Gallery | Shepparton United clutch a gripping win over Euroa to close out the 2025 season
Forget a dead-rubber - Shepparton United versus Euroa felt like a dress rehearsal for finals.
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Shepparton United and Euroa both entered Saturday’s last Goulburn Valley League round at Deakin Reserve knowing post-season action was off the table, purely playing for pride and the notion of ending the year on a sweetener.
Bodies crashed, tempers flared, and the result hung in the balance until the death, when a gust of wind – and a slice of daring – sealed a 12.8 (80) to 10.12 (72) win for United.
The victory made it two on the trot for a Demons side closing out a frustrating season, but co-coach Trent Freer wasn’t hiding his delight.
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Shepparton United's Jesse Cucinotta tries to shirk Jett Trotter’s tackle. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 7
Shepparton United's Kyle Clarke kicked three goals against Euroa. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 7
Shepparton United's Samuel Jackson makes himself big. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 7
Shepparton United's Flavian Calandro gingerly gets back to his feet. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 7
Shepparton United's Liam Serra pumps the arm after slotting a major. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 7
Shepparton United's Jesse Cucinotta appeals to the umpire. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 7
Euroa's Darby Wilson puts hands on his knees while getting his breath back. Photo by Rechelle Zammit“I’m just really happy for the boys to get reward for effort,” Freer said.
“It’s been a tough year and it’s been a lot of hard work going on in the background and the trainings and all the learnings that we've been trying to do.
“So to implement that into a game and actually get two on the trot has been fantastic, (I’m) so happy for the boys.”
Euroa landed the first punch two minutes in, Jayden Gleeson’s snap skidding through with the breeze’s blessing.
For 10 minutes, the Magpies camped in United’s half, but Hume Hurley broke the stranglehold with a diving mark and a dead-eyed set shot.
Parity returned briefly before United handed the visitors a gift – a miskicked defensive entry that eventually landed in Nic Burke’s lap.
Yet the response was instant; Sam McInneny finishing a swift chain of hands to level scores 16 apiece at the first change.
With the wind at their backs in the second term, the Demons pressed hard and smart.
Jesse Cuccinotta’s swirling kick wobbled through the pack for the opener, then Liam Serra capitalised on clean centre work with a composed finish from 35 metres out.
The moment of the term belonged to Jayedon Hexton, who gathered a bouncing ball on the line and, in one motion, swivelled and toe-poked it home like a soccer striker.
By the time Cuccinotta added his second and Kyle Clarke thumped one through - celebrating as though the roof had lifted - United had blown the margin out to 26 points.
But Euroa refused to wilt.
Max Gleeson crumbed cleverly, Lachlan Hill followed with a steadier after a scuffle on the siren that hinted at the internal stakes, United leading 48-28 at the half.
Clarke nailed the opener of the third term from a tight pocket – his second of the game – but Euroa came back in crashing waves of pressure.
Jake Penman jagged two in a burst, then Declan Redfern’s long-range effort brought the margin within a kick.
The home crowd braced for collapse, but Jordan Loverso’s left-foot bullet restored breathing room.
Magpies’ favourite Marcus Varley’s answering goal kept the Magpies alive, though Clarke’s composed finish on the cusp of three-quarter time sent United into the huddle 66-57 clear.
William Jackson’s slick snap to start the last shrank the gap to three points and turned Deakin Reserve into a pressure cooker.
Euroa had the ascendancy, but Cuccinotta – calm as you like – steadied with a booming 45-metre set shot courtesy of a 50-metre penalty.
The Magpies missed two gilt-edged chances before pulling back the score to 73-71 via a set shot that froze home fans in their seats.
Then, stationed in the pocket in a moment that demanded composure, Loverso launched a maverick, wind-kissed kick that bent back and dipped through the big sticks to see Deakin erupt.
After that, United held firm and walked away with a result that felt like more than just four points.
“I felt for most of the game we were quite composed with the footy, and we did have a lot of uncontested marks, which is something we spoke about during the week,” Freer said.
“To be able to implement that into our game style, continue to hold the football for longer, was certainly very important for us - we just didn't want to give it back to them cheaply.
“If it was going to be a 50/50, we wanted it in our half of the ground.
“They did have a few missed chances, which was a bit scary sitting there watching, but it was great to see the reaction from the boys to just stick fat and and believe in the process.”
United debutant Jack Supple drew praise while Clarke and Cuccinotta’s three goal performances were crucial to the win.
For Euroa, Ryan Hill and Varley were hard at the footy all day.
Though United’s season ended without finals, Saturday’s win was thoroughly enjoyed and for Freer, offered a blueprint for 2026.
“It’s easy to sell a product when we believe in it internally, but to sell it externally, it’s certainly very important to be able to have a product to sell to future recruits,” he said.
“We’ve got a few on board already, which is fantastic ... and a lot of our locals have already stuck around and so on, so we're very happy with that.”
Sports editor