From the Shepp News|
Echuca’s difficult start to the Goulburn Valley Football League season continues tomorrow when it hosts premiership contender Shepparton United tomorrow.
The Murray Bombers are winless after the first three rounds and their challenge has become even greater after losing three of their most experienced players to injury in the past couple of weeks.
A limping Rhys Archard (hamstring) joined captain Brendan Prendergast (shoulder) and Simon Buckley (hamstring) on the sidelines last week, with the responsibility to lift falling on the team’s newer and younger players.
One such player is Matt Pollock, who will play his 100th game for the club tomorrow.
Pollock, who joined the club in 2008 from Leitchville-Gunbower, said the milestone had arrived quickly.
‘‘It’s really good,’’ he said of reaching the milestone.
‘‘I wouldn’t mind getting to what Rhys (Archard) has done and get to 150 and get life membership.’’
The midfielder listed playing in finals and making the interleague squad in 2012 as highlights during his time at Echuca and hopes to further add to both of those events.
But it has not been all easy going since the Gunbower-raised player moved to Echuca.
‘‘The football was a lot different. A lot more skilful,’’ Pollock said.
‘‘When I first came I wasn’t a good kick, but (playing in a higher league) has helped a lot with my skills.
‘‘Any young players at smaller clubs should definitely try it.’’
One such player is Leitchville-Gunbower’s Dylan Friedberger, who played 14 senior games for the Bombers before moving to Echuca and playing in his first under 18s game last week.
‘‘It’s the best move he’s made,’’ Pollock said of the youngster.
‘‘He’s fitting in well and maybe he’ll get one or two senior games later on.’’
The 23-year-old said he felt Echuca was now a big part of his life.
‘‘I call it more of my home club now,’’ Pollock said.
‘‘I’ll always have ties out there (at Gunbower), but I love the Echuca Football Club and the people there.’’
Echuca coach Cameron Stewart said it was a great effort to play 100 games by the age of 23, but Pollock still had a lot of improvement left in him.
‘‘He is willing to work increasingly hard at football and we are happy to oblige,’’ the coach said.
‘‘We will look to him to play 200, 300 games of footy at our footy club.
‘‘It is great for local kids playing for their local club (to) achieve these milestones.’’
With the month-long injury to Archard, who is the team’s top goal-scorer with six, Echuca will look to the likes of Liam Wilkinson and Nick Jackson.
Horsham recruit Sean Christopher also provided a target in the forward line last week and took some solid marks, while Jordan Florance and Josh Edgar will provide a target.
‘‘We will really look to have multiple goal-kickers
The Demons pose a formidable unit and with the addition of gun forward Jason Eagle (15 goals) to a list which includes Tim Looby, Matt Forys, Sam Dawes and Shaun Huy, the team has enjoyed a positive start to the season.
Young Echuca full-back Matt Hay is a chance to get the role on Eagle after ‘‘returning to his best’’ last week, while Ben Mason is likely to return to the senior side after being listed among the best in the reserves.
Sam Toulmin also impressed in his first senior game against Kyabram.
‘‘We’re just after a continued effort for four quarters,’’ Stewart said.
‘‘(Their forwards) are irrelevant to us. If we can break even with them in the middle, we’ll have a chance.
‘‘The onus is on (the midfielders) to really compete, apply a heap of pressure and we’ll go out and have a crack.’’
Echuca will look to make the most of its home ground advantage as tomorrow will be the first time United has had to travel after playing its first three games of the season at its home ground, with three of its next four also to be played at Deakin Reserve.
