Welcome to the Echuca Football Netball Club.
The Echuca Football Club was formed in 1876 and in the early days played against local teams in the region. In 1909 the club was admitted to the Goulburn Valley District Football Association, and remained in the Goulburn Valley competition until 1925 when the decision was taken to cross to the Bendigo Football League. The club spent the next fifty years in the BFL.
The Murray Bombers returned to the Goulburn Valley Football League in 1974 and were coached by former Hawthorn champion Graham Arthur. He had been with them in that capacity since 1969, guiding them to a flag in his second season in charge in the BFL. Arthur laid the foundations of a strong Echuca combination which went on to become a dominant force in the GVFL during the second half of the 1970s, reaching three grand finals for two wins. Among Echuca’s key players during this era were John Haw, a tenacious and inspirational rover who captained the side to its 1977 and 1979 premierships and ruckman Brian Kennaugh, a local farmer who, in 1986, would become the club’s first-ever Morrison Medallist.
Echuca next returned to the fore during the 1990s under former Melbourne and Richmond utility Simon Eishold. After losing the 1994 and 1995 grand finals, the Bombers broke through for their third GVFL flag in 1997, before going on to enjoy further success early in the new century with premierships in 2001 and 2002 under Ken Sheldon and Ashley Byrne respectively.
Echuca enjoyed a stellar season in 2022, winning premierships in Seniors, Reserves and Under 18 football under the guidance of senior co-coaches Andrew Walker and Simon Maddox. In 2023 Seniors and Under 18s were Premiers again cementing a golden period for our club.
Echuca Bomber’s Netballers also have a proud and successful history in the Goulburn Valley League winning four A Grade premierships. In 2018, the team, coached by Gina Pearson, played an epic Grand Final to win by the narrowest of margins. In 2023 the Belinda Lees coached A Graders were Premiers making it a rare Senior Football and A Grade Netball double for EFNC.
In 2017 the Echuca Murray Bombers women’s football team was formed. The team has performed strongly each season it has competed and a prosperous future for women’s football at Echuca Football Club is assured. The team broke through for their maiden premiership in 2023 under the astute coaching of Damien Dalziel.
Source John Devaney – Full Points Publications