Shepparton Swans’ under-16 side will be aiming to replicate the success of its under-15 counterpart on Sunday with a Goulburn Valley League grand final date pencilled in.
Taking on Echuca at Deakin Reserve, the young Swans will be up against a strong Murray Bombers outfit and coach Greg Bicknell said breaking open their opponent’s game plan would be key to tasting premiership success.
“Echuca have got a really good game plan and they’ve stuck to their game plan really well all year,” Bicknell said.
“And it’s right across their whole club, but we’ve just got to match that game plan and hopefully stick to our game plan and get over the top of them that way.
“It’s a bit hard to explain really because we’ve built on their game plan all year and I think we’ve nearly got it matched, but we’ve just got to come to play, if we don’t come to play we’ll be behind the eight-ball all day.”
Echuca has had the upper hand on both occasions the two teams have met this season, downing the Shepparton side by 32 points in round 12 and 22 points in finals week two.
However, in a grand final anything can happen and after the Swans overcame second-placed Shepparton by a point in the preliminary final — they are sure to be full of confidence.
Bicknell’s side will also draw inspiration from the club’s under-15 premiers, with the under-16 mentor an assistant coach of that victorious team.
“They had to really grind it out and got across the line in the last quarter, so they did a great job,” he said.
“And then up after us on Sunday is the thirds, so the junior development at the Swans has been unbelievable. They’ve done a really good job there and hopefully in a couple of years’ time we should hopefully see a bit of senior success out of it.”
With talented youngsters across the board, Swans supporters can expect to see the next crop of stars perform strongly on Sunday.
Mitch Grumley and Jye Fitzsimmons are sure to take the game on, while Sam Bicknell down back and forward Caidan Phillips will be crucial cogs in the decider.
“I think they’ve just got to believe in themselves, back themselves in and trust their teammates,” Bicknell said.
Under-16 Grand Final
Echuca v Shepparton Swans (Sunday, 8.30am)