Sport

Blues solidify finals grasp with win over Eagles

By Matthew Kappos

Jul 19, 2026

Joe Guiney kicked two in Tongala’s win over Echuca United.

Tongala has recovered from a disastrous start to earn some valuable breathing room in the finals places, while Echuca United will be disappointed not to have gone on with a strong early performance as the two sides clashed in Murray Football League.

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The Eagles were looking to play spoiler at home at Echuca South Recreation Reserve and replicate the win they picked up in the reverse fixture in round three, hoping to finish the year with a late run.

It looked like they might get there after the first term, as for a second week in a row Tongala played a game that seemed to heavily favour one end.

The Eagles had the majority of the running in the first period, kicking the first two goals and four of the first five to jump out to a 25-9 lead at the first break.

Things turned in the second and, although most of the quarter was a midfield scrap, the Blues logged the only points, kicking 2.2 to get back within two points at half-time.

The long break again signalled a change in fortunes, as United fired through the first six scoring shots of the half, although only two were major scores.

Tonny responded later in the quarter, finishing the term on a high and getting the margin back to three points at the final change, Echuca United ahead 6.6 (42) to 5.9 (39).

With the Blues headed to the favoured end of the ground, three points didn’t look enough for the Eagles, and the host was again held scoreless in the quarter, as Tongala rampaged with 4.4 down the stretch to win 9.13 (67) to 6.6 (42).

The valuable victory kicks Tongala a game clear of Moama, the Blues actually dropping to sixth as Numurkah edged by them on percentage.

The Mowers have a game in hand, but Tonny has the far superior percentage in what looks to be a four-way contest between Cobram, Numurkah, Tongala (all on 8 wins) and Moama (7 wins) for three finals spots.

That battle could be mostly decided this week as the Blues host Moama at Tongala Recreation Reserve.

A win for Tonny would put Moama further adrift, while a Mowers victory will tighten the finals race even further.

Echuca United declines to 3-1-9, although a percentage of 76.8, only narrowly behind Moama (78.36) a side that is 7-6 indicates the Eagles have at times been better than their record might suggest.

The Eagles’ best realistic hope is to hold its eighth position and finish as the best of the bottom four, that quest running through Deniliquin, another bottom four side, at Hardinge St Oval this Saturday.