In the Goulburn Murray Junior League under-14s division one, the Bears had gone 11 wins without loss heading into grand final day, but a surprise challenger emerged for the crown.
Fourth-placed Echuca Bombers, which held a 4-6 record across the home and away season, had stunned Echuca Murray Bombers and the Shepparton Swans to rise as Shepparton’s grand final opponent in the decider.
And with momentum surging, they made sure to make the Bears earn the premiership flag.
Four behinds were scored in the first quarter by the Bears with the opening goal finally scored by Shepparton’s Will Feltham halfway through second quarter.
Echuca’s Sam Whan responded with a clinical snap from 35 metres out to get Echuca its first goal - and score - of the game.
With the juniors spread across the vast surface of Deakin Reserve, every scoring opportunity was critical, and for the Bears, luck seemed to appear in the unlikeliest of opportunities.
15 seconds into the third term, a launch from Aiden Kilgour from outside 50 went over the top of the deep forwards, bouncing through for a goal.
A point on three-quarter-time siren made it a 10-point game, to the Bears advantage.
Echuca would have one last crack though.
A long boundary throw in inside 50 went over the top of the competing ruckmen, left to bounce before Echuca’s Ryder Roussis swooped in and put boot to ball for a goal.
It was a team lifter for the Bombers, and the bottle green would apply pressure for an extended period.
However, the Bears found a way to seal it.
After a deep entry inside forward 50, Shepparton’s Campbell Telford took possession in a scramble and as three Bombers attempted to smother, he squeezed a checkside on the goal square paint through for the match-winner.
With a minute to play, it was the sealing goal, 3.6 (24) to 2.2 (14) the final result.
Telford was named best on ground, with Bears coach Nick Brown reflecting on his sealing goal moments after the final siren.
“We call it the ‘rocket ship’, we kick to space for him (Telford) and our forwards,” Brown said.
“Normally it works for us but all credit to Echuca, they took it up to us all day.
“It was good in the last couple minutes the boys stuck to what they have been doing at training though, to get that late reward.
“...they deserve to premiers and champions.”
In under-14s division two, Shepparton United defeated Wandong at King’s Park, Seymour, 8.9 (57) to 4.7 (31), while Seymour defeated Broadford in the under-12s southern division 6.7 (43) to 4.0 (24).
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