Swans secured their first victory in round five of the Goulburn Murray Women and Girls League youth competition on Friday night.
The Swans downed third-placed Echuca United on the Eagles’ home turf in a thrilling win.
Against the odds, the Swans produced a memorable 1.4 (10) to 3.6 (24) victory over the Eagles to keep their season alive.
Leading by five points with a quarter remaining, the Swans soared past the Eagles in the final term booting 2.3 to snag the win.
The result was a far cry from the last time the two teams met in round three when Echuca United downed Shepparton Swans by 58 points at Princess Park.
Swans coach Sean Davies said Friday’s triumph had been due to a club-wide effort.
“We had just been building the team and getting everyone on the same page; building skills and knowledge of the game and everything with the girls and finally put it all together and had a good win,” Davies said.
“It was good reward for the hard work everyone had been putting in, the girls, the parents everyone around the club, just a really good reward.
“We are a young team and we don’t have anyone that has played a higher level than where we are at right now, so to get a win against people that have been in the Pioneers or Bushrangers and stuff like that was absolutely massive.”
In the hustle and bustle of it all, it was the Swans’ ruck who stood tallest as Eve Cook gave her teammates first look around the ground.
Davies said Cook had been a key contributor to the side all season.
“Eve, our ruck, put in an absolutely amazing effort; she was everywhere,” he said.
“Irish (Anderson) was in there as well, she stood out.
“With the girls, it is a very tight-knit group and they have all come together very well, so we are just proud of everyone around the team and to the girls for getting it done."
The Swans' first victory led to raucous — and warranted — reactions from the girls.
Davies said his players had put a spotlight on celebrating each other's wins this year, no matter how big or small.
“The girls were absolutely pumped with themselves (after the win),” he said.
“(It was) amazing.
"Even in every game (this year), if we had got a good tackle or a point or a goal it had been celebrated like we won the game, so you can imagine what it was like when we actually won the game.”
Shepparton United secured its second victory of the season after defeating second-placed Barooga at home.
The Demons downed the Hawks 6.1 (37) to 1.8 (14) at Deakin Reserve on Friday with some sharpshooting in front of the big sticks the key to their win.
Vice-captain Tabatha Ingham starred for United with a game-high three goals, while jet Ashanti Walker also featured among the best.
Moama kept its undefeated record clean with a 31-point victory over Nathalia at home.
The Magpies sit in first place on the ladder with five wins from as many games.
In round five of the senior women's competition, Shepparton United continued its impressive season with a dominant 67-point victory over Barooga.
United’s Paige Baksh booted a game-high four goals, while fellow Demons Ellie Armstrong and Emily Zampaglione both contributed two in the large win.
Mansfield strolled away to a 49-point victory over Tatura.
Despite some haphazard shooting — kicking 7.12 — from the Eagles, the home side enjoyed a comfortable second victory for the season.
The results for the Echuca and Nathalia clash on Sunday were not available at time of print.
