- Apr 5, 2001
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Well this will be the last local football preview for 2002, for me. Wayde Petersen as the season comes to an end with tomorrow's Goulburn Valley Football League Grand Final between the Rochester Tigers and the Echuca Murray Bombers.
After, what hopefully will be a crushing victory for the Lions today, i'll try to back that up with what should be a great game between these two old rivals (who also played off for last year's premiership, with Echuca winning by 63 points).
Rochester, after coughing and spluttering during the last two rounds of the GVFL Home and Away season (with two big losses to Shepparton and Shepparton Swans), have been awsome in it's two finals matches, disposing of Benalla in the Qualifying Final at Tatura and accounting for Echuca in the Second Semi Final at Kyabram, and although they have been lucky with injuries (with Centre Half Forward, Carl Oliver coming back from a sickening collision with a fellow team-mate against Echuca a fortnight agi that left him with a concussion), and with the Tribunal (with forward Steve McCarty being found not guilty of striking from that same game), thier form, plus a two week break gives coach (and former Melbourne player) Dave Williams a full list to choose from.
Echuca on the other hand have had a much tougher road to the Grand Final, coming on top against a spirited Shepparton United outfit in the first elimination final, and coming from 24 points behind against the wind, to fall over the line against finals novices Benalla by 7 points, with Craig Sholl kicking the sealer for the Green and Whites.
Both sides match up pretty well against one another, and although Echuca have Craig Sholl and local guns, Rhys Archard in attack Steven Orr, coming out of retirement in the ruck/forward line and Guy Campbell with his speed in defence, Rochester also have young guns in Ben Anderson (a VCFL Representitve in the ruck), and Nathan Whipp (who's is the quickest player of 10 paces than anyone in local football, and whose deadly in the forward line), and old heads, Tim and Steve Rasmussen and Simon McCarty to provide leadership for the Tigers.
But, when it's all said and done, Echuca is a vastly diiferent side to the one that one last year's premiership (with 10 players either leaving or retiring), and although they have had a tremendous season, exceeding all pre-season expectations, blooding many younsters and creating a great enviromnent throughout the club from the Under 18's up, (including thier three Netball sides), I think that Rochester have a mission, to eliminate all memories of thier 2001 humiliation, and although they have been down in form, they have been unwavering in thier goal to win the 2002 GVFL Premiership, and with this in mind, they will slay thier greatest rivals in a close game amoungst a crowd of 8,000.
ROCHESTER vs Echuca by 12 points.
In the Reserves, Shepparton Swans have the chance to go back to back with the big, bad Bears of Shepparton, the team that disposed of the Swans in the Second Semi Final.
The Swannies have a lot of young players with Senior experience, including Steve Climas (whom I went to school with at Wanganui Park SC, Shepparton), and my best mate cousin, Dasha Sherif, and although Shepp will have a strong team (they always do) the Swannies should find something extra to win the premiership, something that thier senior counterparts didn't do.
SHEPPARTON SWANS vs Shepparton by 5 points.
And In the Under 18's, Echuca, who didn't drop a game throughout the season, only to lose to Shepparton United in the Qualifying Final, face up to Benalla who have also been impressive, but from what i've seen, Echuca have been the best team all year, and they have recovered from thier stumble and should break Benalla's hearts for the second time in a week.
ECHUCA vs Benalla by 18 points.
And in the Netball Tongala's side of youth, experience, and some pize recruits from the KDNL (including a rarity in Netball, a male coach in Adam Sloan, recruited from Stanhope this year) should just about do it over Shepparton United, who were imressive in their demolition of Shepparton in the Preliminary Final
TONGALA vs Shepparton United by 5 goals.
In B-Grade, Shepparton face off against Deakin Reserve co-tenants and fierce rivals, Shepparton United , and in what should be a high-quality exhibition of Netball, Shepparton United should prevail due to thier experience, over the young Bear cubs.
SHEPPARTON UNITED vs Shepparton by 9 goals.
And in what should be another great game of netball, Shepparton play Echuca in the C-Grade Grand Final, and with Echuca being 1) the best side all year and 2) the team with the best form coming into the match, it's hard not to select the Murray Bombers to win the title.
ECHUCA vs Shepparton by 10 goals.
Timelord, all signs point to a great match, and you won't be disappointed.
After, what hopefully will be a crushing victory for the Lions today, i'll try to back that up with what should be a great game between these two old rivals (who also played off for last year's premiership, with Echuca winning by 63 points).
Rochester, after coughing and spluttering during the last two rounds of the GVFL Home and Away season (with two big losses to Shepparton and Shepparton Swans), have been awsome in it's two finals matches, disposing of Benalla in the Qualifying Final at Tatura and accounting for Echuca in the Second Semi Final at Kyabram, and although they have been lucky with injuries (with Centre Half Forward, Carl Oliver coming back from a sickening collision with a fellow team-mate against Echuca a fortnight agi that left him with a concussion), and with the Tribunal (with forward Steve McCarty being found not guilty of striking from that same game), thier form, plus a two week break gives coach (and former Melbourne player) Dave Williams a full list to choose from.
Echuca on the other hand have had a much tougher road to the Grand Final, coming on top against a spirited Shepparton United outfit in the first elimination final, and coming from 24 points behind against the wind, to fall over the line against finals novices Benalla by 7 points, with Craig Sholl kicking the sealer for the Green and Whites.
Both sides match up pretty well against one another, and although Echuca have Craig Sholl and local guns, Rhys Archard in attack Steven Orr, coming out of retirement in the ruck/forward line and Guy Campbell with his speed in defence, Rochester also have young guns in Ben Anderson (a VCFL Representitve in the ruck), and Nathan Whipp (who's is the quickest player of 10 paces than anyone in local football, and whose deadly in the forward line), and old heads, Tim and Steve Rasmussen and Simon McCarty to provide leadership for the Tigers.
But, when it's all said and done, Echuca is a vastly diiferent side to the one that one last year's premiership (with 10 players either leaving or retiring), and although they have had a tremendous season, exceeding all pre-season expectations, blooding many younsters and creating a great enviromnent throughout the club from the Under 18's up, (including thier three Netball sides), I think that Rochester have a mission, to eliminate all memories of thier 2001 humiliation, and although they have been down in form, they have been unwavering in thier goal to win the 2002 GVFL Premiership, and with this in mind, they will slay thier greatest rivals in a close game amoungst a crowd of 8,000.
ROCHESTER vs Echuca by 12 points.
In the Reserves, Shepparton Swans have the chance to go back to back with the big, bad Bears of Shepparton, the team that disposed of the Swans in the Second Semi Final.
The Swannies have a lot of young players with Senior experience, including Steve Climas (whom I went to school with at Wanganui Park SC, Shepparton), and my best mate cousin, Dasha Sherif, and although Shepp will have a strong team (they always do) the Swannies should find something extra to win the premiership, something that thier senior counterparts didn't do.
SHEPPARTON SWANS vs Shepparton by 5 points.
And In the Under 18's, Echuca, who didn't drop a game throughout the season, only to lose to Shepparton United in the Qualifying Final, face up to Benalla who have also been impressive, but from what i've seen, Echuca have been the best team all year, and they have recovered from thier stumble and should break Benalla's hearts for the second time in a week.
ECHUCA vs Benalla by 18 points.
And in the Netball Tongala's side of youth, experience, and some pize recruits from the KDNL (including a rarity in Netball, a male coach in Adam Sloan, recruited from Stanhope this year) should just about do it over Shepparton United, who were imressive in their demolition of Shepparton in the Preliminary Final
TONGALA vs Shepparton United by 5 goals.
In B-Grade, Shepparton face off against Deakin Reserve co-tenants and fierce rivals, Shepparton United , and in what should be a high-quality exhibition of Netball, Shepparton United should prevail due to thier experience, over the young Bear cubs.
SHEPPARTON UNITED vs Shepparton by 9 goals.
And in what should be another great game of netball, Shepparton play Echuca in the C-Grade Grand Final, and with Echuca being 1) the best side all year and 2) the team with the best form coming into the match, it's hard not to select the Murray Bombers to win the title.
ECHUCA vs Shepparton by 10 goals.
Timelord, all signs point to a great match, and you won't be disappointed.
