The Echuca Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Murray Bombers, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the Victorian town of Echuca, Victoria.
History The Echuca Football Club was formed in 1874, so it could play against the Rochester Football Club which was also formed in 1874.
Echuca initially wore the blue and white colours.
In 1890, Echuca won the trophy, then in 1891, Echuca East Football Club won the trophy, then in 1892, Rochester won the initial premiership and Echuca protested, which resulted in the two teams having to play a grand final match. Rochester refused to play, with Echuca travelling over to Rochester to play, but with no competing team, Echuca claimed the premiership match, after the first bounce. After much discussion, Echuca was officially declared premiers.
Echuca played many matches against East Echuca Football Club in the mid to late 1890s.
The club teams currently compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League (GVFL), having initially joined in 1909. Echuca also played in the Bendigo Football League, from 1925 until 1939, then from 1949 until they returned to the GVFL in 1974.
Echuca played in the Echuca Football League from 1946 to 1948, winning three consecutive premierships, before returning to the Bendigo Football League.
Echuca changed its club colours to green and white in March, 1953.
One well known ex-player is former Victorian police officer Ron Iddles.
Competitions Timelines 1890 - 1892 - Echuca District Football Association (Aitken Trophy) 1894 - 19?? - Northern Football Association (Upton Trophy) 1909 - 1923 - Goulburn Valley Football League 1924 - 1939 - Bendigo Football League 1940 - 1944 - Club in recess. World War Two 1945 - 1948 - Echuca Football League 1949 - 1973 - Bendigo Football League 1974 - Present - Goulburn Valley Football League
Football Premierships Seniors
League Total flags Premiership years Runner Up Echuca District FA 1890,,1892, 1893 1902 1891 Northern District FA Bendigo Football League 1928, 1967, 1970 1950 Echuca Football League 1945 Goulburn Valley Football League 1909, 1910, 1911, 1976, 1987, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2019.
Reserves Bendigo Football League 1969 Goulburn Valley Football League 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1995, 1996, 2007, 2022, 2024
Thirds Goulburn Valley Football League 1976, 1994, 2008, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
Echuca East Football Club Echuca Football Association 1891 Northern District Football Association 1894, 1895
Football League best & fairest winners Seniors Bendigo Football League: Michelsen Medal 1954 - Eddie Jackson 1963 - Bob Vagg 1965 - Bill Serong
Goulburn Valley Football League: Morrison Medal 1986 - B.A. Kennaugh 1995 - Simon Eishold 1997 - Steven Orr 2001 - Craig Sholl 2003 - Rhys Archard 2006 - Colin Durie 2010 - Kristian Height 2016 - Simon Buckley 2017 - Ben McGay
Reserves Bendigo Football League 1960 - Len Johnston 1961 - Paul Egan & Robert Egan 1963 - Noel Wallace
Senior Football Coaches Year Coach Brian Randall Simon Eishold Rod O'Reilly Ken Sheldon Coen Yin Dylan Butler Steven Orr Brett Henderson Cameron Stewart Andrew Briggs Simon Maddox & Andrew Walker Andrew Walker
AFL players Clayton Oliver- Melbourne Noah Long- West Coast Eagles Ollie Wines- Port Adelaide Andrew Walker- Carlton Brodie Kemp- Carlton
References
External links
Twitter page SportsTG site 1928 - Bendigo Football League Premiers: Echuca FC team photo 1948 - Echuca District FA Premiers: Echuca FC team photo 1967 - Bendigo FL Premiers: Echuca FC team photo