Duane Hueston is the new coach of United as two ruckman joins him

Last season’s wooden spooners in the Goulburn Valley Football League have a new coach who has wasted no time bringing talent through the door.

New Shepparton United coach Duane Hueston has signed two ruckman to the club as he looks to move the Demons up the ladder next season.

The former VFL and United player has returned home to coach the senior side after Paul Serra stepped down at the end of a one-win season in 2022.

Keen to help the team rise from last on the ladder, Hueston has signed ruckman Sean Thompson and Damon Carroll to the club.

Thompson rejoins the club after playing for Numurkah Football Club in the Murray Football League last season with Carroll coming from Shepparton East in the Kyabram District Football Netball League.

Duane Hueston is now the coach of Shepparton United after playing for Shepparton East last season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Hueston said the club now plans on adding more to complement the juniors at the club.

Last season the average age of the squad was around 20.

“We need to find some senior experience on the track,” he said.

“Someone to guide them (our younger players) or slow them down.

“Recruiting wise the club has done an awesome job of retaining the list - an amazing job to do that without a coach.

“We have been talking to a handful of players who will bring that senior experience.

“(We want to) lock a few of them in and see a United side on the park that can be competitive and show experiences.

“Our goal is to put in the steps and process to build towards playing finals football and be a good finals side.”

Hueston takes over after coaching the under-15 Shepparton United team this year and playing in the Kyabram District Football Netball League in seniors for Shepparton East.

“The club gave me a call and said would I be interested,” he revealed.

“I sat down and had a think about it and the time feels right (to coach) with our three boys, one is 14 the others are 11 and nine, and they are at the stage where they like to come to the football.

“They play football on Sunday so I’m not going to miss out on seeing them either.”

Hueston revealed he won’t be donning the boots next year.

“I wasn’t even going to play the year just gone,” he said.

“The phone call came and I ended up playing a year.

“I won’t be planning on playing, I’m concentrating on coaching.

“I’ll still train and be involved off field but I won’t be playing.”

Hueston believes he is the right person to coach the senior team, based on his previous roles.

The Shepparton United Demons last played in a grand final in seniors in 2013. Picture: Yuri Kouzmiin

The primary school teacher works with children and has coached squads with teenagers before.

He knows how to get the best out of a set of young kids.

“That’s why the club inquired about my movements with my work with juniors and my background as a teacher,” he said.

“I’ve been teaching and connecting with a young group for a while, so I see that as a strength in this job.

“If we can keep these group of boys together for a long time the success will come down the track.”

Hueston said the focus was being competitive in matches and making sure the teams are in the contest at three quarter time.

He added if the team can do it, it stands to improve significantly.

The team is expected to start training in the next couple of weeks, depending on if they can find a training venue.

United is in discussion with Greater Shepparton City Council to find a venue suitable for them after the recent floods in the region.