It seems Shepparton United has turned a new leaf on its football program.
For the best part of 10 years the Dees have languished near the bottom of the Goulburn Valley League ladder.
Not since 2013 has the club’s senior football outfit featured in September, an unwanted record that is set to continue this year with United in 11th spot on the ladder.
Yet, after three talented Shepparton United juniors received the call-up to Victoria Country selection this year, it has offered a glimmer of positivity and renewed excitement for the red and blue faithful.
But one of those ace teenagers doesn’t see it that way.
Young gun Oscar Ryan believes the Demons have been on a bright trajectory for the past few years now and that the internal success of this year isn’t a new dawn for the Deakin Reserve co-tenants.
Ryan, along with fellow youngsters Riley Onley and Blake Sofra, reached a significant milestone in 2023 by representing the Big V.
For Ryan, he featured at the recent under-18 National Championships, while Onley co-captained the under-16 squad and Sofra made the under-15 outfit.
It is a monumental achievement, for not only the three prodigies, but for the Goulburn Valley League club, yet Ryan is right.
United has been and is a footy factory for producing quality young guns.
Ryan can recall the likes of United’s ex-juniors Jye and Kade Chalcraft, Zavier Maher, Angus Hicks, Jesse Cucinotta, Zane Barzen, Liam Fiore and current senior captain Kyle Clarke forging the way in youth representative squads in the past five years.
“It’s always been bright in my opinion,” the 18-year-old said.
“We’ve had so many good players, but they get lost to the VFL or to higher leagues, so we lose our good players. I think we’ve had a bright future for a few years now.”
Towering midfielder Onley became the second player from United to don the Big V in 2023, with the 16-year-old smooth mover a standout for Country.
Since his appearances on the national stage Onley has gone on to make his senior debut for the club.
Sofra then joined in on the action this week at the School Sports Australia National Championships.
Three state representatives in the same year ― it’s no easy feat.
“I haven’t really thought about it, but it’s pretty cool,” Onley said of the club’s milestone.
So how is this achieved?
Although the significance of the feat is yet to dawn on Onley, he credited some of the club’s mentors and players in, Ramadan Yze, Daryl Chalcraft, Josh Pearce and senior coach Duane Hueston, for providing an environment that allows growth and development.
“We didn’t end up getting a 16s side (last year) and ‘Huey’ (Hueston) said ‘try to aim for 18s’ and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. It advanced my football a lot and it put me in good stead for this year.
“I’m very grateful for people like ‘Rum’ (Yze), he’s my mentor and he’s put a lot of time into me. Even the older guys in the ones, like Jayden Magro, Marcus Wattie, they’re good role models.
“Also thankful for Huey, who gave me a chance in 18s and now a chance in the seniors. It shows that they are willing to sacrifice success for growth in the future.
“I guess it shows that if people stay we can develop good players.”
Ryan backed up Onley’s words.
“It’s a great achievement, not many clubs have that opportunity to have three juniors make Vic teams,” the dashing defender said.
“There’s really good coaches here and it’s definitely a good environment. Just the older senior boys who help you out a lot, guys like Clarkey, he’s probably the biggest one.”
The youngest of the trio, Sofra, is soaking up all the knowledge and experience he can get from his two older state rep clubmates.
It is something he does on a regular basis with his older step-brother Maher an ex-state player and current VFL talent.
The 15-year-old Notre Dame student is hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Onley and Ryan and feature for Country and continue to fly the flag for United.
“It’s really good for me to learn off them,” Sofra said.
“And especially for the club too, to have two players playing at such high levels. (The future) definitely looks good.”
From Shepparton United’s perspective, perhaps the greatest achievement is that all three of the Vic Country talents have begun their careers at the Dees.
Football operations manager Jason Kelly said the entire club was proud of the efforts of Ryan, Onley and Sofra in the past six months, while he highlighted the juniors of yesteryear were still reaching career highs at VFL level.
“Oscar, Riley and Blake are all products of our juniors and we are proud of them and all of our footballers and netballers selected in representative teams,” Kelly said.
“We have another six of our former juniors on VFL lists this year showing the strength of our junior program and these three boys are the latest examples of that.
“Not only are they good footballers, but are also great young men from families with strong ties to Shepp United, with the fathers of all three being former players at the club.
“Oscar made his senior debut with the club last year and Riley has this year, which is exciting, and I have no doubt Blake will be knocking on the door in a few years.”
It seems Sofra is destined to line-up for United in the 2pm time slot and follow, not only a raft of club greats before him, but Ryan and Onley.
Ryan, fresh off his under-18 national champs campaign, is hopeful of returning to Hueston’s line-up when his Murray Bushrangers commitments allow him to.
And while his days at United look limited, with the upcoming AFL draft the main objective for Ryan, that’s not to say the silky mover won’t be there to support and offload knowledge to the younger Demons.
He sees it as a fantastic opportunity to step up into a leadership role and return the favour that he received.
“It’s definitely a good chance for me as a role model,” he said.
“I guess I can help them go through the pathways of Bushies and even just playing 16s and 18s and then eventually seniors here at United. The club is in a really good spot.”