Albeit, the ‘professors’ at Shepparton United women’s football club mightn’t realise they’ve been teaching an eager group of Mansfield women in the first place.
The Demons booked their ticket to a third straight grand final after an unbeaten 2026 home and away campaign, and will face the Eagles at Moama Recreation Reserve on Sunday in the big dance.
Mansfield coach Davey Holliday admits he has strived to learn Shepparton United’s recipe for success, and that plan to do so has taken his girls all the way to the decider.
Although now, they’re pitted against those they try to mimic.
“Shepp United is a team we to try to emulate,” Holliday said.
“Their defensive zone is the best in the comp, so teaching the girls how to work through that is something we’ve studied.
“We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from them as a club, they’re a well drilled side under Grant Searle.
“They’ve set the benchmark of what it means to be a successful women’s team, and hopefully we can achieve what they have one day."
The Eagles aren’t shying away from the challenge in the Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League grand final though, embracing the mountainous task at hand.
With previous clashes against the Demons seeing the Eagles fall short by 27 and 20 points respectively, Mansfield’s aggregate losing margin is the lowest of any other United opponent in the competition.
Holliday believes a lot of Mansfield’s development has shone through in the back half of the season, and with the club’s latest clash with United in round six, there is belief the improved Eagles can tackle the unbeatable.
“They’ve got a lot of talent in their side, but we’ll give it our best shot,” Holliday said.
“We’re at full strength, so we’ll see what Sunday brings.”
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