Echuca United completes golden season with grand final win

It was always set to be a tough ask for the Demons against the rampant border side, which had accounted for them comfortably in two home and away results en route to an undefeated season.

The Eagles attacked on the front foot with their first entry and the opening goal of Sunday’s action was fittingly sweet, with Caruso opening the visitors’ account on a tight angle from the right forward pocket.

Shortly thereafter, Echuca United had a firm stronghold established when Ella Plattfuss cleverly worked into space and slotted a 35m finish.

Ruby McLeod’s point-blank finish after being well-spotted virtually on the goal line left the Eagles rolling through an unchallenged first term 19 points to the good.

The Demons got their first serious looks inside 50 five minutes into the second, where pressure paid off as Chloe D’Elia roved her own work to snap truly and put the home side on the board.

It felt like things started to stick for United, with particular regard to tackling pressure, but repeat forward entries kept finding loose Eagle interceptors as the margin remained at 19 through to half-time.

The intensity lifted again after the break, with United’s Tabatha Ingham executing a highlight reel-worthy goal-saving chase-down early in the third.

Up the other end, D’Elia’s second finish of the day from a free kick ensured the celebrations wouldn’t start early for the blue and gold.

Just when the Demons appeared to have wrestled a share of momentum their way for the first time, though, a devastating counter-attack had Caruso pounce for her second into an open goal before directly assisting top threat Ruby McLeod for the Eagles’ sixth.

The game kicked on at a steady pace early in the final term with the Eagles four goals up before Zahra Kelly snagged one out of nowhere to provide a heartbeat.

Who else but Caruso to put the cherry on top, with a superb roving checkside to put the title firmly in the Eagles’ grasp.

Ashanti Walker got the last word, but it was Echuca United’s day from early on, lifting the cup after a competitive 7.4 (46) to 4.3 (27) win.

Following the euphoric celebrations, coach Jason Dennis lauded his side’s unbroken resolve throughout the year.

“It was just joy and relief (at the final siren),” Dennis said.

“It’s hard going through a season undefeated and keeping the girls up and going.

“Getting to a grand final, having to step it up was big because a lot of teams go through unbeaten and then drop it at the end, so it was just relief.”

Leading by 19 after one quarter, three quarters and at the end, it was clear the early toil brought home the bacon for his girls.

“We pride ourselves on fast starts. We did that all year,” Dennis said.

“Every time I asked the girls to lift, they did; I’m definitely proud of the way they attacked that ball.

“Their resilience to keep turning it up showed today against a tough team in Shepp United, and credit goes to them for putting a fight up to us.

“We knew this would be the hardest side we’d had to play all year, and I have the utmost respect for Tom (Zampaglione) and Grant (Searle) there.”

Caruso was duly awarded best afield for the victorious Eagles courtesy of her three majors, while regular top contributors Shaleah Cooper, Maisy Byrne and Remi Baulch were recognised as well.

For the Demons, D’Elia was named in the side’s best after notching multiple goals with Zahra Kelly and Tabatha Ingham also noted in the top three.