This Easter Friday’s Shepparton derby has the potential to be the closest in nearly a decade.
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Two of the Goulburn Valley League’s oldest rivals Shepparton and Shepparton United will go head-to-head in a tantalising round three clash.
An evening fixture, Friday’s derby will be set on a sunset backdrop at the Deakin Reserve coliseum.
Supporters young and old will file into the heart of Shepparton, United’s fans from Skene St, Shepparton’s from Harold St.
The Bears have emerged as the top club in town in the past 18 months, having made last year’s decider.
Across the opening two rounds, Shepparton has had an average winning margin of 94 points as the Bears continue to hunt for premiership redemption after 2024’s 96-point grand final disaster.
That nightmare was against powerhouse Echuca, which United challenged for three quarters away from home in round one.
After a few seasons in the mire, United appears to have had its Demons exorcised as it looks to charge back up the ladder under new coaches Trent Freer and Jesse Cucinotta.
United also pushed likely 2025 finalist Mansfield in round two and will have its cross-ground rivals in its sights as its first kill of the season.
Friday’s contest could be the closest Shepparton derby since round one 2016, when the Bears saluted in a thriller 98-96.
That game saw the likes of now-Ovens and Murray star Brodie Filo, century goal-kicker Tim Looby and Congupna premiership coach Ben Bingham suit up in the red and blue.
While Shepparton had plenty of currently-listed players featuring in that 2016 classic with Luke Smith, Rhiley Lau, Ash Holland, Liam Duguid and Ted Lindon still plying their trade at the Bears nine years later.
Since then, no match between the two clubs has been decided by three goals or less.
Could Friday be the day the Demons break the shackles and get one back on their arch-rivals, or will Bears bank another derby victory in fine style?
Phillips family x Shepparton derby
While the two clubs have the same home ground, they also share a family, with the Phillips clan split down the middle in its allegiances.
One side ferociously red and blue, the other, a devotee of the maroon and gold.
Tom Phillips, former owner of the Australia (Aussie) Hotel from 1942-79, had six children Jack, Reg, Laurie, Irene, Don and Brian.
Beth Phillips, daughter of Brian, said her grandfather Tom was a cunning businessman who sent three of his sons to play for Shepparton’s three most prominent clubs: Shepparton (Reg), Shepparton United (Brian) and Shepparton East (Jack).
“He was very clever Papa, he put people at different teams so that they would bring back all the players to the pub,” Beth said.
“But then they needed someone to go over to United, my dad (Brian) being the youngest, they sent him over to United.
“He won a couple of premierships (at United) and then one over at (Bears).”
The master move was designed to keep the kegs, taps and cash registers at the Aussie in constant action and worked with great success.
As the years have gone on, it has also led to the Phillips family developing a friendly, but genuinely competitive, split down the middle as supporters, players and volunteers of both clubs.
Beth said the rivalry between the two sides of the family came to the forefront during derby week and family occasions.
“I know how much (the cousins) at a family reunion (reflect on the old derby days), and I just think this is a crack up,” she said.
“Dad would have loved that, he would have loved the banter between the boys about the different clubs.”
Paul, son of Don and a proud United man, said the 1980 Goulburn Valley League grand final was his favourite clash between the two rivals.
“For me 1980, because we won the firsts, seconds and thirds,” he said.
“We knocked off Shepp in the firsts and seconds and knocked off Swans in thirds.
“There has always been a rivalry between Shepp and Shepparton United — the battle of Deakin Reserve.”
Bear against Demon, brother against brother
A potential subplot for Friday’s clash will be the prospect of two Phillips brothers going head-to-head.
While Keelan is part of Shepparton’s under-18 side and will find it tough — but not impossible — to crack into the Bears’ senior team, Caidan is fast becoming one of United’s best senior players.
The brothers and grandsons of Brian were at Shepparton Swans in 2024 before making the move to either end of Deakin Reserve.
While the switch means their mum Beth has added more travel to her weekends as she watches her boys take to separate fields, it does also mean she finds herself — like the Phillips clan as a whole — with her allegiances split.
However, it doesn’t concern Beth as she just prays for a clean bill of health for both boys.
Beth’s cousin Will Phillips, son of Reg who was Shepparton president during the early 1980s, is a Bears man through and through.
He said the derby had always been a great event for the town, even if crowd numbers aren’t what they once were.
“(Deakin Reserve) is a great place to play footy,” he said.
“Just a pity half the family picked the wrong team.
“It’s great to have some Phillips back on Deakin Reserve.
“We are fortunate for the Good Friday timeslot now.”
Should Keelan receive the call-up, he said he would be eager to give older brother Caidan a towelling.
Even though both Phillips boys are usually found in the back 50, Keelan offered to switch forward as an excuse to play on his brother.
Caidan has featured in the best for the Demons in both his first games as a full-time senior footballer.
The flying half-back said he was looking forward to his first derby experience.
“Feeling good, it will be a nice, close game hopefully and a big crowd as well,” he said.
“I have had a pretty big pre-season and worked fairly heavily on my craft and fitness gym-wise, it is paying off in my footy and hopefully I can stay consistent.”
Keelan hasn’t had too much to do in his two under-18 matches for the Bears given his team has won by 144 and 137 points, conceding one and nine points, respectively.
The younger brother said he was keen for Friday’s clash against Shepparton’s nemesis, no matter whether it was in the seniors or under-18s.
“I haven’t been a part of a Bears-United derby yet, so I am keen for it,” he said.
“Night game as well, so it will be elite.
“Hopefully trying to crack into the ones, but they are a pretty strong team, so it will be tough, but I am hoping to get into there.”
This Saturday's OneFM GVL broadcast match is between Echuca and Tatura live from 1.30pm.
Cadet Sports Journalist