Goulburn Valley: Shepparton United’s miracle 1974 flag triumph

Shepparton United overcame huge odds to win the 1974 Goulburn Valley grand final. Relive how the marathon season played out.

David Johnston

3 min read

August 14, 2024 - 1:51PM

The Weekly Times

The 1974 Goulburn Valley league grand final won by Shepparton United occupies a permanent place in country footy folklore.

Never again will a premiership be decided on October 13 as was the case when United defied the odds to beat Euroa by 35 points at Deakin Reserve.

The chain of events leading to the unprecedented, late season finish 50 years ago began when major flooding in the Goulburn River was so severe a round was called off and postponed to the end of the home and away season.

Euroa, which had joined the GV in 1971 and won the flag in its first season, finished on top of the ladder, three matches clear of Echuca, which had made the move back to the GV in 1974 after 24 years in the Bendigo league.

Shepparton United 1974 players, from left, Ross McKellar, coach Des Campbell, Garry Brennan and John Hueston with the cup. Picture: Zoe Phillips

United finished third.

Twelve months earlier United lost the preliminary final to Kyabram by nine points with coach Des Campbell suspended and forced to watch from the sidelines.

United played Echuca in the final home and away round and a week later they met again in the qualifying final that ended in a draw, 15.10 (100) apiece.

Under the rules of the day there was no extra time to break the deadlock.

Echuca won the replay by eight points and United’s chances of winning the flag were suddenly a lot harder.

It stayed alive by winning the first semi-final by 22 points over Shepparton with Euroa downing Echuca in the second semi-final to advance to the grand final.

In their fourth encounter in five weeks, United beat Echuca in the preliminary final by 33 points to set up a showdown with Euroa.

“Euroa was a miles better team and flogged us during the year,” Campbell said.

“They won the second-semi, but come the grand final they were playing only their second game in five weeks.

“As it turned out, every final we played we got better.

“It’s a big part of the league’s history.

“You try to tell people the story of what happened in 1974 and they say ‘you’ve got to be joking’.”

United jumped Euroa in the first quarter and was never headed.

Shepparton United 1974 players, from left, Des Campbell, John Hueston, Ross McKellar and Garry Brennan. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Big men John Hueston, Brendan Pendergast and David Ross-Edwards dominated, key defender Mick O’Connell led a brilliant backline and Trevor Eddy added three goals to the 114 he had already kicked for the season.

But Kyabram Free Press’ Gus Underwood was in no doubt as to the flag architect in his grand final match report.

“Captain-coach Campbell was the ringleader,” he said.

“With strong marking and hefty kicks it was a dream performance from a leader wanting to set the example need to win a premiership.”

Campbell was only 17 when he played in United’s previous premiership in 1967 and was appointed United’s youngest coach at the age of 23.

The bulk of the 1974 premiership team were aged in their early 20s with fullback Stephen Westh the hard luck story when he was ruled out with a poisoned leg.

Euroa had made an instant impact on the GV, winning a flag in its debut season, under legendary forward, the late Dick O’Bree.

“They changed Goulburn Valley football for the better when they came into the league,” Campbell said.

“We all thought we were doing alright in our comfort zone.

“But they were tough, and could all really play.”

Former North Melbourne player Ray Taylor coached Euroa in 1974 and he organised a practice match against Melbourne reserves to keep his team focused as the finals series dragged out.

Des Campbell, second from right, with other Melbourne country recruits in 1970.

The following season Campbell was lured back to the VFL for a second stint with Melbourne and was joined by premiership teammate Chris Woodman.

Campbell played eight senior matches in 1970 before returning to United and becoming coach in 1973.

In his second stint with the Demons from 1975-77, Campbell played 42 matches, only to return to the GV as captain-coach of Tongala before returning to United to win another flag in 1980.

Campbell went back to Tongala and led the club to back-to-back flags in 1983-84 in a brilliant career that en

*Shepparton United is holding 1974 premiership reunion on August 24.

1974 GV GRAND FINAL

MATCH DETAILS

SHEPPARTON UNITED 4.7 7.10 12.14 15.16 (106)

EUROA 2.3 5.5 8.8 9.11 (71)

Goals: SHEPPARTON UNITED: T. Eddy 3, J. Hueston 3, W. Hovey 3, C. Woodman 3, D. Campbell 2, G. O’Brien. EUROA: N. Mills 3, M. Peel 2, M. Broughan, V. Edwards, A. Brodie, J. Tate.

Best: SHEPPARTON UNITED: D. Campbell, G. O’Brien, M. O’Connell, J. Stroomer, M. Power, R. McKellar, J. Hueston, B. Pendergast, T. Eddy. EUROA: P. Peel, M. Broughan, J. Knight, M. Peel, R. Taylor, N. Mills.