It was one of the all-time great under-18 Goulburn Valley League grand finals.
Unfortunately for the Shepparton Swans’ young guns, they were on the wrong side of a miracle Echuca comeback.
The Murray Bombers finished the home and away season with a record of 17-1 to take first place on the ladder, while the Swans went into finals in third with a 12-6 record.
Coming into the match as underdogs, the Swans toiled away across the first three quarters to take a 32-point lead into the final change of ends.
A 38-point third-quarter domination from the Swans had the boys from Princess Park poised to end the Murray Bombers’ recent ownership of the under-18 competition — Echuca was going for its fifth straight flag.
With the wind behind them in the last, the Murray Bombers came roaring back — kicking 7.6 in the fourth quarter — to steal the lead with a few minutes remaining.
The final result finished with Echuca claiming an 81-80 victory.
Although the last-gasp loss hurt the young Swans, it was a valiant effort by the Princess Park boys and several players impressed during the match.
But which of these Swans could make the leap straight into the club’s senior side in 2025?
Shepparton Swans’ top five ranking points scorers under-18 grand final
Flynn Grumley: 131
Mitch Grumley: 117
Harper Simpson: 109
Sam Bicknell: 107
Kade Thomas: 95
Brothers Flynn and Mitch Grumley have already featured for the senior side this year, with Flynn playing five games and Mitch playing once in round 13.
During Sunday’s under-18 grand final at Deakin Reserve, they shone in the red and white.
Flynn was busy through the middle, collecting 21 disposals (16 contested), five tackles, five clearances and 131 ranking points.
The gun midfielder also impacted the scoreboard with eight inside 50s, seven goal involvements and three goals.
Meanwhile, Mitch was an equally impressive contested bull, collecting 20 disposals (14 contested), seven tackles, seven clearances, four goal involvements and one goal.
Gun forward Sam Bicknell (five senior games in 2024) won the Garry Lyon Medal for best player in finals and was electric in attack, kicking four goals from 14 disposals.
Bailey Stevens was arguably the best pressure player on the ground, registering a game-high 12 tackles and 18 team involvements.
Midfield-forward Harper Simpson — 56 goals from 18 games this season — also impressed, finishing with 19 disposals (12 contested), five clearances, six tackles and two goals.
The Swans may have been on the wrong side of the one-point thriller, but the bright prospects of the club’s young brigade should give the senior side hope that it can continue its charge towards finals in 2025.