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Echuca muscled its way to the 2026 grand final after last week’s trouncing of Kyabram by 68 points – the Bombers’ heaviest defeat to their northern counterparts in 15 years. However, the reigning premier is a proud beast, and the Shepparton Bears will be wary of a big response in this Sunday’s preliminary final at Deakin Reserve. After falling to the Murray Bombers in the qualifying final, the Bears bounced back with a convincing 21-point win over Mooroopna, putting themselves one win away from a return to grand final day for the first time since 2024. “We knew if we brought (a defensive mindset) that it’s just going to put pressure on sides,” co-coach Jason Wells said after their semi-final win. “We’ve got one of the best ruckmen in the league that knows how to then sit behind the footy and support our backs. “Our back six were huge again - they were beaten the week before, they knew that and they bounced back.” In the head-to-head stakes, Shepparton will come in with confidence on their home deck. The Bears notched a 66-point win over Kyabram in round six before doling out a similar dose with a 41-point triumph less than a month ago. Shepparton’s midfield brigade, as it was in the semi-final, was typically influential as Luke Smith - three goals and 33 disposals against the Cats - Jake Watts, and ruckman Ash Holland’s lethal combination was on show. Holland looks set to lock horns with Kyabram’s Zac Norris in a showcase of arguably the competition’s premier big men. But around the ground, the Bombers sit under a cloud after a bruising encounter with the Murray Bombers. A defence already with a big job on its hands this Sunday to quell the Bears forward could be without star backmen Jason Morgan and Brad Whitford after they were forced from the ground with injuries before the final siren. However, the Bombers could regain sharpshooter Anthony DePasquale from VFL duties after Werribee bowed out of finals, a timely inclusion if the forward with 32 goals from eight GVL games can influence. So, will it be Kyabram back on the big stage to defend their crown and become one of few teams to win the flag from fifth? Or will a determined Shepparton outfit qualify for its first decider in two seasons? The first bounce of the GVL preliminary final will take place at Deakin Reserve at 2pm.