Shepparton's seniors, reserves and under-18s flash a smile ahead of the club's three GVL grand finals on Sunday.
Photo by
Callum Farquhar
It is the biggest week on the Goulburn Valley League calendar, yet there is a sense of normalcy at Deakin Reserve.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Even the “calm before the storm’’ cliché feels an understatement to the relaxed energy at Shepparton’s Tuesday night training session.
All three Shepparton football sides are set to play Echuca in respective GVL under-18s, reserves and senior grand finals at the Bears home deck, so despite the silverware on the line, the planning and training routine feels eerily like a home game in the home and away season.
For the senior outfit chasing its first flag since 2018, the chance to go through the routine as normal will hold the maroon and gold in good stead.
“It’s the same as any other week,” Shepparton co-coach Xavier Stevenson said.
“Everyone that would usually train a Tuesday night, whether it be 18s, seniors or reserves, is here, which I think will really help the players handle the week.”
But had this not been the scenario, Stevenson and fellow co-coach Jason Wells would have been full of belief of their star-studded playing group, as a youthful Bears crop full of swagger and confidence are likely to hit the turf at 2.30pm.
Shepparton's senior co-coaches Jason Wells and Xavier Stevenson.
Photo by
Callum Farquhar
“Having a young list, the talent’s uncapped,” Wells said.
“We could have a 19-year-old come out and have 28 touches and kick three (goals).”
“I think our under-21 core, they’re very reflective of the new generation,” Stevenson added.
“They’re very carefree, confident, they don’t get overawed by the occasion, and we’ve seen that throughout the year where they’ve had periods of being the best players on the ground.
“Games experience means nothing to them, they feel really ready.”
Echuca has beaten the Bears on both occasions in 2026, while also holding the wood over Shepparton in the pair’s most recent grand final meeting in 2024 when the Murray Bombers bolted to a 96-point thumping.
But despite those encounters that may linger in the mind, the Bears are adamant there is no ‘scar tissue’ to heal before Sunday’s decider.
“I honestly think it’s (the 2024 grand final) irrelevant,” Wells said.
“You think about what high level, good sides do, they look at the last four to six weeks to learn from.
“We’ve had our moments in quarters against Echuca that have cost the game, and those experiences are what we’ll reflect on this week.”
“I don’t think there’s much scar tissue from two years ago,” Stevenson added.
“We’ve got new coaching staff and had a big turnover in our list over that period.
“In saying that, it’s a completely different list of Echuca’s as well, so we won’t really reflect on it all that much.
“Potentially some individuals might be fuelled by it, but there’s lessons learned from every game that you takeaway over time.
“Our big focus is enjoying every moment in the lead-up, like it’s pretty rare for three grades to get through so we’re really going to enjoy this process.”
The first bounce of the Echuca versus Shepparton senior GVL grand final is at 2:30pm on Sunday.
98.5 One FM’s Sunday broadcast of all the GVL football grand final action begins at 9am, live from Deakin Reserve.
11°C