Some pundits had labelled the Murray Bombers as unbeatable this season, but the Tigers proved that was not the case with their fighting win.
Admittedly, Echuca was below top strength for the clash with former AFL players Sam Reid and Andrew Walker who both missed the game.
Results in the GVL have certainly been a bit confusing in the first five rounds.
Echuca beat Mansfield by 82 points in the opening round, Kyabram scraped home by two points against Rochester in round two, and on Saturday, Mansfield beat Kyabram by 31 points.
This Saturday, Echuca and Mansfield clash again in a quick turnaround and the result will be keenly followed.
Certainly, Mansfield played some impressive football against Kyabram on Saturday, but the Murray Bombers will be keen to bounce back and establish themselves as firm flag favourites.
Correct call
A seemingly over-officious young boundary umpire’s persistence that Kyabram footballer Adam Pulsoni was breaking the rules when his foot protruded in the centre square by a couple of centimetres at a centre bounce had everyone scratching their heads at the Kyabram versus Mansfield GVL clash on Saturday.
But he was correct in his decision, according to GV Umpires chief Andrew Moore.
Moore said any part of a player protruding over the line no matter how small it is is breaking the rule and a free kick from the centre can be awarded, which was the case in this instance.
Another decision from the recent Kyabram-Euroa game, which raised questions, was a 50m penalty against Kyabram’s Kaine Herbert for not handing the ball to a Euroa player, was also within the rules.
Moore said if a player has a free kick awarded against him it’s the responsibility of the player to give the ball back to the player who he has infringed against.
If he doesn’t, a 50m penalty had be enforced which happened in this case.
One-sided affair
Unfortunately, one-sided clashes in football, particularly in all levels of country and suburban leagues, are all too common these days.
In an Adelaide suburban league game at the weekend one side kicked 82.24 to its rivals’ 0.0 which is fair day in front of goals by any standards.
Closer to home in the Bendigo league last Saturday, a new ‘low’ in terms of defeat was posted.
Maryborough suffered a 333-point flogging from Sandhurst — 54.23 to 2.2.
Sandhurst kicked 11.7 to 1.1 in the first term, a casual 17.4 in the second quarter, 11.6 in the third term and came home with a burst of 13.6.
Big day out
Rochester’s Tobie Woodfine who booted 22 goals in his team’s 212-point demolition of battler Tatura in round four in the GVL thirds competition recently has a history of kicking goals.
Last year he won the Mal Reid goalkicking award for the GVL thirds as an under-aged player booting 47 goals in 15 games.
Woodfine wasn’t quite as potent on Saturday against the unbeaten reigning premier Echuca and could manage only one goal.
Winning trip
Kyabram-owned trotter Tenlilfonzies and pacer Summerdays obviously have enjoyed their trip away to race.
Owned and raced by Greg and Rod Caldwell, Tenlilfonzies won at Globe Derby Park in Adelaide and Summerdays saluted at Mildura last week.
Both raced in South Australia and enjoyed wins before rejoining the Caldwell stables for a short time.
They then headed back west where they are being prepared again by Ingrid Smith.
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