Round 5 of the Masters calendar saw the Echuca Masters hosting Geelong at home at Echuca South Recreation Reserve in beautiful weather with a strong breeze pushing to the centre of town.
Geelong came out firing in the first quarter able to utilise their wings with consistent forward entries to some potent looking attackers who were able to convert. The EMUs ball movement around the ground was inconsistent which gave the Cats some extra opportunities to convert with some dropped marks and handballs missing their targets. At the end of the first, it was either the breeze or the skill errors that gave Geelong a six-goal advantage.
Jeff Abela took leadership and gave the boys a burst at the quarter break to try and get them moving and he went out and led by example, putting his head over the footy and showing everybody how to win the ball. A strong tackle saw Jason Cartledge leave the game with a back injury but was able to get back onto the ground later through the play. Pete Spencer continued his form floating through the backline with strong intercept marking and accountability. Bruce McCahon roved a pack and was able to put it between the big sticks for the EMUs first major. John Smythe made his return to play his first game for Echuca and took a great mark in the forward line to go back and slot through a goal. Michael Dodd proved to be the big boy in defence and through the middle, setting up a lot of the EMUs play. Geelong were still able to add to their total with excellent ball use down the wings, moving away from Echuca on the scoreboard as the second quarter came to an end.
In the third, the EMUs defence continued to stand strong, but it was the usage of the ball through a few passages of play that found out of bounds rather than their man. Neville Green was attacking the ball strong over the wings and moving well around the ground. Jeff Abela showed his strength with a great contested mark in the goal square to go back and put through a goal for the EMUs. Justin Voss continued to battle in the ruck with mids Chris Hagan and Michael Dodd fighting to give the EMUs first use of the footy. In a tough contest, a head clash saw Paul Lavars leave the field of play and not to return. EMUs defence continued to fight tooth and nail and were able to dampen Geelong’s score totals through the like of Adam Richter and Garner Smith.
The fourth quarter saw the EMUs with the ever-changing breeze as Echuca kept fighting to win the footy and add to their total. Jeff Abela bounced off a trio of defenders to find John Smythe who unselfishly gave a twenty-five metre handball off to James Walshe in the square converting easily without a boo boo. Jason Cartledge, having returned to the field from his back injury, busted through a pack to put one through the big sticks. Despite the midfield continuing to fight hard throughout the game Geelong were still able to get some good use of the ball, able to add a couple more goals to their total to enjoy a comfortable win over the EMUs.
The Echuca Masters next play on July 1stwhen they travel down to Sunbury for Round 6. If you’re interested in seeing what footy for fun is all about, head down to the Echuca South oval on Wednesday at 6pm to catch up with the side.
GOALS: 1 – Bruce McCahon, John Smythe, Jeff Abela, James Walshe, Jason Cartledge
BEST: Jeff Abela, Justin Voss, Michael Dodd, James Walshe, Jared Johnson