# Echuca Football Club

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 too.
Echuca initially wore the blue and white colours.
In 1890, Echuca won the Ryan McRAE 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 1890's.
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.
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 - 1945 - Club in recess. World War Two
* 1946 - 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 | 4 | 1890,,1892, 1893 1902 | 1891 |
| Northern District FA | 1 | 1901, | |
| Bendigo Football League | 3 | 1928, 1967, 1970 | |
| Echuca Football League | 3 | 1946, 1947, 1948 | |
| Goulburn Valley Football League | 8 | 1977, 1979, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 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 |
| 1947-50 | Brian Randall |
| 1994-98 | Simon Eishold |
| 1999 | Rod O'Reilly |
| 2000-01 | Ken Sheldon |
| 2023-04 | Coen Yin |
| 2005-06 | Dylan Butler |
| 2007-08 | Steven Orr |
| 2009-11 | Brett Henderson |
| 2012-13 | Cameron Stewart |
| 2014–2017 | Andrew Briggs |
| 2018–2020 | Simon Maddox & |
| | Andrew Walker |
| 2021–2024 | Andrew Walker |