Sport
Gallery | Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League roars back into life as Shepparton United claims monster win
Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League is back in full swing for another year.
While it was initially forecast that all eight teams would be reunited once more in the 2025 running of the senior women’s division, Nagambie ended up on the sidelines with seven teams now competing.
Nonetheless, action picked up in a big way with a Friday night opener at Nathalia before round one was capped with two wildly different Sunday encounters.
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Shepparton United's Tayla Sampson stands up in the tackle. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 10
Shepparton United's Tayla Sampson is able to dispose at ground level. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 10
Shepparton United celebrates one of its 20 goals on a rampant afternoon. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 10
Mansfield's Maddison Schultz has Shepparton United's Melissa Foster hot on her tracks. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 10
Shepparton United's Emily Zampaglione tries to dispose under pressure. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 10
Shepparton United's Payten Johnston was thoroughly destructive in a nine-goal outing. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 10
Shepparton United's Melissa Foster wears the contact, trying to bulldoze through. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 10
Mansfield's Mim Davidson attempts to escape the clutches of Shepparton United's Ebony Grace. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 10
Shepparton United's Emily Sims gets into some open space. Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 10
Shepparton United's Melissa Foster was earning plenty of contested ball. Photo by Megan FisherThe Purples got the jump even on the men’s competitions by hosting Tatura in a rare 8pm kick-off to usher in the weekend and, despite trailing early in the second term, steadied with two goals in the third term and set up to hold the fast-finishing Bulldogs at bay.
Abby Favaro made a heavily involved start to the season, as one would expect, with a pair of majors in her side’s 5.2 (32) to 3.2 (20) victory.
Beaten 2024 grand finalist Shepparton United took to Kialla Park Reserve on Sunday afternoon with a point to prove in aiming to be the one that would unseat Echuca’s burgeoning dynasty.
The Demons made an example out of Mansfield, hanging six majors on the visiting Eagles during a stellar first term and not letting the foot off the pedal an inch from there.
Payten Johnston was no stranger to going on a tear during a campaign which fell one point short of premiership glory and she wasted no time asserting herself as the league’s pre-eminent offensive force once again.
United was simply relentless all afternoon, saving its best efforts for last with a blistering seven-goal final quarter to scorch the blue and gold in a scintillating 20.8 (128) to 2.3 (15) thumping.
The reigning premier Murray Bombers rounded things out kicking off the search for a third straight flag, hosting Rumbalara at Victoria Park.
Though the result was nowhere near as bombastic on paper as United’s, Echuca was rarely challenged in what became a rather comfortable 4.11 (35) to 1.2 (8) triumph that could have been won by plenty more.
The green machine was missing Paige Baksh, who won best afield honours in last year’s epic decider, after she crossed to Deakin Reserve in the off-season.
While only one game took place in the youth girls opening round at the weekend following Shepparton United’s forfeit to Barooga, it was an eye-catching one as Moama blitzed Shepparton Swans.
Ruby McLeod — who made the move over the border after winning last year’s flag with Echuca United — and Zoe McCallum contributed six big ones apiece as the black and white side, featuring several other premiership Eagles, ran riot, winning 18.14 (122) to 0.0 (0).