Shepparton United has a stern warning chambered for its western foes ahead of Sunday’s Goulburn Murray Women and Girls League grand finals.

Be ready, or else.

The Demons have two sides contesting the premiership at Moama Recreation Reserve and, in the case of the senior women, fired up would be a grave understatement of how the playing contingent feels ahead of the Echuca task.

“We aren’t worried about match-ups for Echuca — I believe they’re going to need to worry about matching us up,” coach Grant Searle said.

United finished the home and away season in second, trailing only the Murray Bombers, who proved to be the sole stumbling block for Searle’s charges.

If the Demons needed any further impetus, they need only remember last year’s decider.

United lost by a single point against Echuca in the 2024 grand final, denying it a maiden GMWGL premiership and leaving a sour taste lingering on the lips.

“I don’t think I need to do a great deal; the girls are ready,” Searle said.

“They realise the disappointment and the hurt from losing by one point last year has been enough to spur them on to us almost being undefeated for the whole season.

“We’ve kept that momentum — we dropped it against Echuca recently over there, but the conditions didn’t suit us.

“We’re up and about, we’re ready, the girls have got some unfinished business, they realise that and they’re well prepared.”

It’s clear vibes are high within the Deakin Reserve cohort ahead of Sunday.

But what about the opposition?

Echuca has been a powerhouse of the competition for years now and, after consecutive grand final wins in 2023 and 2024, the Murray Bombers won’t be afraid to flaunt their experience when hunting a three-peat.

“I guess we have a bit of a hometown advantage, not so much a home ground advantage, but I think it’ll be a battle to the end,” Echuca playing coach Kate Dixon said.

“I don’t think it’ll be high scoring, it’ll be a very tough match, and we're going to have to watch that Shepp just don't run away with it and play our way and play our game.”

Shepparton United’s Paige Baksh, who played in Echuca’s 2024 flag, will be one to watch on Sunday as she leads the competition’s goal-kicking charts with 25.

Murray Bomber Sienna Lee follows close behind on 22, while Dixon herself has proved to be a dab hand in front of goals with 16 for the season.

It’s set to be a showstopping classic and, before the senior women battle it out, Shepparton United’s youth girls will also be chasing a maiden flag of their own.

United faces host side Moama for all the marbles and, while the Magpies condemned the Demons to a 0-3 start to the season by trouncing the red and blue by 47 points, Luke Maskell’s side has lost three further games since.

The Demons’ final home and away season result was a four-point win over Sunday’s opponent, followed by a 65-point smashing of Echuca United in the semi-final.

Tabatha Ingham has been United’s main threat with 18 goals this season — though it’s the Demons’ back six that’ll have to be at its best.

The Moama quartet of Ruby and Chelsea-Jade McLeod, Zoe McCallum and Shaleah Cooper have combined for 85 majors in the past 14 games, making it the league’s most destructive forward line by some distance.

But it all comes down to whom fortune favours on the day and Maskell said no matter the result, he “couldn’t be any prouder of the girls than I am now”.

“They fit into positions now, they understand what the game is, they’re all determined,” he said.

“As we’ve got a little bit better, you can see their love for their confidence rise.

“That’s what I do it for, not so much the wins, but seeing the girls grow in confidence.”

After a sluggish start, United has come on in leaps and bounds to enter a purple patch when it matters most.

Having had a front-row seat to the side’s progression, Maskell attributed the Dees’ success to the club’s holistic approach, assistant coach Lissy Down and the players themselves.

“It’s rewarding as a coach to see what they’ve been learning at training be applied to games and it’s started to gel towards the back of the season, which is really helpful,” he said.

“I think the girls are feeling excited and ready; obviously there’s a mix of nerves and determination as we were there last year.

“They’ve worked hard all season and they really want it.”

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Friday, 9th June 2023

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