Swans hit the lead again a minute into the second half thanks to a huuuuge roost from Flynn Grumley.
He wheeled around from about 55m at the Skene St end of Deakin Reserve and slotted it.
UPDATE: 10.20am: Murray Bombers fight back
Echuca takes a 5.0 (30) to 4.3 (27) lead into half time of the thirds footy.
The second term was of a green and white flavour, thanks to the brute force of Cody Walker.
Echuca kicked three goals to the Swans’ one to take a three-point lead into the main break. Sam Bicknell has kicked two of his own for the Swannies and doing all he can to keep them in the contest.
It’s all tied up over at the netball early in the second term, 12-apiece.
UPDATE: 9.55am: Next up
The 17-and-under netball is next up on court, with Mooroopna and Shepparton Swans set to do battle.
The Swans hold a 20-12 lead over in the football contest at quarter time.
Echuca kicked the first goal of the game within a minute, but the Swans replied from the next centre bounce and steadied from there.
UPDATE: 9.50am: Best on court
Echuca’s Kate Head was named best on court in the 15-and-under decider.
UPDATE: 9.42am: Echuca has done it
The Murray Bombers were tested mightily early on by Mansfield, but a stellar second half has seen them take out the first premiership of the day.
The final score was 45-41.
Over in the under-18 football the Swans have started on fire, leading 3.2 (20) to Echuca’s 1.0 (6) with five minutes left in the term.
UPDATE: 9.40am: The crowd’s about to go wild
Echuca leads by four goals with surely not long left now.
UPDATE: 9.25am: Huge quarter from Echuca
The Murray Bombers have lifted!
At the final break, Echuca leads Mansfield 34-33 and the crowd is having a huge influence.
UPDATE: 9am: Mansfield holding sway
The Eagles are up 24-19 at half time, having snared goals in the final seconds of both quarters thus far.
UPDATE: 8.45am: Action has begun
There’s plenty of noise at the netball courts as Echuca and Mansfield gte underway in the 15-and-under decider.
The Eagles led 12-9 at quarter time.
UPDATE: 7.45am: What a day ahead
The sun is shining, it’s not too warm and it’s not too cold (Goldilocks would be having a field day) - perfect grand final weather has greeted the last day of the Goulburn Valley League’s season.
Volunteers are already buzzing around making sure everything is set up, and some members of the crowd are even starting to roll in.
First-up we have the 15-and-under netball decider between Echuca and Mansfield - which begins at 8.30am.
That means you’ve still got plenty of time to scroll down through all of today’s preview content, as well as take in everything the team produced at Moama yesterday throughout the Murray league grand finals.
I’m not exaggerating when I say we worked through the night to have it all ready for you - our subscribers - to read well ahead of tomorrow’s print editions.
UPDATE: Sunday, September 22, 6am: The story so far
Those of you up bright and early will have plenty of time to read through any preview content you missed in the lead-up to today’s action.
Catch links to all of it below.
You can also see how Murray Football Netball League grand final day played out at Moama Recreation Reserve yesterday by clicking through to the live blog.
All of the match reports, photo galleries and reaction from those deciders are also online already as well.
AS IT WAS PRINTED
Shepparton News digital edition: https://sheppartonnews.pressreader.com/shepparton-news
Riverine Herald digital edition: https://www.riverineherald.com.au/pressreader
FOOTBALL
Seniors
A mix of recruitment and development the key to Shepparton’s Goulburn Valley League rise: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/a-mix-of-recruitment-and-development-the-key-to-sheppartons-goulburn-valley-league-rise/
Shepparton ready to go toe-to-toe with the Echuca juggernaut: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/shepparton-ready-to-go-toe-to-toe-with-the-echuca-juggernaut/
Treble front and centre as Echuca aims to make history: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/treble-front-and-centre-as-echuca-aims-to-make-history-2/
GVL Data | Shepparton’s quiet achiever is ready for the big stage: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/gvl-data/gvl-data-sheppartons-quiet-achiever-is-ready-for-the-big-stage/
GVL Data | Jonty has Shepparton feeling jaunty ahead of Sunday’s grand final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/gvl-data/gvl-data-jonty-has-shepparton-feeling-jaunty-ahead-of-sundays-grand-final/
GVL Data | Can this Bear Byrne the Murray Bombers in the GVL grand final?: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/gvl-data/gvl-data-can-this-bear-byrne-the-murray-bombers-in-the-gvl-grand-final/
Reserves
Rochester looks to celebrate a club first in its 150th season: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/rochester-looks-to-celebrate-a-club-first-in-its-150th-season/
Arch-rivals in reserves grand final showdown: https://www.campaspenews.com.au/sport/arch-rivals-in-reserves-grand-final-showdown/
Under-18
Shepparton Swans look to break the Echuca hoodoo in Goulburn Valley League under-18 grand final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/shepparton-swans-look-to-break-the-echuca-hoodoo-in-goulburn-valley-league-under-18-grand-final/
A bag of flags on offer for Echuca under-18s: https://www.riverineherald.com.au/sport/a-bag-of-flags-on-offer-for-echuca-under-18s/
NETBALL
A-grade
Euroa A-grade netballers primed and ready for Goulburn Valley League grand final rematch: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/euroa-a-grade-netballers-primed-and-ready-for-goulburn-valley-league-grand-final-rematch/
Echuca A-grade looks to go back-to-back in grand final rematch: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/echuca-a-grade-looks-to-go-back-to-back-in-grand-final-rematch/
B-grade
Mooroopna’s B-grade side out to avenge A-grade counterparts in grand final showdown with Euroa: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/mooroopnas-b-grade-side-out-to-avenge-a-grade-counterparts-in-grand-final-showdown-with-euroa/
B-reserve
Seymour Lions head to grand final after undefeated season: https://www.seymourtelegraph.com.au/sport/seymour-lions-head-to-grand-final-after-undefeated-season/
Tigers to take on Lions in B-reserve grand final: https://www.campaspenews.com.au/sport/tigers-to-take-on-lions-in-b-reserve-grand-final/
17-and-under
Mooroopna remains poised to claim back-to-back 17-and-under GVL netball flags: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/mooroopna-remains-poised-to-claim-back-to-back-17-and-under-gvl-netball-flags/
Shepparton Swans champing at the bit for Goulburn Valley League 17-and-under grand final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/shepparton-swans-champing-at-the-bit-for-goulburn-valley-league-17-and-under-grand-final/
15-and-under
Echuca’s under-15s out to defend championship: https://www.riverineherald.com.au/sport/echucas-under-15s-out-to-defend-championship/
MORE
Goulburn Valley League grand final umpiring panel announced, with one to step up for his first taste of the big leagues: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/goulburn-valley-league-grand-final-umpiring-panel-announced-with-one-to-step-up-for-his-first-taste/
Tribunal and report news from the final week of footy season: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/tribunal-and-report-news-from-the-final-week-of-footy-season/
Opinion | What’s killing country football?: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/opinion/opinion-whats-killing-country-football/
Gallery | Shepparton triumphs over Rochester in preliminary final: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/gallery-shepparton-triumphs-over-rochester-in-preliminary-final/
Gallery | Euroa soar past Mooroopna for the first time in 2024 to secure GVL grand final spot: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/gallery-euroa-soar-past-mooroopna-for-the-first-time-in-2024-to-secure-gvl-grand-final-spot/
Shepparton News editor