With a scoring end evident, both the Eagles and Demons made the most of their chances for a thrilling back-and-forth affair that resulted in over 200 points scored.
The Demons began on the front foot with a six-goal term to three, as Nate Yze made an impact on senior debut with an early goal.
After kicking the first four majors, Mansfield replied to squeeze the Demons’ margin narrower to three points, but a pair of majors for Timothy Looby put the red and blue up with a handy buffer again.
However, as the sides switched ends after the quarter-time huddle, Mansfield took full advantage of the breeze.
The Eagles enjoyed five individual goal kickers helping themselves to last game majors, as the Demons kicked three in the term, but it wasn’t enough to hold the lead - Mansfield ahead by one at the main break, 8.9 (57) to 9.2 (56).
The Eagles would rue its missed opportunities in the contest, as opportunities as such came hard to find in the third term, limited to just one behind as Shepparton United took control of the scoring with another six-goal term.
Matthew Casey rubber-stamped his place as the GVL’s leading goal kicker for season 2026, with two of his four for the afternoon coming in the third term to take his season tally to 60.
It was a shoot-out in the final quarter as defensive pressure released, 10 goals between either club booted through the middle posts.
Six goals went the way of Mansfield to close the three-quarter-time deficit of 36 to 20 at full time, losing 14.15 (99) to the straight-shooting Demons’ 19.5 (119).
The win for United sees the Demons finish its campaign with a level 9-9 record, one win shy of a long-awaited finals berth.
Meanwhile the Eagles will miss the September action after finishing as preliminary finalists in 2025, ending Mitch Wareham’s time as coach with a 6-12 record for the season.
