The first section of pre-season training is set to wrap up in the coming weeks, but that hasn't stopped Shepparton United from announcing a number of signings in the lead-up to Christmas.
The Demons have snatched young gun prospect Caidan Phillips from cross-town rivals Shepparton Swans.
Last season, Phillips was part of the Swans’ under-18 grand final loss, played nine senior games at Princess Park and featured once for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League.
The Demons have also signed Murchison-Toolamba premiership player Jayedon Hexter and former junior Demon Sam Lewis after a year playing for Grovedale in Geelong Football Netball League.
United co-coach Trent Freer said he was excited to have a mix of experience and youth join the side for 2025.
“We really focused on making sure that the club is filled to the brim with really good people,” Freer said.
“(The three signings) tick that box, they are working so hard on the track and are leading from the front.
“I think (Hexter) will bring a lot of pressure acts and he will be really helpful for the rest of the group — he will hold a high standard.
“The other boys (Phillips and Lewis) are filled with dash, they are just so fast, they are really exciting with ball in hand, but also with what they do when they don’t.
“They add so much pressure, which is going to be a (big) part of our game going forward.”
The Demons finished in second last place in 2024, with three wins and a draw from 18 matches.
Freer said he understood the side wouldn’t likely catapult to premiership contention next season, but he believed it was building a solid foundation for future success.
“We don’t shy away from the fact we have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but that excites us, it doesn’t scare us,” he said.
“We are keen to test ourselves against the best with Echuca in round one.
“We are still talking to a handful of players and, hopefully, we can roll a couple more over into United colours in early Jan.”
Young gun and highly-rated 2025 AFL draft prospect Riley Onley has come through United’s junior pathways and is now spending time training at Collingwood during summer through the AFL Academy.
Freer said while he didn’t expect Onley to be available for selection at the Demons anytime soon, he said the club was doing all it could to help support the talented big-bodied midfielder.
“(Onley) has already come down to a couple of our Saturday training sessions when we have got together as a collective,” he said.
“Him being around the place, especially the younger boys, it gives them a real pep in their step.
“We will do anything we can to help him succeed to the level he is certainly capable of.”
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