The round seven clash was a garland occasion as Bears captain was bestowed with GVL life membership before the clash at Benalla Showgrounds, before his side secured a typically ruthless 18.17 (125) to 4.9 (33) victory.
The decorated defensive rock, who debuted as a 17-year-old and has captained Shepparton for seven seasons, was surrounded by family, friends and teammates as the club recognised a sterling career in the maroon and gold.
Fittingly, the Bears responded with one of their most polished performances of the season.
The Saints stayed within touching distance early, trailing by just nine points at quarter time after majors from Michael Mummery and Brady Bartlett helped keep the Saints in the contest.
However, Shepparton’s class and depth soon began to take control, with some usual suspects stepping up to the mark as the Bears began to exercise some control on away turf.
Lewis McShane sparked the Bears’ charge with two opening-quarter goals before Angus Williams got in on the act in the second term, helping the visitors establish a commanding 49-25 halftime advantage.
From there, the Bears completely overwhelmed the home side on Brett’s big day.
Shepparton slammed on 4.6 to just 0.1 in a one-sided third quarter, subduing Benalla around the contest and repeatedly punishing turnovers as the margin ballooned beyond 50 points.
Williams proved unstoppable inside forward 50, finishing with five goals in a best-on-ground display, while McShane added three and Kade O’Dwyer chipped in with two majors his own.
Luke Smith, Anthony Andronaco, Liam Broom, Mitchell Fleming, Noah Muir, Tanner Madigan and Liam Teague also hit the scoreboard in what turned into an all-round attacking masterclass.
The final quarter only compounded Benalla’s misery as the Bears piled on another 7.4 to finish with their biggest haul of the afternoon.
Williams added two more goals in that relentless final term, while O’Dwyer, McShane, Smith and Madigan all capitalised as Shepparton surged past the 100-point mark.
Following another emphatic win, Mitch Brett reflected on becoming the newest Life Member of the GVL - having tallied up 196 senior games for his beloved Bears, plus four GVL Interleague appearances.
“It’s a special day and was nice to get recognition, it’s been a long journey and hopefully I’ve still got a way to go,” he said.
Speaking with pride as his unbeaten side secured a seventh win of the season in as many outings, the skipper was impressed with the manner of the victory in Benalla.
“It was a pretty good performance, I don’t think we were quite at our best in the first half but played a lot better in the second half,” he said.
“That showed on the scoreboard and pulling away - I know Benalla were down a few rotations so we knew our fitness would come to the forefront and second half was really good.
“Angus Williams put in a great performance, especially as an 18-year-old kid on his debut, not just kicking five goals but also his willingness to keep competing and go for his marks,” he said of standout showman Williams.
“I thought the young fella was superb.”
The GVL also issued a tribute to the Shepparton mainstay as league chiefs made sure to recognize the contributions of unsung heroes in the A-Grade captain’s career to date.
“Today is just as much about the people who’ve carried him through the journey,” a representative wrote.
“Mitch’s story is one of loyalty, leadership, resilience, and a deep love for the maroon and gold.
“From debuting as a 17‑year‑old, to captaining the club for seven seasons, to becoming a father of three - he has lived every chapter with heart.”
