After 18 home and away round coupled with three weeks of finals we are down to the top two teams to play off for the 2024 crown.
Echuca was the first team into the big dance after a hard-fought win over Shepparton and then accounting for arch rival Rochester in week two of the finals.
Shepparton had to take the longer route by having to get past Mooroopna and Rochester in the past fortnight after suffering a first week loss to Echuca.
Shepparton lost the qualifying final but lost no friends.
The Bears pushed the Murray Bombers all the way, only going down after they were blitzed by the reigning premier in the last quarter.
This to me has the hallmarks of 2014 and 2018 when the favourites were beaten by the underdog.
Does Shepparton deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Echuca?
Probably not. But they have earnt the right to play in the grand-final, losing once during the home and away to Echuca and once in the finals, again to the Murray Bombers.
Echuca has been the benchmark since 2021, finishing on top when that season was called and winning the past two premierships.
They are shooting for a third straight premiership and will go down as one of the greatest teams of all time with a win. Not many teams win three in a row. Not since the Seymour Lions did in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Standing in their way trying to stop them will be Ned Byrne, Adam Decicco, Ashley Holland, Jonty Wardle and Trent Herbert, Ted Lindon, Mitch Brett, Lewis McShane, Jhett Cooper and Xavier Stevenson will be others that will be important for the Bears.
For the reigning premier they will look to Kane Morris, Cameron Valentine, Mitchell Wales, Sam Willoughby and Jackson Stewart to play well while Riley Smith, Logan Prout, Benjamin Reid, Samuel Reid and Aiden Mills will be others that will be important for the Green Machine.
In the win over the Bears, they had 8 goalkickers and against the Tigers they had 9 different players hit the scoreboard.
Tyler Larkin, Joel Brett and Jacob Watts all missed the qualifying loss to Echuca. And, they are back and will be important for the Bears.
The Bears will look to ensure the things they pride themselves on – contest and pressure are on against the Murray Bombers.
The Murray Bombers are a so well drilled unit and it will take the Bears’ best to break them down and have the game played on their terms for long periods.
Another factor will be the weather. If there is wind then that could play a huge part in the contest like it has in the past.
I genuinely give the Bears a big show of spoiling the party, but I am going for the Murray Bombers to create a slice of history and claim a third straight premiership.
Tip: Echuca.
